> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nikiwa.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Credits > How credits work, what each action costs, chat modes, and when credits are refunded. ## How credits work Each plan includes a monthly pool of credits. One pool covers everything you do in Nikiwa: chat, investigations, module refreshes, the [MCP server](/mcp/overview), and the [Tools API](/api-reference/overview). Keys do not have separate balances; every key you create draws on the same pool. * **Fixed prices.** Each action has a fixed whole-number price. Prices do not depend on tokens, answer length, or how many tools an answer uses. * **Charged up front.** Credits are taken when a request starts, before any work runs. If your balance cannot cover the full price, the request is refused and nothing is charged. There is no partial charge and no overdraft. * **Refunded on most failures.** When a request fails, its credits are usually returned, with some limits and exceptions. See [Refunds](#refunds) for the exact rules. * **Charged once per request.** A request is charged once. If the app resends the same message after a connection problem, it is not charged again. Monthly allowances and refill dates are listed in [Plans & Billing](/product/plans-and-billing). ## What uses credits | Action | Credits | | - | - | | Chat message, Fast | 4 | | Chat message, Thinking | 25 | | Chat message, Auto | 4, or 25 when Auto uses Thinking | | Chat message, Nikiwa Pro Fast | 5 | | Chat message, Nikiwa Pro Thinking | 92 | | New investigation | 40, once per investigation | | Module refresh | 4 | | MCP tool call or Tools API call | 1 to 40, depending on the tool | ### Chat A chat message costs a flat price for its mode. Tool calls, analysis, and [modules](/product/modules) produced inside the answer are included; they are not charged separately. A Thinking answer costs 25 credits whether it runs one tool or many. As a guide, the 100 credits on Free cover about 25 Fast or 4 Thinking messages. The 2,000 credits on Pro cover about 500 Fast or 80 Thinking messages. ### Investigations Starting a new investigation costs 40 credits, charged once for that investigation. Messages you send inside it are then charged as normal chat messages. Your plan also limits how many investigations you can keep open at the same time; delete one to free a slot. See [Plans](/product/plans-and-billing#plans) for the limits. ### Module refreshes Changing a module's filters or parameters so that it fetches new data costs 4 credits. Results served from cache and paging through a wallet module's results are free. ### MCP and Tools API Every call to the MCP server or the Tools API costs the price of the tool it runs, from 1 to 40 credits. See [Credits & Pricing](/api-reference/credits) for the price of each tool and the developer-specific rules. ## Chat modes Choose a mode from the selector in the chat input.
Fast

Quick lookups such as wallet holdings, token details, and current market odds. 4 credits.

Thinking

Fund tracing, risk assessments, and questions that need several analysis steps. Responses take longer. 25 credits.

Auto

Nikiwa picks Fast or Thinking for each question and charges only for the mode it uses.

 | Mode | Credits | Behavior | | - | - | - | | Fast | 4 | Uses the same tools as Thinking and answers directly. | | Thinking | 25 | Runs a multi-step analysis over the same tools. Takes longer. | | Auto | 4 or 25 | Uses Fast or Thinking per question and charges that mode's price, never both. | | Nikiwa Pro Fast | 5 | Fast on a more capable model. Max and Business only. | | Nikiwa Pro Thinking | 92 | Thinking on a more capable model. Max and Business only. | Nikiwa Pro is turned on per message. On plans without it, a Nikiwa Pro message is refused. If your balance is lower than a mode's price, that mode is unavailable in the selector until your credits refill. ### How Auto is charged Auto charges the Fast price (4 credits) when you send the message. If your balance is below 4 credits, the message is refused. Nikiwa decides whether the question needs Fast or Thinking. Routine wallet or token overviews and simple lookups use Fast. Comparisons, several entities at once, unfamiliar terms, and explicit requests for a deep investigation use Thinking. If Auto picks Thinking, it tops the charge up to 25 credits before the answer starts. If your balance cannot cover the top-up, the message runs as Fast instead, at the 4 credits already charged. With Nikiwa Pro turned on, the same steps apply at 5 and 92 credits. Inside an investigation, Auto always uses Fast. ## Refunds | Situation | Result | | - | - | | A chat answer fails with an error | Refunded. To prevent abuse, automatic refunds for failed messages are limited per day. | | Thinking pauses to ask you a clarifying question | Refunded, also subject to a daily limit. Your reply is charged as a new message. | | Thinking fails and Nikiwa answers in Fast instead | You are charged the Fast price; the difference is refunded. | | You press **Stop**, or close the app while an answer is running | Not refunded. | | Creating an investigation fails | Refunded. | | A module refresh fails or returns no new data | Not refunded. The data request has already been made. | | An MCP or Tools API call returns an error | Refunded. See [Credits & Pricing](/api-reference/credits#charges-and-refunds). | ## Check your balance * **Web**: open the profile menu and choose **Manage Subscription**. The pricing page shows your remaining credits, your monthly allowance, when credits refresh, and a **How credits work** panel with current prices. * **Mobile**: the Subscription screen shows your plan and live balance. When a request needs more credits than you have, the app shows **Not enough credits** with the amount needed, your balance, and when your credits refresh. Wait for the refill or [upgrade your plan](/product/plans-and-billing#upgrade-or-downgrade). Prices can change. If they change while the app is open, Nikiwa does not charge the new price silently: it asks you to check the new prices and send again.