How do usage limits and credits work?

You can see your usage at any time in Settings → Usage & Limits.

On the Free plan

Your free messages are counted as credits. Each message uses the number of credits shown next to Send a message under Credit Costs.

• Credit Balance shows how many credits you have left and how often they refill.
• When they run out, you see Daily free limit reached with the time until your next refill. Wait for the refill, or click Go Pro to upgrade.

Some features are part of Pro only: Pro models, attaching files, Dictate, Image Studio, web search and document analysis. YouTube & Ask gives free users a few free uses; the number left is shown under Credit Costs.

On Pro

Messages count against usage limits that reset on a rolling schedule. Usage Limits lists each limit (for example Current window, Daily limit or Weekly limit), how much of it you've used, and when it resets.

• A small ring next to the model name in the message box shows your busiest limit. Click it to see the details.
• Models use your limit at different rates. The model picker shows each model's cost multiplier: 1× is the cheapest model, and a higher number uses more of your limit per message.
• Web search, document analysis, image generation and YouTube & Ask use credits from your balance, not your message limit.

When you reach a limit on Pro

• Wait until it resets. The chat shows how long that is.
• Reset limit now: when the current window is used up, you can skip the wait by spending credits. The chat shows the cost before you confirm. You can also do this with Use reset in Usage & Limits.

If you don't have enough credits for a reset, click Get credits. See How do I buy and use credits?