# Usage and cost ceilings

> Track provider token usage and estimated cost per job, and set site-wide or per-user monthly cost ceilings so spending on your own API key stays predictable.

Source: https://sourcedwriter.com/docs/usage-and-cost-ceilings/

Because you use your own key, you pay your AI provider directly. The plugin records usage for each request so you can see where the money goes.

## Usage and cost screen

**AI Blog Writer → Usage and cost** shows the provider connection state, the funding source (your own key) and the estimated site cost for the current month. Each finished job also shows its own usage.

## How cost is estimated

In Settings, **Input cost / 1M units (USD)** and **Output cost / 1M units (USD)** hold your model's per-million-token prices. The plugin multiplies them by the usage the provider reports. Set them from your provider's current price list. The result is an estimate, and your provider's invoice is the final figure.

## Cost ceilings

Under **Cost, privacy, and advanced controls**:

- **Monthly cost ceiling (USD)**: a limit for the whole site.
- **Per-user monthly ceiling (USD)**: a limit for each user's jobs.

A value of `0` means no ceiling. Before each paid stage, the plugin checks whether that stage would push the month over a ceiling. If it would, the job stops with `cost_limit_reached`: "Monthly cost ceiling would be exceeded. Raise the limit or wait until next month."

Ceilings are a guardrail inside WordPress. Also set a spending limit in your provider's dashboard.