Pay-as-you-go Packs: Prices and Renewal

Prices, quota and validity of the four packs, how renewal adds quota and sets the expiry date, recovery after expiry, 402 and 401 errors, and no refunds.

Need an API key? Sign up →·Endpoints & base URLs →

A Pay-as-you-go Pack is a total quota that you buy once and use during its validity period until it runs out; unlike a personal plan it does not reset every day. It fits stretches of use when you do not want a monthly subscription. To compare it with the other options, see How to Choose a Plan; to buy, go to qcode.cc/pay-as-you-go.

The four packs¶

The minimum CNY top-up is ¥100 (packs start at ¥25, and the remaining balance can be used to renew or to buy a plan); the minimum USD top-up is $1.

Basic rules¶

• One pack key per account: your account has a single pack key, and every renewal goes onto that key.
• Concurrency 5: at most 5 requests at the same time on the key.
• No booster packs for a pack key: when the quota runs out, simply renew.
• Same models as personal plans: the same models are available, billed per token, with per-model rates listed on qcode.cc/models.
• The key works as usual: the cr_ key goes into your tools in exactly the same way as with any other option, see the Dashboard guide.

Renewal: quota stacks, the later expiry date wins¶

When you renew, the quota of the new pack is added to what is left, and the expiry date is the later of "the current expiry date" and "today + the pack's days".

Example 1: not yet expired. Your Month Pack has $12 left and you renew with a Month Pack ($80) before it expires: remaining $12 + Month Pack $80 = $92, and the expiry date is the later of the current expiry date and today + 30 days.

Example 2: already expired. When a pack expires, the remaining quota is void. If you then renew with a Month Pack, the quota after renewal = the new pack's quota ($80), and the same key is restored; you do not get a new key.

Who can buy¶

• You cannot buy a pack while you have an active personal plan. If the daily quota of a personal plan is not enough, buy a booster pack instead (booster packs reset at 02:00 Beijing time the next day).
• Ultimate counts as an active personal plan too, so you cannot buy a pack during it. Ultimate has a monthly quota that does not reset daily, and booster packs are not available for it; what to do when it runs out is covered in the "total cost limit" entry of the FAQ, or you can contact support.
• If you already have a pack and then buy a personal plan, the pack keeps working until it expires.

Running out of quota and expiry¶

• Quota used up: HTTP 402 with error.type = insufficient_quota and code = total_cost_limit_exceeded. Renew to keep going. See the error reference. An amount shown in brackets in the message is the key's cumulative limit, not what is left; after renewals stack up, that number grows, which is normal.
• Key expired: HTTP 401 (API key has expired). Renewing restores it; on overseas nodes it can take up to about 5 minutes to take effect.

No refunds¶

Pay-as-you-go Packs are not refundable, and remaining quota is void after expiry. If you are not sure how long you need, start with the Week Pack.

FAQ¶

What is the difference between a pack and a personal plan?¶

A personal plan has a daily quota that resets at 00:00 Beijing time and suits daily use; a pack is a total quota for its validity period, used until it runs out, and suits stretches of use. For the full comparison of the four options see How to Choose a Plan.

I already have a personal plan. Can I still buy a pack?¶

No. You cannot buy a pack while you have an active personal plan; buy a booster pack when the daily quota of the personal plan is not enough. If you bought a pack first and a personal plan later, the pack keeps working until it expires.

How is the expiry date worked out after renewal?¶

Quota stacks, and the expiry date is the later of the current expiry date and today + the pack's days. For example, with $12 left on a Month Pack, buying another Month Pack ($80) makes the quota $92.

My pack expired. Is the remaining quota still there?¶

No. Remaining quota is void after expiry; after you renew, the quota equals the new pack's quota and the original key works again.

What does 402 total_cost_limit_exceeded mean?¶

The pack's total quota is used up; renew to continue. The amount in brackets in the message is the cumulative limit, not the remaining quota.

Can I get a refund?¶

No, packs are not refundable.

Enterprise →