How credits work

ComicInk runs on a credit system. You spend credits when you generate things that have a real compute cost — pages, panels, covers, translations. Other things — characters, worlds, assets, account features — are free.

The basics

• No subscription. You buy credits when you need them.
• No expiration. Credits you buy never expire. They sit in your account until you use them.
• Pay only for what you generate. Browsing, editing dialogue, adding characters, publishing — all free.
• Atomic billing. Credits are deducted before generation starts, so you never get charged twice for the same generation.

Where credits come from

• 500 free credits when you sign up. No card required, never expires.
• Credit packs you buy: Starter, Creator, or Pro. See buying credit packs.
• Referrals — invite people; when they sign up, you earn credits. See referral program.
• Refunds for failed generations are credited back automatically. See failed generations and refunds.

Where credits go

• 25 credits per page, panel, cover, back cover, or translation.
• 10 credits per character beyond the 5-free quota in an issue.
• 0 credits for character / asset / world / title generation, and for regenerating those.

For the full list, see what costs credits, what doesn't.

Checking your balance

Your credit balance is visible:

• On web: top of the dashboard sidebar.
• On iOS: top of the app's home screen.
• In the editor: a credit counter shows the cost of the action you're about to take, and your remaining balance, before you confirm.

Running out of credits

If your balance runs to zero:

• You can't start new paid generations until you top up.
• Existing pages, characters, and edits are unaffected — your work is saved and stays accessible.
• You'll get an email notification the first time your balance hits zero (one notification only — it doesn't repeat).
• Topping up takes about a minute via the credit-pack purchase flow on web (Stripe) or iOS (Apple In-App Purchase).

Same-account, multi-platform

Credits live in your account, not on a device. Buy a pack on iOS, spend it on web, and the balance follows you. Pricing is identical between platforms.

Why we count credits instead of just per-generation pricing

Per-generation pricing in dollars would mean a Stripe charge every time you click "generate" — which is slow, expensive in fees, and friction-heavy. Buying a pack of credits lets you experiment freely, regenerate without thinking about it, and only top up when you actually need to.

Updated on: 26/04/2026