> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://luw-ai.gitbook.io/luw.ai-studio/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://luw-ai.gitbook.io/luw.ai-studio/account/credits.md).

# Credits

How your Luw\.ai credit balance works in Luw\.ai Studio, what each AI feature costs on the Symphony and Aria engines, and what to do when you run low.

The AI features in Luw\.ai Studio run on Luw\.ai credits. There's only one balance: it belongs to your Luw\.ai account, so the credits you see in the Studio are the same ones you spend on app.luw\.ai, and topping up in one place shows up in the other.

Drawing, building, placing catalog items and painting with the built-in materials never cost anything. Credits only come into play when Luw\.ai's AI works or generates something for you.

## See your balance

When you're [signed in](/luw.ai-studio/account/account-and-sign-in.md), your balance is the small badge near the right end of the top bar.

* It shows your remaining credits as a plain number. Hover over it to see a tooltip such as **42 credits remaining**.
* Once you drop below 5 credits, the badge turns red, so you notice before a generation fails.
* Click the badge to open [your account page on app.luw.ai](https://app.luw.ai/dashboard/account) in a new tab. That's where you get more credits.

You never need to refresh the page to see a new figure. The Studio fetches your balance as soon as you sign in, about every ten seconds while it's open, again whenever you switch back to its tab, and right after you start a generation. If you buy credits on app.luw\.ai in another tab, the badge catches up when you return.

## Symphony or Aria

Every generation runs on one of two Luw\.ai engines, and you choose which:

* **Symphony** is the default and gives the higher quality.
* **Aria** is the lighter engine. It costs less for 3D models and videos; renders and textures cost the same on both.

In the **Create** tab, the **Engine** field sits in each form, and the price is always written on the button before you click it. When [Archiagent.ai](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/archiagent.md) wants to generate something, it shows both prices and waits for you to pick one. In the **Items** tab's **Photo → 3D** dialog and the card that appears when you drop a photo on the canvas, the **Premium quality** switch does the same job: on, the model is made at the higher quality for 8 credits; off, it's 3. That switch is only offered to paying customers.

## What costs credits

| What you do                                                                        | Symphony                                 | Aria                      |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| [Render](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/render-with-ai.md) the 3D view, per design | 1                                        | 1                         |
| The same at **4K**                                                                 | 2                                        | 2                         |
| Make a [3D model](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/photo-to-3d.md) from a photo      | 8                                        | 3                         |
| Make a 3D model from a description                                                 | 1 for the picture it starts from, plus 8 | 1 for the picture, plus 3 |
| Generate an [AI texture](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/ai-textures.md)            | 1                                        | 1                         |
| Make a video from a picture (through Archiagent)                                   | 20                                       | 10                        |

A render asked for four designs makes four separate images and costs four times as much. When you make a model from a description in the **Create** tab, you see the picture first (**Show me a picture first · 1 credit**) and only then decide whether to pay for the model; **Another picture · 1 credit** tries again.

When Archiagent makes a 3D model, a texture, a render or a video, it uses the same generations at the same prices. It looks in the catalog and your own libraries first and only generates what's missing.

### Chat and voice

* **Chatting with Archiagent** is charged by use from your balance, and there's no fixed price per message. The **Thinking level** in the panel's header sets how long it thinks, from **Low** to **Max**, and shows how much a message tends to use at each level (**Credit use per message**). **Medium** is the default; **Extra high** and **Max** warn you that they use noticeably more.
* **Voice mode** costs 1.6 credits a minute, on top of the work you ask for. The call window shows a running estimate.

The note under Archiagent's message box sums it up: **Archiagent.ai can edit your scene using your credits and can make mistakes.**

### Nothing is charged without your OK

* Archiagent's **Ask before spending credits** switch, in the **Thinking level** popover, is on to begin with. While it's on, every 3D model, texture, render and video waits in the chat for you to choose an engine or **Skip**. Several paid steps come as one plan with one total and one **Approve plan** button. Skipping costs nothing.
* When another Luw\.ai app opens the Studio with a prompt ready to run, the Studio asks **Start this with AI?** first and reminds you that running it spends AI credits. If you click **Cancel**, nothing is charged.

### What's free

Screenshots and snapshots, uploading your own images or 3D models, importing DXF and IFC files, exporting, and everything you build by hand.

A render finished on app.luw\.ai, through the hand-off from walkthrough mode or **More options in Luw\.ai Render AI**, is charged there, at the prices app.luw\.ai shows.

## AI chat needs a paid plan

Archiagent is a paid-plan feature. On a free account, sending a message brings back **AI chat is available on paid plans.**

Plans are managed on app.luw\.ai. Click the credit badge to get to your account page there.

## When you run out

What you see depends on where you were spending:

| Where                                     | What it says                                                                                   | What to do                                                                                                                               |
| ----------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| A **Create** form                         | **You're out of credits.** with a **Get more credits** link                                    | The link opens your account page on app.luw\.ai.                                                                                         |
| A 3D model card in the bottom-left corner | **You're out of credits**, with a **Get more credits** link                                    | Same as above.                                                                                                                           |
| The **Textures** dialog                   | **You're out of credits**, with a **Get more credits** link                                    | Same as above.                                                                                                                           |
| A paid step in Archiagent's chat          | **You're out of credits** on the step's card, with **Get more credits**                        | Same as above.                                                                                                                           |
| An Archiagent message                     | **You're out of chat credits. You can claim your daily free credits, or see pricing options.** | Both parts of the message are links: one to the page on app.luw\.ai where you claim your daily free credits, one to the pricing options. |

Once you've topped up or claimed your free credits, go back to the Studio and try again. The badge updates on its own when you return to the tab.

If a generation fails after it has started, its card in the project's **Gallery** offers **Delete & refund**. The card then says the credits come back within 24 hours.

{% hint style="success" %}
Daily free credits are claimed on [app.luw.ai](https://app.luw.ai/dashboard/claim), not in the Studio. Archiagent's out-of-credits message links straight to the right page.
{% endhint %}

## Demo mode uses no credits

If you aren't signed in, the Studio runs in demo mode. None of the AI features work there, so nothing is ever charged. The credit badge only appears once you sign in. See [Account and sign-in](/luw.ai-studio/account/account-and-sign-in.md#try-it-out-in-demo-mode).

## Related pages

* [Account and sign-in](/luw.ai-studio/account/account-and-sign-in.md)
* [The Luw.ai ecosystem](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/luw-ai-ecosystem.md)
* [Archiagent.ai](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/archiagent.md)
* [Photo → 3D](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/photo-to-3d.md)
* [AI textures](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/ai-textures.md)
* [Render with AI](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/render-with-ai.md)