What a free generation is for
The free tier exists to prove the pipeline works so you buy credits. It is normally capped at the lowest fidelity or shortest duration, and sometimes watermarked or restricted in resolution. Its job is to answer one question: does this product read my source photo correctly?
Pattern one: metered retries
Failed or unwanted generations still consume credits. This is the most common and most expensive pattern, because it converts normal trial and error into spend.
Pattern two: expiring packs
- Expiry — credits that lapse push you to generate before you are ready.
- Tier gating — the interesting templates sit one tier above the pack you just bought.
- Resolution paywalls — the output you want costs more credits than the preview implied.
Pattern three: subscription with a credit cap
A monthly fee plus a monthly credit allowance means the effective price per clip depends on how much you use it. Heavy months are cheap per clip; light months are expensive. Judge the plan against your realistic monthly volume, not your optimistic one.
Pattern four: silent backend changes
When a provider swaps models, the number of attempts needed for a good result can change overnight. Your historical cost per clip stops predicting your future cost. Re-measure after any notice of an update.
A buying rule
Never buy the largest pack on your first purchase. Buy the smallest, measure your real cost per kept clip over a week, then buy against that number.