> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smartlyq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pricing

> Pay-as-you-go API pricing with prepaid SmartlyQ Credits — only pay for what you use.

The SmartlyQ API is **pay-as-you-go**. There are no API plan tiers — you top up a prepaid wallet of **SmartlyQ Credits (SQC)**, and each request deducts credits for the AI resources it actually uses. Build and test for free in sandbox, then switch to a live key when you ship.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Free to test" icon="flask">
    Build against the full API with a `sqk_test_` key — **no credits charged**.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pay per request" icon="bolt">
    Live calls deduct SQC based on the model, tokens, and operation type. No subscription for API access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Top up anytime" icon="wallet">
    Add credits in packages from the Developer Dashboard, or turn on auto-recharge.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Credit packages

Top up your Developer wallet from the [Developer Dashboard](https://app.smartlyq.com/my/developer):

| Package   | Price |
| --------- | ----- |
| 250 SQC   | €5    |
| 750 SQC   | €15   |
| 3,000 SQC | €60   |
| 7,500 SQC | €150  |

<Tip>Enable **auto-recharge** to keep your wallet funded automatically, so requests never fail for a low balance.</Tip>

## What a request costs

Credit cost per request depends on:

1. **AI model used** — larger, more capable models cost more
2. **Token count** — input + output tokens consumed
3. **Operation type** — text, image, video, audio, or presentations

A small minimum charge applies per operation type:

| Operation type   | Minimum SQC |
| ---------------- | ----------- |
| Text generation  | 1           |
| Image generation | 2           |
| Audio (TTS/STT)  | 1           |
| Video generation | varies      |
| Presentations    | 1           |

Read-only calls — listing posts, fetching analytics, managing accounts — **don't consume credits**. Generation and publishing actions do.

## Track your spend

Check your wallet balance any time:

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.smartlyq.com/v1/me/balance \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sqk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx"
```

For how the wallet, per-request deductions, and low-balance errors work in detail, see [Billing & Credits](/guides/billing-and-credits).