AI Companion Credits, Tokens & Coins Explained
How Candy AI tokens, PolyBuzz coins, and flat subscriptions differ — with real cost examples and how to estimate your monthly bill before subscribing.
Three Billing Models You Will See
Most companion apps use flat subscriptions (Nomi, Replika, Character.AI c.ai+), token meters (Candy AI images/voice/video), or coin wallets (PolyBuzz and similar mobile feeds). Some products mix all three — headline monthly price is rarely the full bill.
Tokens (Candy AI and Visual Apps)
Candy AI Premium includes 100 tokens/month plus unlimited text (verified candy.ai/subscriptions, 2026-07-19). Each image, voice clip, or short video action burns tokens. Third-party guides (Robo Rhythms, CompanionWise, 2026) model $35–80+/mo for daily generators once packs enter the picture. Rule: multiply your expected weekly image count by per-action cost before annual billing.
Coins (PolyBuzz and Mobile Feeds)
PolyBuzz tiers (~$9.90–$29.90/mo verified 2026-07-19) unlock features, but coins still gate bursts of media or priority chat. CompanionWise rates PolyBuzz memory 1/5 — coin spend does not buy long-term recall. Set a monthly coin cap in your head before subscribing to Ultimate.
Flat Subscriptions (When Credits Do Not Apply)
Nomi (~$15.99/mo), Kindroid (~$13.99/mo), Replika Pro, and SpicyChat paid tiers bill flat for core chat — no per-message wallet. Hidden costs shift to annual upfront charges, in-app tier upgrades, or separate visual apps you pair later.
BYOK API Fees (Janitor AI)
Janitor AI Pro ($9.99/mo) does not include third-party LLM usage. Bring-your-own-key paths bill OpenAI-compatible providers separately — heavy users can exceed subscription cost. Budget API dashboards weekly if you route every scene through a premium model.
How to Estimate Your Real Monthly Bill
1) Count messages + media actions per week. 2) Add subscription. 3) Add token/coin packs you actually bought in trial. 4) Compare to a flat app that covers your primary need. See AI companion pricing for product snapshots.
FAQ
Do unused tokens roll over? Assume no on Candy AI unless policy text says otherwise. Are coins the same as tokens? Similar psychology — burst charges on top of subscription. Cheapest visual habit? Curated apps may beat token roulette if you generate daily — compare Candy AI vs AISOUL.