How credits work
pdf-mcp uses prepaid credits for its API and MCP server. You buy credits as needed and use them to generate or process PDFs. There is no monthly subscription or hidden fee.
Pricing summary: HTML-to-PDF, template rendering, and PDF-to-image operations cost 1 credit for the first page, plus 0.01 for each extra page. AI template generation costs 1 credit per successful message. Utility operations cost 0.01 credits, while direct file, template, asset, and theme management is free.
Credit usage
Generation operations
Operations that render or rasterize PDFs have a flat base cost that includes the first page. Each additional page adds 0.01 credits:
| Operation | Base (first page included) | Per extra page | Example (10 pages) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTML to PDF | 1.00 | +0.01 | 1.09 credits |
| Render Template | 1.00 | +0.01 | 1.09 credits |
| PDF to Image | 1.00 | +0.01 | 1.09 credits |
Formula: credits = 1.0 + (max(0, page_count - 1) × 0.01)
A single-page PDF costs exactly 1.00 credit. The per-page surcharge only applies from the second page onward.
AI template generation
A successful Generate Template request or template-assistant message costs a flat 1.00 credit. Failed generation attempts do not consume credits.
Utility operations
Utility operations cost a flat 0.01 credits per request, regardless of document size:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| Extract Text | 0.01 |
| Text to PDF | 0.01 |
| Image to PDF | 0.01 |
| Get Page Count | 0.01 |
| Extract Pages | 0.01 |
| Merge PDFs | 0.01 |
| Grep PDF (search) | 0.01 |
| Search Documents | 0.01 |
| Get Form Fields | 0.01 |
| Fill Form | 0.01 |
| Crop PDF | 0.01 |
Free operations
Management and preview operations do not use credits:
- Files: upload, list, retrieve, download, or delete stored documents
- Templates: create, list, retrieve, update, delete, publish, roll back, or view versions
- Template assets: upload, list, or delete assets
- Template previews and schemas: preview a template or derive its input schema
- Themes: create, list, delete, publish, roll back, or view versions
No hidden costs
- API calls that fail or return errors do not consume credits
- Downloading generated PDFs from storage is free
- Account operations such as API key generation and settings changes are free
Free credit coupon
Every new pdf-mcp account can claim 100 free credits with the
WELCOME100 coupon. You do not need a credit card, so you can test the API before buying credits.
- Redeem the coupon from the dashboard after creating your account
- The 100 credits are added when the coupon is redeemed successfully
- Free credits are non-transferable and available once per user
- Creating multiple accounts to obtain additional free credits is prohibited
100 credits can generate approximately 100 single-page PDFs or cover thousands of utility operations such as text extraction and merging. You can use them to test an integration before production.
Buying credits
Purchase credits through your dashboard in whole-euro amounts from €10 to €10,000. One credit costs €0.01, so €10 buys 1,000 credits. Each purchase is a one-time payment, with no subscription or recurring charge. For high-volume usage, contact us at support@pdf-mcp.io for custom pricing.
Low-balance notifications
Low-balance email alerts are enabled by default. Manage them from the Credits page:
- How it works
- Low-balance notices may be sent as your balance changes. The emails include your current balance and a direct link to top up.
- Follow-up reminders
- The service may send additional reminders after later metered API operations while your balance remains low, then stops after four low-balance emails.
- Zero-balance alert
- If your credits hit zero, you'll get a one-time alert so you can top up and resume service.
- Control
- The Credits page lets you enable or disable alerts and set a threshold from 10 to 10,000 credits. The default threshold is 50 credits.
Balance and history
View your balance
You can view your current credit balance:
- On the app dashboard
- On the Credits page, alongside billing and notification settings
Transaction history
The Credits page shows your credit purchases and coupon redemptions. Each entry includes:
- Date of the transaction
- Type, such as a purchase or coupon redemption
- Credits added and, for paid purchases, the euro amount
- Coupon code, when applicable
- Transaction status
Usage analytics
The separate Usage page shows:
- Daily credit usage for the selected 7-, 14-, 30-, or 90-day window
- Total requests, total credits used, average daily requests, and the peak day
- Credit consumption by endpoint and API key
- A recent activity log with status and credits used per request
Credit validity
Credits are tied to your account and are forfeited upon account termination.
Refund policy
Credits are non-refundable once added to your account, subject to our Terms of Service and applicable law. If you believe you were charged incorrectly or credits were consumed because of a service error, email support@pdf-mcp.io within 30 days. We will review refund or credit-adjustment requests.
Credit questions
What happens if I run out of credits?
Metered REST API calls will return a 402 Payment Required error, and metered MCP tools
will report insufficient credits. Your documents, templates, themes, and settings remain intact,
and free management operations remain available. Purchase more credits to resume metered operations.
Can I transfer credits to another account?
Credits are non-transferable between accounts. This policy prevents fraud and abuse of our free credit system.
Do credits work across all API endpoints?
Metered REST API calls, MCP tools, and the template assistant draw from the same account balance.
How do I estimate credit usage for my project?
Use the coupon for 100 free credits to test with real documents. The Usage page shows the credits recorded for metered requests, which you can use to forecast production costs.
Is there a minimum purchase?
Paid top-ups start at €10 and must be whole-euro amounts. You can purchase up to €10,000 at a time.
The WELCOME100 coupon lets a new account evaluate the service before purchasing credits.
Contact
For questions about credits, billing, or pricing, email us:
Email: support@pdf-mcp.io
For technical questions, visit our documentation.