Why do AI image tools use credits?

Every generation or edit runs a large model on specialized hardware, and the provider pays for that time. A flat monthly price with no usage limit would mean light users pay for heavy users.

Costs are not the same for every request. Google's Gemini pricing, for example, lists a 4K image at more than three times the price of a 1K image from the same model. A credit system lets a tool charge more for heavier work without a separate price list for every combination.

Credits also make spending predictable: you know your monthly balance and can see it go down as you work. The trade-off is that one balance hides the different costs underneath, so watch how fast your own work uses it.

ImageQuarry uses monthly image credits on both plans; what one credit buys depends on the model and the operation.