> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hivenet.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understand Inference API billing

> Understand per-replica pricing, per-second billing, shared organization credits, and when Inference API charges start, change, pause, and stop.

Hivenet Inference API uses the same prepaid organization credit balance as Compute.

You pay for the fixed model-serving capacity that is running. Pricing is shown as a **per-replica hourly rate**, but usage is billed **per second** through the organization balance.

## How cost is calculated

Each model variant has a price per replica-hour. Your current endpoint rate depends on:

* The selected model variant
* The number of replicas running

For example, increasing an endpoint from one replica to two increases the displayed hourly rate for that variant accordingly.

Before you deploy, **Review your setup** shows:

* Total cost per hour
* Estimated cost per 24 hours
* Estimated cost per week

The 24-hour and weekly figures are estimates of continuous running at the selected configuration. They are not minimum commitments or separate billing periods.

<Info>
  Prices shown in the live console are the source of truth. Use the current variant and review screens rather than an older screenshot or saved estimate.
</Info>

## Billing is based on capacity, not tokens

The current production product is a dedicated endpoint service. You are billed for the replicas serving the model, not for each token or request sent to the endpoint.

Sending fewer requests does not automatically reduce the cost. The fixed replicas remain provisioned until you reduce the replica count, stop the endpoint, or terminate it.

<Note>
  Autoscaling is not available yet, so traffic volume does not automatically change replica count or hourly spend.
</Note>

## When charging starts

A new or restarted endpoint enters **Starting** while Hivenet prepares its replicas.

The console says starting a model takes about 90 seconds. Serving charges begin once the endpoint is running.

## When charging changes

Changing the replica count changes the endpoint's serving rate.

* **Increase replicas:** The rate increases as the additional capacity comes online.
* **Reduce replicas:** The rate decreases after the serving capacity is reduced.

The replica editor shows the updated hourly rate before you save the change.

See [Manage replicas and capacity](/documentation/inference-api/replicas-and-capacity) for how scaling works.

## When charging pauses or stops

### Stop

Stopping an endpoint shuts down its serving replicas but keeps the endpoint configuration so you can start it again later.

Charges stop once the running replicas have been shut down and the endpoint reaches **Stopped**.

Starting it again later is subject to available capacity, and billing resumes once it is running again.

### Terminate

Termination permanently shuts down the endpoint. Serving charges stop when termination is complete.

A terminated endpoint cannot be started again. You can later use **Clear** to remove its terminated record from the Deployments list; clearing does not affect billing because the serving capacity has already been terminated.

<Warning>
  Disabling or revoking an Inference API key does **not** stop an endpoint. The endpoint remains provisioned and continues to incur charges until you reduce, stop, or terminate its serving capacity.
</Warning>

## Organization credits

Inference API endpoints and Compute resources draw from the same organization balance.

If the organization does not have enough credits, the console can block a new deployment or a restart. Running Inference API endpoints stop automatically when the organization balance reaches zero.

Only the organization Owner can add credits or configure auto top-up. See [Billing information](/documentation/account-billing/billing-info) for payment methods, billing roles, auto top-up, and transaction history.

## Monitor spend

The Inference API page shows product-level usage information including **Spend (24h)** and the current **Cost /h** for active endpoints.

The main Compute billing views also show the shared organization balance and current spend rate across resources.

See [Track organization spending in real time](/documentation/account-billing/track-costs-real-time) for the organization-wide view.

## Reduce serving cost

* Reduce replicas if you still need the endpoint but can run with less capacity.
* Stop the endpoint if you plan to use the same configuration again later.
* Terminate the endpoint when you no longer need it.

Stopping is usually the safer choice when you are unsure, because termination cannot be undone.

## Next steps

* [Manage replicas and capacity](/documentation/inference-api/replicas-and-capacity).
* [Manage an endpoint](/documentation/inference-api/manage-deployments).
* [Create and manage API keys](/documentation/inference-api/api-keys).