How credits work#
Every picture Hero_Photo makes runs on AI that costs money each time, so it uses photo credits. Before you start, the Generate button shows the exact price for what you've set up, and that's what you pay. If a picture fails, its credits go back automatically.
Photo credits are separate from Hero_Agent's actions: making a picture never uses an action.
What things cost#
| What you make | Credits |
|---|---|
| A photo (also Try-on and Hold product) | 2 each |
| A graphic: a text-led image, such as a quote card | 1 each |
| A layout preset, made in your browser from your own photos | Free |
| An edit: Background Swap, Relight, Remove Object, Phone Photo Fix, Virtual Staging, Day-to-Dusk, Dish Hero | 2 each |
| Upscale to 4K | 4 each |
| Repurpose: one image resized | 2 per size |
| A video | 20 for 5 seconds, 40 for 10 seconds; +2 when Hero_Photo first makes the frame (Product Turntable, Giant Product, Dusk Timelapse) |
| Design a model: a round of four faces | 8 |
| Training a likeness of a person (when Start training is shown) | The number shown before you start; the 8 starter photos are free |
| Adding a product, a ready-made model or your brand kit | Free |
As Hero_Photo puts it: "A graphic uses 1 credit, a photo 2, a 5-second video 20. Your monthly credits are used first."
A run of several pictures costs the price of one times the number, for example 4 photos for 8 credits.
Where credits come from#
| Source | Credits | Renews |
|---|---|---|
| Every plan, including lifetime plans and the free trial | 10 to try Hero_Photo, about 5 photos | Once |
| Growth plan (or the Agent Growth add-on) | 100, about 50 photos | Every month |
| Pro plan (or Agent Pro) | 250, about 125 photos | Every month |
| Agency plan (or Agent Agency) | 600, about 300 photos | Every month |
| Credit pack | 100 for $15, one-time | Never expires while you have a Hero_Agent plan |
From heropost.ai: "Hero_Photo runs on credits. Your plan includes 100, 250 or 600 credits a month — about 50, 125 or 300 photos. Hero_Photo shows the cost in credits before you create anything, and you can add 100 credits for $15 whenever you need more."
In videos, a month of credits is about 5 five-second clips on Growth, 12 on Pro and 30 on Agency.
The order they're used in#
- This month's credits from your plan.
- Your 10 credits to try.
- Pack credits.
One run can draw on more than one of these.
- Monthly credits start fresh at the start of each calendar month (UTC). Unused ones don't carry over.
- The 10 credits to try are given once and don't renew.
- Pack credits never expire while you're on a Hero_Agent plan.
"Hero_Agent plan" means an AI plan (Growth, Pro or Agency) or an AI agents add-on.
Whose credits are used#
- The workspace owner's. Credits belong to the owner's account and are shared by all the workspaces they own.
- Admins and Editors make pictures with the owner's credits. Viewers can't generate.
- Only the owner buys credits or upgrades. When credits run short, everyone else sees Not enough credits on the button, and asks the owner.
The price before you generate#
- The Generate button shows the time and the price, for example Generate 4 with "~40s · 8 credits". It updates as you change the settings.
- What you pay can never be more than the price on the button. If it would be, Hero_Photo stops and says "This would use {n} credits — more than the {m} shown. Nothing was charged; check the price and try again."
- All or nothing: credits are taken only when the whole run can be paid for.
See your balance#
| Where | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Hero_Photo, under Generate | "{n} photo credits left", or "{n} of 10 free credits" while you're on the credits to try. The owner sees Get more (or Get Hero_Agent). |
| Home → Workspace intelligence → Images | "{n} photo credits left this month.", "{n} free photo credits left to try Hero_Photo." or "Monthly photo credits come with the Hero_Agent plans." |
| Under the Hero_Agent chat box | "{n} photo credits left" |
| Billing → Usage | Photo credits this month with "{used} / {allowance} · {n} from packs", or Free photo credits |
When a picture fails#
- Its credits go back automatically, to the place they came from. Failure messages end with "Nothing was charged".
- If a run can't start at all: "Couldn't start the generation — nothing was charged. Try again in a moment."
- If only part of a run starts: "{a} of {b} started and will land in your library; the other {c} couldn't start and weren't charged."
- If you delete a subject while a picture of it is being made, that picture stops and its credits come back.
When you run out#
The Generate button turns into Get more credits for the owner, or Not enough credits for everyone else, with a line such as "This needs 8 — you have 2". Make fewer pictures, choose a cheaper option, or get more credits.
Get more credits#
From Hero_Photo#
The owner presses Get more under Generate, or Get more credits on the button.
- With a Hero_Agent plan, Get more photo credits opens. It offers the Credit pack ("100 credits, added right away (about 50 photos)", $15 one-time) and, where there's a bigger plan, an upgrade marked BEST VALUE. Press Buy 100 credits · $15.
- Without one, Keep creating with Hero_Agent opens, with the Growth and Pro plans side by side. Pick one and press Get {plan}, or See all plans.
From Billing#
Hero_Agent plan holders also find Photo credits under Billing → Add-ons: "100 credits $15 · one-time", with Open Hero_Photo →.
After paying, Heropost shows "Your photo credits have been added to your account. Happy creating!" Press Proceed. A pack bought from Hero_Photo takes you back to the studio, which picks up the new balance within about 30 seconds.
Pack rules#
- Packs come with a Hero_Agent plan. Without one, the purchase is refused: "Photo credit packs come with a Hero Agent plan." heropost.ai puts it this way: "Credit packs are for plan subscribers. Pack credits never expire while you’re on an AI plan."
- While your plan is set to end, packs are paused: "Your Hero_Agent plan ends on {date}, and pack credits end with it — so packs are paused."
- If your plan ends, your pack credits are set aside. They come back if the plan returns within 30 days.
Refunds#
- Credits: a picture that fails gives its credits back automatically. You don't need to ask.
- Money: our Terms of Service say "Hero_Photo credit packs are non-refundable once any of their credits have been used." Using Hero_Photo credits also counts as AI usage for your plan's billing period. See Refunds and the money-back guarantee.
From Hero_Agent and AI tools#
Hero_Agent on Home and your connected AI tools use the same photo credits. They make one picture at a time: 2 credits for a photo, 1 for a graphic. On the Create posts in bulk card, Create images with Hero_Photo shows the most a batch can use, for example "up to 20 Hero_Photo credits for 10 images".
If it doesn't work#
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Get more credits or Not enough credits with "This needs {n} — you have {m}" | Not enough credits for this run. | Make fewer pictures, or the owner gets more. |
| "This needs {n} photo credits — you have {m}." | Credits ran out between the price check and the start. | Get more credits, or make fewer. |
| "This would use {n} credits — more than the {m} shown. …" | The price changed after it was shown. Nothing was charged. | Check the new price on the button and generate again. |
| "Training needs {n} photo credits — you have {m}. Ask the workspace owner for more photo credits." | Not enough credits to train a person, and only the owner can buy. | Ask the owner. |
| "Photo credit packs come with a Hero Agent plan." | Packs are for Hero_Agent plan holders. | Get an AI plan first: AI plans. |
| "… pack credits end with it — so packs are paused." | Your Hero_Agent plan is set to end. | Keep the plan to buy packs. |
| "The checkout could not be opened. Please try again." | The payment page didn't open. | Try again in a moment. |
| "Your account doesn't have an active plan. Please upgrade to use this feature." | The workspace owner has no active plan. | The owner picks a plan in Billing. |
Questions#
Do unused monthly credits roll over?
No. Monthly credits start fresh each calendar month (UTC). Pack credits stay while you have a Hero_Agent plan.
Do I keep the 10 credits to try after I buy a plan?
Yes. They're used after your monthly credits and before pack credits.
Are photo credits shared between my workspaces?
Yes. They belong to the workspace owner and are shared by every workspace the owner has.
Does Hero_Photo use AI actions?
No. Pictures use photo credits only, whether you make them in the studio, ask Hero_Agent, or use a connected AI tool.
Can I buy a credit pack without a Hero_Agent plan?
No. Packs are for Hero_Agent plan holders. Without a plan, you have the 10 credits to try; monthly credits come with the Growth, Pro and Agency plans.