Coming soon—Zenode’s new Cross Ref’s tool! RSVP for the webinar here
Zenode.ai Logo
Log InSign Up

Zenode Credits & Pricing

Zenode uses token based pricing for advanced AI features

Cover Image for Zenode Credits & Pricing

⚡ TL;DR: Basic Catalog Discovery and Browsing Parts are always free. Credits pay for the tokens that are consumed when you ask Zenode's AI to work on your behalf by interpreting documents, surfacing insights, or answering questions directly. There are three self-serve plans with different amounts of monthly credits. You can also earn credits for free through community activities.

Free Catalog Search

Browsing our part catalog is free on Zenode:

  • Search and refine with parametric filters

  • Access part information and specifications

  • Read through datasheets, reference manuals, and other available documents

💡 None of these actions use credits because they're not directly leveraging AI. However, our catalog is still the largest and deepest in industry, and we have created a much broader 'search surface' with which to find what you're looking for.

When Credits Are Used

Credits are consumed in line with token usage for using Zenode's AI features to interact with part information directly.

  • Discovery is AI-powered component search. Type a natural-language question and Zenode searches across millions of parts to find answers. This is the lightest credit action.

  • Deep Dives go deeper than Discovery, parsing the actual technical documentation (datasheets, reference manuals) and returns detailed answers with source citations. Deep Dives use ~10x the credits of a Discovery query because the AI is reading and analyzing significantly more material.

  • Interactive Docs lets you ask questions about a specific part's documentation and get cited answers directly from the datasheet. Each query uses a small amount of credits (similar to Discovery).

  • Alts (a.k.a. Cross Refs) is Zenode's most powerful AI feature. It compares a reference part against alternatives side-by-side, grounded in actual datasheet parameters (not just marketing specs). Alts uses the most credits (roughly 100x a Discovery query) because the AI is doing deep analysis across multiple parts simultaneously. It's also where Zenode saves the most engineering time.

Plans

💡 All self-serve plans include full access to every AI feature. The difference between plans is how many credits you get and whether you can top up when you run out.

  • Free Plan: When you sign up, you get a one-time credit grant loaded into your account (no card required) to try all of our AI Features. When your credits run out, you can earn more through community activities (see below) or upgrade to a paid plan.

  • Starter ($50/mo): Starter gives you great utility for most users, and unlocks Top-ups, which persist until you use them.

  • Pro ($400/mo): Pro gives you roughly 16x the monthly credit capacity of Starter, and access to beta data features as they become available.

Top-Ups

Available on Starter and Pro. When your monthly credits run out mid-cycle, you can purchase additional usage. A few things to know about top-ups:

  • Top-up credits are used only after your monthly credits are exhausted. Your monthly allocation always gets consumed first.

  • Top-up credits persist across billing cycles until spent. They don't expire.

Earning Extra Credits

You can earn bonus credits by helping us grow the community and sharing your work. Earned credits land in your top-up balance and behave exactly like purchased top-ups (they persist until spent and are consumed after your monthly credits).

  • Referring Zenode to friends and colleagues

  • Following us on LinkedIn

  • Completing surveys and feedback forms

Earning activities are available on all plans, including Free. This is the primary way Free users can extend their usage beyond the initial grant.

Subscription & Cancellation

  • Billing: Paid plans renew on your billing date.

  • Cancellation: If you cancel, you’ll keep paid access until the end of your billing period. After that, your account reverts to Free.

  • Refunds: If you believe a refund is necessary, please reach out to Support@Zenode.AI.

Zenode Credits & Pricing FAQs
Quick answers to common questions about credits, plans, and subscriptions.
Do I need credits to search for parts?
No. Searching, browsing, and refining parts with parametric filters is always free. You can also view specs, pricing, and read datasheets and other documentation without using any credits.
What uses up credits?
Credits are consumed when you ask Zenode's AI to actively work for you. This includes Discovery (AI-powered search), Deep Dives (multi-part document analysis), Interactive Docs (AI-assisted datasheet Q&A), and Alts (side-by-side part comparisons grounded in actual datasheet specs). Basically, if the AI is reading, analyzing, or comparing on your behalf, that's when credits are used.
How much do different features cost in credits?
Not all AI features cost the same. Discovery queries are the lightest. Deep Dives use roughly 10x more credits than Discovery because the AI is parsing full technical documentation. Alts uses the most (roughly 100x a Discovery query) because it's doing deep analysis across multiple parts simultaneously. The exact cost depends on the complexity of each query.
Do I need an account to use Zenode?
No account is required for basic browsing. Creating a free account gives you a credit grant to try the AI features (no credit card required).
Can I try the AI features before subscribing?
Yes! When you create a free account, you get a one-time credit grant loaded immediately. It's enough to run a solid number of Discovery searches, several Deep Dives, and a handful of Alts comparisons. No credit card, no commitment.
What's the difference between Free, Starter, and Pro?
Free gives you a one-time credit grant to try things out (it doesn't refill). Starter ($50/mo) gives you the same base capacity but it refills every month, and you can buy top-ups when you run out. Pro ($400/mo) gives you roughly 16x the capacity of Starter (you pay 8x more but get 16x the usage), plus access to deeper data features as they become available. All three plans include full access to every AI feature.
What happens when I run out of credits?
On Free, you can earn more credits through community activities (following us on LinkedIn, sharing your projects, giving feedback, etc.) or upgrade to a paid plan. On Starter or Pro, you can buy a top-up starting at $5, or just wait for your monthly refill at the start of your next billing cycle. Either way, you always keep full access to browsing, part pages, and datasheets.
What are top-ups?
Top-ups let you buy additional credits when your monthly balance runs out (available on Starter and Pro). They start at $5, and the credits persist until you spend them (they don't expire at the end of your billing cycle). Your monthly credits always get used first, so top-ups are a safety net, not a replacement for your subscription.
When do credits reset?
On paid plans, your credit balance refills to full at the start of each monthly billing cycle. Top-up and earned credits don't reset (they persist until spent).
Do unused credits roll over?
Monthly credits do not roll over (use them or lose them). But top-up credits and earned credits persist across billing cycles until you spend them.
How do earned credits work?
You can earn bonus credits by helping us grow the community. Follow us on LinkedIn, post about Zenode on social media, give us feedback in a quick chat, or submit your project to be featured. Earned credits never expire, and they're only used after your monthly credits run out. Earning is available on every plan, including Free (it's the main way Free users can extend their usage beyond the initial grant).
Can I get my credits refunded if the AI gives me a wrong or bad answer?
Yeah, this happens and we don't have a good way to deal with it yet (we're more focused on making it NOT happen in the first place 😅). So if the AI slips up, PLEASE hit the feedback button on the page and include your query and what went wrong (or send to Support@Zenode.ai). If you include detailed feedback we can use in our future training runs, we'll even add an earned bonus for helping us improve!
Does Zenode offer annual billing?
Yes! Both Starter and Pro are available with annual billing at 20% off the monthly price. Your credits still refill monthly (12 loads over the year), but you lock in the lower rate upfront.
I need to cancel my subscription, what happens next?
We're bummed to see you go! You can cancel anytime from your account settings. You'll keep your current plan's access until the end of your billing period. After that, your account reverts to Free. Any top-up or earned credits you've built up stay on your account and carry over.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds aren't automatic, but if you believe one is warranted, reach out to Support@Zenode.ai and we'll handle it case by case.
Do I lose my data or saved work if I downgrade?
No. Your account, saved searches, and any top-up or earned credits remain. You'll just have a lower monthly credit allocation (or no refill at all, if you're going back to Free).
What if I upgrade or downgrade mid-cycle?
Upgrading takes effect immediately (you get the new plan's capacity right away). Downgrading takes effect at the start of your next billing period, so you keep what you paid for through the end of the current cycle. Top-up credits carry over regardless.
I'm an enterprise customer. How do I get started?
Reach out to us at support@zenode.ai and we'll set up a plan tailored to your team's needs, including higher capacity, pooled usage, and dedicated support.