# Set an AI budget and watch your usage

Source: https://frosvo.com/docs/ai-budget-and-usage
Updated: 2026-10-22

See what your workspace used this month and set a monthly spending cap for the AI, so the assistant, copilot and translation never cost more than you decided.

AI answers cost money for every message. A budget lets you decide the most you are willing to spend each month.

![Settings, Plan, Usage: what this month has used and the monthly AI budget box](/docs-img/settings-usage.webp)

## See your usage

Go to **Settings → Plan → Usage**. The page, titled **Usage and AI budget**, shows what the workspace has used this month:

- **AI this month**, with the amount spent and, once there is enough data, whether you are **on pace for** a given total by month end.
- **Knowledge sources** against your plan's limit.
- **Imports this month** against your limit.
- **File storage**, compared with your plan.

A line such as "3 of 10 sources" shows the allowance; "no limit" means the plan has none; "Not on your plan" means the feature is not included.

## Set a budget

1. Open **Settings → Plan → Usage**.
2. In **Monthly AI budget (US$)**, type the most you want to spend.
3. Click **Save budget**.

To remove the cap, click **Remove budget**. Without one, the assistant answers up to your plan's allowance.

## What happens at the limit

- At **80%** and at **100%** of the budget, owners receive an email.
- Once the budget is used up, the assistant stops answering new chats and **hands them to your team**. Visitors still reach a person.
- The **copilot** and **live translation** pause until the month starts again.

Spend is checked every half minute or so, so the changeover can lag by a moment.

## What counts as AI use

Model work counts: assistant answers, copilot suggestions, translations and the [assistant safety check](/docs/assistant-safety-check).

## Good habits

- Set a budget a little above what you used last month.
- Check the pace line mid-month.
- Keep your [knowledge base](/docs/knowledge-base) tidy so answers are short and right the first time.
- Make sure your team is ready to take handovers if the budget runs out. The [assistant guide](/docs/ai-assistant) explains handover.

For plan limits and invoices, see [billing](/docs/billing).

## Common questions

### Who can see and change the budget?

Owners. The Usage page is part of the Plan area, which is for owners.

### What happens when the budget is used up?

The assistant hands new chats to your team, and the copilot and live translation pause until next month.

### When am I warned?

Owners get an email when 80% and again when 100% of the budget is used.

### What if I set no budget?

The assistant answers up to your plan's allowance, with no extra cap.