If your credits disappeared quicker than you expected, you're probably using more than you realized — and the good news is you can see exactly where. Here's how to understand your usage and control it.
Where do credits go?
Credits are spent when you:
- Send a message in the Vinci web or mobile app.
- Make an API call to Vinci.
- Use Vinci Code.
The cost of each message depends on how long the response is and whether Vinci runs a web search or uses tools like weather lookups. Longer, more complex responses use more credits.
The class you're on matters far more than any of that. Vinci Mezzo is the cheapest option for light everyday chat, while Vinci Forte is the default and Vinci Fortissimo costs more per token. Click the model badge at the top right of chat to switch inline, or use Settings → Personalization. If you are working with code or files, Forte works best; do not switch those tasks to Mezzo just to reduce cost.
Check your usage
- Open Account in the app, or visit platform.getsimpledirect.com.
- Find the Usage or Usage section.
- You can filter by date (7, 30, or 90 days, or a custom range) to see trends.
On the Platform, you can also export usage to CSV to analyze exactly which messages and API calls cost what.
Understand your plan
For details on Vinci's plans, pricing, and included monthly credits, see Billing & limits.
If you're on Free or Vinci and your credits ran out, it means you used more than your plan included — upgrading to Vinci Pro adds more monthly credits, or you can buy additional credits anytime (minimum $10 purchase).
Control your spending
- Use shorter prompts: vague or very long messages may trigger deeper processing and use more credits.
- Disable web search if you don't need it: For questions where you already know the facts, you can ask locally without searching the internet.
- Enable auto top-up with a monthly cap: This prevents surprises — set a limit on how much can be added automatically each month.
- Watch your usage trends: Check your usage weekly to spot unexpected spikes early.
Free accounts and trial credits
If you haven't signed up, you can try Vinci with a few free messages a day — no sign-up or credit card needed. Once you create a free account and verify your email, you get $5 in trial credits. Add a payment method and you get another $5. That's $10 total to start.