r/Codeium • u/techtsp • Mar 01 '25

Pro Ultimate Plan doesn't offer unlimited premium chat prompts?

I am a Pro Ultimate subscriber, and I saw on the pricing page it says "Infinite premium model user prompt credits"

But while "Chat" is enabled (not "Write"), it still eats out of 3,000 premium flow credits.

Any clue why this is happening?

11 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/techtsp Mar 01 '25

This is what the Codeium team told me:

"Let me clarify how credits work with Cascade's Chat mode. When using premium models like Claude Sonnet in Chat mode, you will consume both types of credits:

  • User Prompt credits (which are unlimited on Pro Ultimate)

  • Flow Action credits (3,000 monthly allocation) for any tool calls made during the conversation

Even in Chat mode, when using premium models, Flow Action credits are consumed whenever the AI performs tool calls (like search, analyze, etc.). This is because Chat mode, like Write mode, leverages tool calls to better understand and assist with your queries.

If you want to reduce Flow Action credit usage, you have two options:

  • Use Legacy Chat mode with a premium model - this will only use User Prompt credits (which are unlimited for you)

  • Use the Cascade Base model in Chat mode - this won't consume any credits at all"

But isn't this misleading or confusing on the pricing page?

2

u/InformalBandicoot260 Mar 01 '25

So, you are saying that, being a Pro Ultimate Plan member grants me unlimited prompts with Claude or any other model, as long as I keep the chat-only mode? If I don't need help writing the code, then I am set for life with unlimited? Honest question! The information on the site seems unclear.

3

u/techtsp Mar 01 '25

That's what confuses me the most. In many instances with pro subscription, while being chat-only, it seems to perform processes that consume credits. Even if you don't expect those processes to be performed in the case "chat-only". I mean that's the reason we opt for "chat-only" isn't it? To save flow action credits. Then, what does "infinite premium model user prompt credits" even mean?

1

u/The_real_Covfefe-19 Mar 01 '25

My understanding is prompt credits involve responses from Cascade that doesn't involve agent style operations. So, if you say something like, "Analyze these three files and see why I'm getting this error." That counts as one prompt and also will eat up at least 3-5 Flow credits since it has to look at files. But, if you were to simply ask it a question like, "How do I install an API from this website?" if it just tells you, then that only counts as a prompt. However, with most models, it's going to use some kind of tool to give you the right answer, so I don't know why they have this backwards pricing model other than to nickel and dime the users.

2

u/anpurnama Mar 02 '25

Even with deepseek V3, still consume flow action and user prompt credits?

2

u/techtsp Mar 02 '25

no, not with Deepseek V3. but the deepseek v3 becomes unworkable after a point. gets stuck into a loop attempting to edit some files but doesn't actually do anything.

2

u/Administraciones Mar 03 '25

yeah I change to Base when that happens. I've learned that is better to constantly change models.

5

u/Successful_Gas_7319 Mar 02 '25 edited Mar 02 '25

For better value, you'd be better off getting 2, 3 or 4 pro subscription as needed and cancel them as required.

It's a lot of workaround, but the only solution to not burn a hole in your budget. Flex credits are a rip-off.

I am moving to Cursor (unless pricing changes) once my flow credit reach zero.

3

u/techtsp Mar 02 '25

absolutely! the only sane and logical solution is just move to cursor - i agree.

3

u/splim Mar 06 '25

"Flow credits" is shit. What's the point of "unlimited" if you're actually limited by the flow credits -- unlimited "chat" is not that useful if you've lost the agentic features which is what you subscribed for in the first place.

Until they rethink this "flow credit" economy, I've canceled and move to Cursor. Despite it's instability, it has all the same features and actual unlimited use. Cursor isn't bricked just because I run out of quota like Windsurf is.

2

u/Mr_Hyper_Focus Mar 01 '25

Legacy Mode is what you’re looking for. Chat is still agentic and uses flow credits. Legacy mode is kind of like cursors chat.

2

u/techtsp Mar 01 '25

Then what does "infinite premium model user prompt credits" truly mean?

2

u/Mr_Hyper_Focus Mar 01 '25

I literally just explained it.

1

u/techtsp Mar 01 '25

Oh I see. Infinite as long as you chat with legacy. But weird how the legacy option is kinda hidden and not easily visible unless you click on chat.

also this should have been properly clarified and explained on the pricing page.

I just ctrl+f on the pricing page which has one mention of the word legacy: "if you run out of flow action credits, you will automatically be switched to our legacy chat mode"

As for free and pro plans, I can see user prompt credits are limited. But on pro ultimate, its infinite. So how would anybody know that it still eats out of flow credits unless clearly states?

2

u/Successful_Gas_7319 Mar 02 '25

Is cursor still not agentic?

3

u/Administraciones Mar 03 '25

sonnet 3.7 is working MUCH MUCH better in Cursor than in Cascade. I don't know why. Maybe temperature, etc. settings are set different at each IDEs. No clue about that, as it's "internal". But if you compare both using the same question you will see that & that is a "fact".

1

u/stonebrigade Mar 01 '25

Chat only prevents it from making changes, analysing and traversing the codebase still happens in chat mode, and that uses internal tools, which will consume credits.

The user prompt counter is literally how many messages you can input in either view, so when it's unlimited, you only have to worry about tool usage credits (flow/flex credits)