HostGator: Understanding AI Credits
If you're running an AI Agent app on your Self-Managed VPS, that app needs to make calls to an LLM (large language model) to actually do anything. AI Credits is a prepaid balance that pays for that usage across multiple LLM providers, billed through a single HostGator account instead of several separate provider accounts.
Where this applies: AI Credits is available on Self-Managed VPS plans only.
What Are AI Credits
AI Credits is a prepaid credit system powered by an AI Gateway. The gateway sits in front of multiple LLM providers behind a single API key, so instead of creating and billing separate accounts with each provider, you buy a credit balance from HostGator and draw down against it as your AI apps make requests.
This means one purchase and one balance instead of several provider accounts, one API key that gives your apps access to every model the gateway supports, and no need to sign up for or manage individual provider accounts on your own.
Which Models Are Included
The HostGator AI Gateway provides access to models from four provider groups through a single, OpenAI-compatible endpoint:
- Anthropic — the Claude model family
- Google — the Gemini model family
- OpenAI — the GPT model family
- Additional Models — a broader set of models from additional providers, including Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Kimi, GLM, and MiniMax
For the full list of individual models and their credit costs, see AI Models and Credit Pricing.
Which Apps Can Use AI Credits
AI Credits works with the following AI Agent apps available on Self-Managed VPS: OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, n8n, NanoClaw, Sim, Claude Code, GStack, Flowise, BMAD, GatorClaw, Open WebUI, Open WebUI + Hermes Agent, Ollama, Paperclip, Langflow, and Dify.
What Does a Credit Mean
Each credit has a fixed retail value of $0.010. Credits are sold in fixed packs at that same flat rate, so the pack size you choose depends on how much usage you expect, not on getting a better rate:
| Pack Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 500 credits | $5.00 |
| 1,000 credits | $10.00 |
| 5,000 credits | $50.00 |
| 10,000 credits | $100.00 |
Pricing is subject to change. The rates shown here reflect current pricing at the time of writing. For the most up-to-date pricing, check the AI Tooling tab in your Customer Portal.
You have a single AI Credits wallet for your entire account — not a separate balance per VPS or app — and every API key you create draws from that same wallet.
| Behavior | What it means |
|---|---|
| Freshness window | Your balance is valid for 12 months from your most recent purchase. Any purchase — through the VPS configurator or a panel top-up — resets the freshness window for your entire balance, not just the new credits. For example, 4,000 unused credits with 2 months left, topped up with 5,000 more, become 9,000 credits valid for a fresh 12 months. |
| No subscription or auto-renew | AI Credits are a one-time purchase, not a recurring plan. There's no monthly allowance and nothing renews automatically — your balance only changes when you make a purchase or use credits. |
| On expiry | If your balance reaches its freshness date without a new purchase, it resets to zero. Your API keys and workspace are preserved, so you can pick up right where you left off with a new purchase. Release 1 does not include proactive low-balance or expiry email alerts. |
| Non-refundable | AI Credits cannot be refunded once purchased, so choose your pack size based on expected usage. |
How Credits Are Consumed
Credits are consumed as your AI apps make requests through the gateway. Each model has its own credit cost per token, so lighter, faster models cost fewer credits to run than larger, more capable ones — see AI Models and Credit Pricing for the exact rate per model. Usage is tracked per API key rather than per VPS or application — so if you use multiple keys across different apps, you can see roughly how much each one is drawing from your wallet.
Next step: To start using your balance, create an API key from the AI Tooling tab in Customer Portal and connect it to your app. See How to Manage Your HostGator API Keys for steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are AI Credits a subscription?
A: No. AI Credits are a one-time purchase, not a recurring plan. There's no monthly allowance, and nothing renews automatically — your balance only changes when you make a purchase or use credits.
Q: Do AI Credits expire?
A: Yes. Your balance is valid for 12 months from your most recent purchase. Any purchase — through the VPS configurator or a panel top-up — resets that 12-month window for your entire balance, not just the new credits.
Q: What happens to my credits if I don't buy more before they expire?
A: Your balance resets to zero. Your API keys and workspace are preserved, so you can pick up right where you left off with a new purchase.
Q: Can I get a refund for unused AI Credits?
A: No. AI Credits are non-refundable, so choose your pack size based on your expected usage before purchasing.
Q: If I top up before my current balance expires, do I lose any unused credits?
A: No. Adding credits refreshes your whole balance — your existing unused credits combine with the new ones, and the freshness window resets to 12 months from the date of the new purchase.
Q: Do all models cost the same number of credits to use?
A: No. Each model has its own credit cost per token, so lighter, faster models cost fewer credits than larger, more capable ones. See AI Models and Credit Pricing for exact rates.