ByTheWeb is designed so that you can use a large part of the platform without using AI credits.
Many features work locally inside WordPress and do not require AI credits at all. Credits are used when you ask ByTheWeb Cloud to perform supported AI-assisted actions.
This means you can choose how you want to work:
- Use the free tools and manage your content manually
- Connect an API Key and use AI when it saves you time
- Combine both approaches
You remain in control of when AI credits are used.
What Is Free in ByTheWeb?
A free feature is a feature or action that does not consume ByTheWeb AI credits.
Many core ByTheWeb features also work without creating an account or connecting an API Key.
Installing or activating ByTheWeb AI or ByTheWeb GEO does not automatically start a paid subscription and does not consume credits.
ByTheWeb GEO Core Features Are Free
Most of ByTheWeb GEO works locally inside WordPress.
You can use its core GEO, structured data, analysis, and technical optimization features without AI credits.
This includes supported features such as:
- SEO & GEO Dashboard
- GEO Score and AI Readiness analysis
- Manual AI Summary and Short Answer management
- Manual FAQ Schema management
- llms.txt and llms-full.txt
- Primary Entity configuration
- Organization and Person structured data
- Business Locations and LocalBusiness Schema
- Services and Customer Support Schema
- Article Schema
- Page Type Schema
- BreadcrumbList Schema
- Visible Breadcrumbs
- GEO shortcodes
- GEO Elementor widgets
When ByTheWeb GEO is also your active SEO provider, its supported traditional SEO functionality is available locally as well.
This can include:
- SEO Titles
- Meta Descriptions
- Title and Description Templates
- Canonical URLs
- Index / Noindex controls
- Social Image / Open Graph
- XML Sitemap
- Robots.txt AI Policy Manager
If Yoast SEO or Rank Math SEO is active, those supported plugins remain responsible for overlapping traditional SEO functionality.
That is a compatibility decision, not a credit limitation.
The SEO & GEO Dashboard Does Not Use Credits
Using the SEO & GEO Dashboard does not consume AI credits.
You can review:
- Content that Needs Attention
- Optimized content
- GEO Scores
- SEO Scores when ByTheWeb GEO manages SEO
- Individual GEO checks
- Individual SEO checks where applicable
- Missing AI Summary
- Missing Short Answer
- Missing FAQ Schema
- Other supported optimization signals
You can open detailed analysis, edit content manually, and continue improving your website without spending credits.
Credits are used only when you actively choose a supported Fix with AI action.
AI Summary and Short Answer Can Be Added Manually for Free
The AI Summary & Short Answer fields themselves are not paid features.
You can write, edit, and save them manually without connecting an API Key or using AI credits.
If ByTheWeb AI is connected, you can optionally ask AI to generate these fields for you.
The same principle applies throughout ByTheWeb:
Manual editing is free. AI generation may use credits.
FAQ Schema Can Be Managed for Free
FAQ Schema combines free manual functionality with optional AI generation.
Without consuming AI credits, you can:
- Add questions and answers manually
- Edit existing FAQs
- Reorder FAQ items
- Remove FAQ items
- Output supported FAQ / Q&A structured data
- Display FAQ content using the available shortcode
- Display FAQ content using the ByTheWeb AI Elementor FAQ Widget
AI credits are used when you ask ByTheWeb AI to analyze existing content and automatically generate FAQ questions and answers.
For the complete FAQ workflow, see:
Media Optimization Can Be Used Manually for Free
The Image Metadata Optimization tools inside ByTheWeb AI let you review and manage image metadata manually without using AI credits.
You can review and edit:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
The Media Optimization screen can also help identify images with missing or incomplete metadata.
AI credits are used only when you ask ByTheWeb AI to generate new image metadata automatically.
For more information, see:
What Is Free in the AI Audit?
The AI Audit / Website Scanner is separate from the normal credit-based AI actions available inside WordPress.
Running an AI Audit does not deduct FAQ, Media Metadata, or Fix with AI credits from your normal WordPress AI credit balance.
Without connecting an API Key, you can access the supported engines available in the free AI Audit experience.
Connecting your ByTheWeb account unlocks the complete supported AI Audit experience.
You can also use the public scanner directly:
What Requires an API Key?
A connected ByTheWeb API Key is required when your WordPress website needs to use supported ByTheWeb Cloud AI functionality.
This includes features such as:
- AI FAQ generation
- AI-assisted image metadata generation
- Fix with AI actions through ByTheWeb GEO
- Other supported cloud AI-assisted actions
The API Key also enables the complete supported AI Audit experience.
Connecting an API Key does not consume credits by itself.
Credits are used when you perform an AI action that has a credit cost.
For setup instructions, see:
What Are AI Credits?
AI credits are usage units used by ByTheWeb Cloud for supported AI-powered actions.
Different actions require different amounts of AI processing, so each feature can have its own credit cost.
For example:
- Generating a Short Answer is a smaller operation
- Generating metadata for an existing image uses image-analysis processing
The current credit prices are centrally managed by ByTheWeb and can be updated without requiring a new plugin version.
AI Credits per Action
The current AI credit costs are:
| AI Action | Credits |
|---|---|
| AI FAQ Generation | 450 Credits |
| Post AI Short Answer | 50 Credits |
| Post AI Summary | 150 Credits |
| Post SEO Title | 50 Credits |
| Post SEO Description | 150 Credits |
| Image Metadata Generator | 185 Credits |
Image Metadata Generator Is a Separate Action
The Image Metadata Generator cost applies when you use AI to analyze an existing image and create or regenerate its metadata separately.
For example, from:
ByTheWeb AI > Media Opt.
you may find an existing image with missing or incomplete fields and ask AI to generate:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
That standalone image-analysis action uses the Image Metadata Generator credit cost.
Manual editing remains free.
Where Do These Credit Prices Come From?
Credit prices are centrally managed by ByTheWeb Cloud.
The WordPress plugin retrieves the current prices so supported AI interfaces can display the appropriate cost.
This allows ByTheWeb to update AI processing costs without requiring you to install a new version of the plugin simply because an AI action price changed.
The values displayed by the current ByTheWeb interface should therefore be treated as the current price for an AI action.
You can also review the current pricing information on:
Fix with AI and Credits
ByTheWeb GEO can identify missing or incomplete information without consuming AI credits.
When ByTheWeb AI is installed and connected, supported Fix with AI actions allow you to generate selected missing information directly from the SEO & GEO Dashboard.
Depending on the available field and your current SEO-provider setup, supported actions can include:
- Short Answer
- AI Summary
- FAQ Schema
- Focus Keyword
- SEO Title
- Meta Description
The Dashboard itself is free.
Credits are used for the AI generation action you choose.
For more information, see:
What Happens If I Do Not Have Enough Credits?
Before a chargeable AI action is processed, ByTheWeb checks whether the connected domain has enough available credits.
If the available credit balance is lower than the required amount, the AI action cannot continue.
You can then:
- Wait for the next monthly credit reset, if applicable
- Purchase Extra Credits
- Select another available subscription package
Running out of credits does not disable the free ByTheWeb features.
It does not remove:
- Existing content
- Existing Schema
- Existing FAQ data
- GEO settings
- SEO settings
- Entity information
- Sitemap configuration
- LLM files
You can continue managing and editing your website manually.
What Happens to My Existing Content If My Credits or Subscription End?
Running out of AI credits, reaching the end of a trial or subscription, or removing the registered domain from your ByTheWeb account does not delete content already stored in your WordPress website.
There is an important difference between ByTheWeb Cloud access, data stored locally by the plugins, and normal WordPress content.
Locally Stored ByTheWeb Data
Content and settings already stored locally by ByTheWeb remain in the WordPress database.
As long as the relevant ByTheWeb plugin remains active, its supported local features can continue to use and display that stored data even when Cloud AI generation is no longer available.
This can include locally stored information such as:
- AI Summary
- Short Answer
- FAQ questions and answers
- GEO settings
- Schema configuration
- Entity information
- Other supported plugin settings and content
Ending a credit package or subscription does not automatically remove this local data.
What Happens If a ByTheWeb Plugin Is Deactivated?
Deactivating a plugin does not by itself delete the data that has already been stored by that plugin.
However, features that depend on the plugin to render, register, or output them may stop appearing while the responsible plugin is inactive.
For example, supported plugin-rendered output such as:
- AI Summary
- Short Answer
- FAQ display
- Schema output
- Other plugin-generated frontend output
may no longer appear while the plugin responsible for that output is deactivated.
The stored data itself is not removed simply because the plugin is deactivated.
Normal WordPress Content Remains
Content that has already been created and saved as normal WordPress content remains independently of whether ByTheWeb AI or ByTheWeb GEO is active.
This includes:
- WordPress posts and pages
- Files saved in the WordPress Media Library
- Image Alt Text
- Image Title
- Image Caption
- Image Description
Once these items have been saved as normal WordPress posts, media, or attachment metadata, they remain part of the WordPress website.
The plugins are not required simply for those saved WordPress items to continue existing.
How Are Credits Associated with My Website?
AI credits are associated with the connected website domain.
The ByTheWeb API Key is connected to that registered domain when the website communicates with ByTheWeb Cloud.
The available credit balance is therefore managed for the connected domain.
What Is a Monthly Credit Allowance?
A subscription package provides a defined monthly AI credit allowance.
The WordPress API Connection & Credits screen displays information about the connected domain, including supported details such as:
- Active Plan
- Billing period
- Credit Balance
- Monthly credit allowance
- Next credit reset
- Extra Credits
The exact number of credits depends on your current plan.
For current subscription options and pricing, see:
For a complete explanation of subscriptions, see:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
Credits Reset Monthly
Normal subscription credits reset every month.
This is also true when your subscription is billed annually.
An annual plan with a monthly credit allowance still receives that allowance on a monthly usage cycle.
Annual billing changes the billing period.
It does not convert the monthly credits into one combined annual credit balance.
Do Unused Monthly Credits Roll Over?
No.
Unused credits from your normal monthly subscription allowance do not accumulate into future months.
When the next monthly credit period begins, the normal allowance resets according to your plan.
If you want a separate reserve that remains available beyond the normal monthly reset, you can use Extra Credits.
What Are Extra Credits?
Extra Credits are a separate credit balance that can be purchased in addition to an eligible paid subscription.
Unlike normal monthly plan credits, Extra Credits:
- Do not reset each month
- Remain available until used
- Can provide additional AI usage after the normal monthly balance has been exhausted
An active paid base subscription is required to use Extra Credits.
For full details, see:
Which Credits Are Used First?
Your normal monthly plan credits are used before Extra Credits.
The general flow is:
- ByTheWeb uses your available monthly plan credits.
- The monthly balance decreases as paid AI actions are performed.
- If the monthly allowance has been exhausted, available Extra Credits can be used.
- At the next monthly reset, your normal plan allowance becomes available again.
- Your remaining Extra Credits stay separate and available while the domain has an eligible active subscription.
Can I Buy Extra Credits Without Changing My Subscription?
Extra Credits are separate from normal recurring subscription packages.
They are available for eligible domains with an active paid subscription.
Available Extra Credit packages can be viewed through:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
For more information, see:
What Is the Free Trial?
Eligible domains can activate the current ByTheWeb free AI trial.
The current trial provides:
5,000 AI Credits
for 30 days.
No credit card is required.
The trial is associated with the registered website domain and starts when the API Key is successfully connected from that website.
A domain can activate the free trial only once.
For the complete activation process, see:
Do I Have to Subscribe After the Trial?
No.
The free trial does not require a credit card and does not automatically create a paid subscription.
When the trial ends, you can decide whether you want to purchase an AI credit plan.
The local functionality of ByTheWeb remains available even if you decide not to subscribe.
Monthly Billing vs. Annual Billing
ByTheWeb AI plans are available with monthly or annual billing.
Both billing options provide the monthly credit allowance defined by the selected plan.
With Monthly Billing, the subscription uses a monthly billing period.
With Annual Billing, the subscription is billed annually, while the AI credit allowance still resets monthly.
Current plans and prices are shown inside:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
and on:
For the full explanation, see:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
Are Credits Shared Between ByTheWeb AI and ByTheWeb GEO?
ByTheWeb AI provides the connected Cloud AI functionality used by supported AI-powered ByTheWeb workflows.
When ByTheWeb GEO uses a supported Fix with AI action through the connected ByTheWeb AI plugin, that AI action uses the credit balance associated with the connected domain.
A separate ByTheWeb GEO AI credit balance is not created for those actions.
Are Credits Shared Between Different Websites?
No.
ByTheWeb subscriptions, API Keys, and credit balances are associated with individual registered domains.
A package purchased for one domain is not a shared credit pool for unrelated websites.
If you manage multiple websites, the domains and their API Keys can be managed through your ByTheWeb account.
See:
Managing Your ByTheWeb Account
Does Manual Editing Use Credits?
No.
Manually typing, editing, configuring, or saving supported information does not consume AI credits.
Examples include manually:
- Writing a Short Answer
- Writing an AI Summary
- Adding FAQ questions and answers
- Editing image metadata
- Configuring your Primary Entity
- Adding Business Locations
- Adding Services
- Managing Schema settings
- Managing LLM files
- Reviewing the SEO & GEO Dashboard
- Managing ByTheWeb GEO SEO settings when ByTheWeb is your active SEO provider
Credits are used for AI-powered processing, not for normal WordPress administration.
Does Viewing Reports or Scores Use Credits?
No.
Viewing:
- GEO Scores
- SEO Scores
- Needs Attention
- Optimized content
- Detailed Dashboard checks
- Existing saved data
does not consume AI credits.
You can use the SEO & GEO Dashboard without spending AI credits simply by reviewing its reports and scores.
A Simple Way to Think About Free vs. Credits
Free
Use ByTheWeb’s local tools yourself.
You can:
- Analyze
- Review
- Configure
- Write
- Edit
- Structure
- Optimize
- Manage
your website manually.
AI Credits
Use supported ByTheWeb AI-assisted actions.
For example:
- Generate FAQs
- Generate a Short Answer
- Generate an AI Summary
- Generate SEO metadata
- Generate metadata for an existing image
- Use Fix with AI
You decide when to use AI-powered actions.
Where Can I See My Current Credit Balance?
Open:
ByTheWeb AI > API Connection & Credits
After your API Key is connected, the page displays the current information for the connected domain.
This can include:
- Active Plan
- Billing period
- Credit Balance
- Monthly allowance
- Next reset
- Extra Credits
The same screen also displays the subscription and Extra Credit packages currently available to the connected domain.
Where Should I Go Next?
To connect the AI-powered features:
To understand subscriptions and monthly resets:
Plans, Billing & Credit Resets
To understand additional credit balances:
To compare the two WordPress plugins: