Billing & Cost Management
How Billing Works
ModelPilot uses a straightforward credit-based billing system to make costs transparent and predictable.
Credit System
- Credits: The basic unit of payment on ModelPilot
- Conversion: 1 credit = $1.00 USD
- Billing: Your account is charged in credits based on the compute resources you use
Actual-Time Dedicated GPU Billing
Dedicated GPU cost is calculated proportionally from the time the deployment is running:
- There is no 10-minute minimum or rounding to whole billing blocks
- Usage is debited periodically and the remaining running time is finalized when you stop the deployment
- Startup can be billable: GPU time can be charged while models download and services start. A Starting or Preparing label does not mean the GPU is free.
- Failed setup and charges: A deployment never placed on a GPU is excluded from running-compute charges. Failure after GPU allocation can still incur running time.
- Stopped deployments don't incur compute charges
Cost Optimization Tips
- Batch your work: Run related tasks in one session to avoid repeated startup time
- Stop idle deployments: Remember to stop deployments when not in use
- Choose appropriate hardware: Don't over-provision for your workloads
- Monitor your dashboard: Keep track of running deployments to avoid accidental billing
Instance Pricing
ModelPilot offers various instance types to meet different needs. Prices vary based on the hardware specifications.
Use the pricing page to compare listed configurations, then confirm the rate shown in your deployment’s Review step. The rate depends on the selected GPU and configuration; a fallback can have a different price. ModelPilot also shows deployment status, logs, and usage so you can decide when to stop.
Storage
Disk capacity and storage type depend on the selected instance and configuration; there is no universal 200 GB persistent disk. Review storage in setup. Stopping compute can leave paid disk or volumes allocated. Download needed files, then delete the deployment when you no longer need its retained resources.
Illustrative Billing Examples
At a hypothetical rate of $1 per hour, 30 minutes of billable GPU time costs $0.50. That time can include downloading models, generating, and leaving the GPU idle. This illustrates the calculation; it is not a quoted instance price. Retained storage can add costs after compute stops. Your credit history records the debits actually made.
Managing Your Billing
Adding Credits
- Navigate to the Billing page from your dashboard
- Click "Add Credits"
- Select the amount of credits you want to purchase
- Complete the payment process using your preferred method
Viewing Usage
- Go to your dashboard
- Click on the Billing tab
- View your current credit balance and usage history
Setting Spending Limits
To avoid unexpected charges, you can configure spending limits in your account Settings page (/settings) under the "Cost Protection" section:
- Deployments are automatically stopped when your credit balance is insufficient to continue running
- Saved limits can warn or request a pause, depending on the selected action. Warning-only mode does not stop usage; a failed save does not enable protection. Read the saved state and check running resources instead of treating a limit as an instant hard cap
FAQs
Q: Do I pay for deployments in "Stopped" state?
A: Stopping ends compute charges, but retained disk or volumes may still cost money. Stop and delete are different actions; remove resources you no longer need after downloading important files.
Q: How do I estimate costs before deployment?
A: During the deployment process, the Review step shows estimated hourly and daily costs based on your configuration.
Q: Can I share credits across my organization?
A: Team billing is not yet available. Currently, each account manages its own credits independently.
Q: What happens if I run out of credits?
A: Running deployments will be automatically stopped when your credit balance reaches zero.
Q: Can I get a refund for unused credits?
A: Credits are non-refundable, but they never expire as long as your account remains active.