Coins Explained
Chatref uses a coin system to measure and manage your chatbot’s usage. Coins are the credits that power your chatbot’s conversations. Every time your chatbot responds to a visitor, it uses a small number of coins.
What Are Coins?
Coins are usage credits included with your Chatref plan. Think of them like a prepaid balance — each month, your plan gives you a set number of coins, and your chatbot uses them as it has conversations with visitors.
How Many Coins Do I Get?
The number of coins you receive each month depends on your plan:
| Plan | Coins Per Month |
|---|
| Free | 100 |
| Basic | 500 |
| Plus | 3,000 |
| Pro | 10,000 |
How Are Coins Spent?
Your chatbot uses coins every time it responds to a visitor’s message. The number of coins per response depends on the length and complexity of the conversation:
- Short, simple exchanges — Typically cost 1-2 coins per response. For example, a visitor asking “What are your hours?” and getting a brief answer.
- Medium conversations — Usually cost 2-3 coins per response. For example, a product question that requires a detailed explanation.
- Long, detailed responses — May cost 3-5 coins per response. For example, a comprehensive comparison of multiple products or a step-by-step guide.
Example: A Typical Conversation
Here’s what a typical conversation might cost:
| Message | Coin Cost |
|---|
| Visitor asks: “What’s your return policy?” | — |
| Chatbot responds with the return policy | ~1 coin |
| Visitor asks: “How do I start a return?” | — |
| Chatbot explains the step-by-step process | ~2 coins |
| Visitor asks: “Can I return a sale item?” | — |
| Chatbot provides the specific policy for sale items | ~1 coin |
| Total for this conversation | ~4 coins |
Only your chatbot’s responses cost coins. Visitor messages don’t use any coins.
Monthly Coin Refresh
Your coins reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. This means:
- On the 1st of each billing period, your coin balance is refreshed to your plan’s full allocation
- Unused coins from the previous month do not carry over — they reset
- Your billing cycle starts from the date you subscribed or last renewed
Example
If you’re on the Basic plan (500 coins/month) and you used 300 coins this month, your balance resets to 500 at the start of your next billing period. The 200 unused coins don’t roll over.
What Happens When Coins Run Out?
If your coin balance reaches zero before your next refresh:
- Your chatbot will stop responding to new visitor messages
- Existing conversations will show that the chatbot is currently unavailable
- Your chatbot will automatically resume when your coins refresh at the next billing cycle
To avoid running out mid-month, you can:
- Upgrade your plan — Move to a higher plan for more coins
- Monitor your usage — Keep an eye on your remaining balance in the billing dashboard
Low Balance Warnings
Chatref will send you an email notification when your coin balance drops to 20% or less of your monthly allocation. This gives you time to either:
- Conserve usage by limiting chatbot activity
- Upgrade to a plan with more coins
You’ll only receive one low-balance email per billing period, so you won’t be spammed with alerts.
Coin Transaction Types
Your coin activity is tracked through different transaction types:
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Deduction | Coins used for chatbot responses (the most common type) |
| Purchase | Coins added when you subscribe or upgrade your plan |
| Refund | Coins returned if there’s a billing adjustment |
| Bonus | Promotional coins given during special offers |
| Gift | Coins gifted by the Chatref team |
| Adjustment | Manual corrections to your coin balance |
Tips to Optimize Your Coin Usage
- Write a focused system prompt — A clear system prompt helps your chatbot give concise, relevant answers instead of long-winded responses
- Adjust the temperature — Lower temperature values (0.3-0.5) tend to produce shorter, more focused responses
- Use suggested messages — Guide visitors toward topics your chatbot handles efficiently
- Keep your knowledge base lean — Well-organized, relevant content leads to more accurate (and shorter) responses
- Monitor conversations — Review your Inbox to identify any repetitive or unnecessarily long responses, and adjust your training data accordingly
Checking Your Balance
You can check your current coin balance and usage at any time from the Billing section of your dashboard. It shows:
- Your current remaining coins
- Total coins allocated for this period
- When your next refresh date is
For more details about available plans, see Plans & Pricing.
