Monetizing AI: Credits vs Subscriptions vs Usage-Based Pricing

Three ways to charge for AI features

Every AI product needs a pricing strategy. The Rails AI Kit supports all three models out of the box:

1. Credit-based (pay-per-use)

Users buy credit packs and spend them on AI generations. Best for: tools with unpredictable usage patterns. The kit tracks credits per user with automatic alerts when credits are low or exhausted.

2. Subscription tiers

Monthly or annual plans with different feature levels. Best for: products with consistent daily usage. The kit supports Pro and Premium tiers with Stripe and Paystack.

3. Hybrid (credits + subscription)

Subscribers get unlimited basic features, credits for premium AI. Best for: maximizing revenue. Free users pay per use, subscribers get a monthly credit allowance.

What the admin panel shows you

The AI Analytics dashboard tracks token usage, cost per user, revenue vs. AI spend, and model breakdown — so you can optimize your pricing based on real data.