How do MCP servers handle credits and billing?

How metering works

When an agent calls a paid tool, the MCP server identifies you from your key or token, verifies you have enough credits, performs the work, and deducts the cost. A well-designed server returns a clear error if you are out of credits, including where to top up, so the agent can tell you what happened.

AetherWave uses this pattern: each tool reports credit cost, deducts on success, and exposes aetherwave_balance so the agent can check your remaining credits at any time.

Credits vs subscriptions

AetherWave offers two ways to fund usage: a Studio subscription (from $9.99/mo with a monthly credit grant) and one-time credit bundles (from $4.99) that never expire. Both feed the same balance the MCP tools draw on.

Because billing lives with your account rather than the agent, the same credits work whether you generate from the web app, Claude Code, or any other client.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the agent know how much a tool costs?

Yes. Tools report credit cost, and the AetherWave balance tool lets the agent check your remaining credits, so it can confirm cost before generating.

Do credits expire?

AetherWave bundle credits never expire. Subscription credits are granted monthly with the plan.