# Cost Curve
> AI tools are sold through subscriptions, usage credits, token allowances, seats and processing minutes, each with different implications for a monthly budget.

## Entries
- [Tokens, Seats, Credits and Minutes: A Practical Dictionary of AI Billing Units](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/ai-billing-units-dictionary/): AI tools use different billing units because they charge for different aspects of access and consumption.
- [Reading AI Free-Tier Limits: What Fair Use Leaves Unstated](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/ai-free-tier-limits-fair-use/): An AI free tier provides access within conditions set by the service, but the word free does not establish unlimited or uninterrupted use.
- [Why AI Audio and Video Cost More to Offer Than Text](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/audio-video-ai-cost-explained/): Audio and video AI features can require more computing resources than text because they process richer signals across time, often using several stages of.
- [Annual vs Monthly AI Plans: A Budget Worksheet for Freelancers](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/annual-vs-monthly-ai-plans/): Annual AI subscriptions can reduce the effective monthly price, but they require a larger commitment and create a risk of paying for unused access.
- [Building a Monthly AI Tool Budget: Three Scenarios for Subscription and Usage Costs](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/monthly-ai-tool-budget-three-scenarios/): A useful monthly AI tool budget separates fixed subscriptions from consumption-based charges and models three possible levels of demand.
- [Consumer AI Subscription Tiers: How to Read Plan Pages When Details Are Thin](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/consumer-ai-subscription-tiers-plan-pages/): Consumer AI apps often present several subscription tiers, but the headline plan names and prices do not explain the complete terms of access.

## About
- [About Cost Curve](https://cost-curve.pages.dev/about/): what the site covers and how entries are made

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