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

# Pricing

> How tokens are counted, billed, and discounted.

> **Pay for performance, not for the wait.**

## How billing works

Cogito charges per token of usage — separate rates for **standard input tokens**, **cached input tokens**, and **output tokens**. Per-model rates are published in one place: the [model catalog](https://cogito.decart.ai/models). Each model card lists all three; the same numbers come back from `GET /v1/models` (`pricing.prompt`, `pricing.input_cache_read`, `pricing.completion`).

For each request you're billed:

```
cost = (input_tokens − cached_input_tokens) × input_rate
     + cached_input_tokens × cached_input_rate
     + output_tokens × output_rate
```

## Context cache

When you re-send the same prefix tokens (a long system prompt, a reference document, a multi-turn conversation), Cogito automatically charges them at the model's cached-input rate, which is published per-model alongside the standard rate. No code change required.

Every response includes `usage.cached_input_tokens` alongside `prompt_tokens` and `completion_tokens` so you can verify the discount applied.

## Fine-tuned variants

Your fine-tunes price the **same per-token rate** as the base model. We don't charge a premium for serving them.

## Hard spend caps

Set a maximum monthly spend in **Dashboard → Billing**. Once you hit it, requests return:

```json theme={null}
{
  "error": {
    "type": "insufficient_quota",
    "code": "spend_cap_reached",
    "message": "Monthly spend cap reached. Raise the cap or top up to continue.",
    "request_id": "req_..."
  }
}
```

This protects you from runaway loops and DDoS-by-bug. We never silently bypass your cap.

## Free credits

New accounts start with \$5 in free credits. No card required to spend them. Card is required only when you top up beyond the free tier.

## Plans

| Plan       | Pricing            | When to pick it                  |
| ---------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| Free       | \$0 + free credits | Evaluation, prototyping          |
| Pro        | Pay as you go      | Production traffic               |
| Enterprise | Contract           | VPC isolation, P99 SLA, BAA, SSO |

[See full plans →](https://cogito.decart.ai/pricing)