What each AI feature costs

Q: What is the most expensive thing I can do?

Generating a study plan, at 15 credits, followed by a handwriting check at 9. There is nothing on a learner account that costs more than that in a single action.

Q: Am I charged if the AI gets it wrong or the call fails?

A failed call is not charged. A call that completes is charged for what it used, even if you did not like the answer — the cost was incurred either way.

Q: Do exams cost credits?

Sitting an exam is free. Multiple-choice and matching answers are marked by the app with no AI involved. Only an open written or spoken answer goes to a model for grading, at 5 credits each — so a paper with three written answers costs three times that, and a paper with none costs nothing.

Q: Can I see what a feature will cost before I use it?

When a call is declined for insufficient credits, the message names the cost. This list is the full reference, and it is kept in step with the prices the server actually charges.

Q: Do these prices change?

They track what the underlying models cost, so they can move when those do. They are set to cover real cost rather than to make margin on each call.

Every AI feature you can trigger has a credit price, set to cover what that call costs to run. This is the whole list. Most features are charged exactly the price shown; a few text features refund part of it once the call finishes. If you have not read AI credits explained yet, start there.

Talking with your AI tutor

Practice turns are the cheapest thing on the site: a roleplay turn or a mission check costs one credit. Anything Jason answers costs at least 5, and a day on which you clear 3 or more checkpoints earns exactly that.

An answer from Jason — 5 credits — Per answer: on dictionary, grammar and culture pages, in the speaking studio, the assistant and focus mode.
Jason explains a word to you — 15 credits — On a dictionary entry, Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons on the word and what you have been exploring, and explains it through them. Once per word: reading it again is free, and the general explanation above it is free for everyone.
Why? Ask Jason — 5 credits — After a wrong answer in a dictionary entry's practice, Jason explains why it does not fit and how to remember the right one. The practice itself is free and earns credits.
Jason Recommends — 5 credits — At the foot of a dictionary entry: three words to learn next and why each is worth your time. Each time you ask, including "Different words".
Asking Jason for shows, songs and books — 5 credits — Per message in Chat with Jason on your Immersion tab.
A reply from Jason on Dragon Daily — 5 credits — When you answer the day’s question and he writes back.
A roleplay turn — 1 credit — One for the reply, one for grading your side of it.
A daily mission check — 1 credit — Grading the short daily task.
A Chinese name — 10 credits — Generating a Chinese name from your own.

Feedback on your work

Anything that listens to you or looks at your handwriting costs more than text, because speech and vision models cost more to run. These are the ones worth pacing if your balance is low.

Grading an exam answer — 5 credits — Per open answer marked, in unit exams and mock papers. A paper with five written answers costs five times this; multiple-choice and matching are marked free.
Culture-quiz feedback — 5 credits — Jason marks both open answers on a culture article in one go.
Speaking instead of typing — 4 credits — Per recording, when you use the mic button in the assistant or on speaking practice. Your speech is transcribed so you can talk rather than type.
A handwriting sentence to copy — 8 credits — Generating the sentence you are asked to write.
Checking your handwriting — 9 credits — Reading what you actually wrote and marking it. The most expensive feedback you can ask for.

The top of the pronunciation trainer page on a pale grey background. A round red circle with a white microphone icon, the small grey label ‘Pronunciation Practice’, then the red heading ‘Chinese Pronunciation Trainer’ and the four characters 有口皆碑 in red brush strokes, the first character part-drawn in pale grey as the stroke animation restarts. Below them, in italics, ‘yǒu kǒu jiē bēi — "Praised by all"’, a short dark rule, and two lines of grey text: ‘Listen to native audio, record yourself, and get instant character-by-character feedback on your tones and pronunciation.’ — Nothing on this page spends a credit: the native audio is served ready-made, and your recording is transcribed and scored inside your own browser, never uploaded. The 4 credits above are spent on the mic elsewhere — in the assistant and on speaking practice.

Your study plan

A full study plan — 15 credits — Including the one generated automatically at the end of onboarding. This is the −15 people ask about.
Rebuilding your weekly schedule — 2 credits — Reshaping the week without regenerating the whole plan.
A message to the schedule coach — 5 credits — Asking Jason to adjust your plan in conversation.
Fresh suggestions from Jason — 5 credits — Each time you tap Refresh on the suggestions on your dashboard. Opening the ones you already have is free.

What costs nothing

Worth stating plainly, because people ration themselves unnecessarily. None of the following spends a credit, however much of it you do.

Reading anything — Dictionary entries, grammar points, culture articles, learning materials, lessons.
Listening to anything — Lesson podcasts, entry audio, listening passages, speaker samples. This audio is generated once, by us, and served to everyone — playing it is free.
Sitting an exam or a mock test — No credits, whichever paper it is. (Whether a paper is OPEN to you is a plan question, not a credit one — Mock Test 1 of each level is free, the rest are Pro.) Only AI grading of an open written or spoken answer costs credits.
Flashcards and reviews — The whole spaced-repetition deck. No AI is involved in scheduling.
Your progress — Checkpoints, XP, streaks, stats and your existing study plan.

Common questions

1Does listening to a lesson podcast cost credits?

No. Podcasts are generated once by us and served to every reader as ordinary audio. Playing one is free, however many times you play it, and the same is true of dictionary audio and listening passages.

2What is the most expensive thing I can do?

3Am I charged if the AI gets it wrong or the call fails?

4Do exams cost credits?

5Can I see what a feature will cost before I use it?

6Do these prices change?

Continue learning

AI credits explainedWhat a credit is, where your starting balance came from, and why it went down by 15.Buying more creditsCredit packs, how checkout works, and when a balance tops up on its own.