If you’ve logged into HubSpot lately, you’ve probably seen something new: credits. They’ve sparked plenty of curiosity (and confusion) among users trying to understand what they are, how they work, and how to make the most of them.
In this episode of Machine Logic, Jill and Charlie break down what HubSpot credits actually are, why they exist, and how to use them strategically. They also share best practices for avoiding overages, tips on experimenting with AI tools, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to put your existing credits to work.
Watch or read the conversation below to learn how to make sense of HubSpot’s evolving AI pricing model and use credits to your advantage.
Watch the Discussion
Transcript
Hey, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Machine Logic. After doing a few of these, we decided to give it a name! As always, I’m Jill, this is Charlie, and we’re from Simple Machines.
Today we’re here to talk about HubSpot credits. There’s been a lot of confusion around what they are and how they work. They’ve been a source of intrigue—and maybe a bit of frustration—for some folks. So we’re here to explain what HubSpot credits are, what’s causing the confusion, and how to think about taking advantage of them.
If you’ve logged into HubSpot recently, you’ve probably noticed credits popping up across your account. This new system is part of HubSpot’s AI rollout and pricing evolution.
Right. Credits are HubSpot’s way of letting users flexibly pay for AI tools and features. Think of things like AI agents, intent tracking, workflows, or other AI-powered tools that show up in your subscription.
So it’s how HubSpot charges for using those tools?
Exactly. Credits are what you use to “spend” on AI functions inside HubSpot.
So would it be fair to compare this to cell phone minutes back in the day? You get a certain number of minutes—or in this case, credits—each month, and once you use them up, you can either stop or pay for more?
That’s a perfect comparison. Credits are pooled at the account level, not per user. So if your HubSpot account includes multiple users, everyone draws from the same bucket of credits.
There’s also a rate table that shows how credits are spent on different features. For example, tracking intent signals might cost 10 credits per company per month, while using a customer agent might be 100 credits per conversation.
That’s definitely different from the traditional SaaS model, where you just pay for a license and get full access to everything.
Exactly—and HubSpot knows it can be tricky. The good news is, you can check your credits usage right in your account. Just click on “Credits” and you’ll see how many you have, how many you’ve used, and what’s consuming them.
And remember—credits are use-it-or-lose-it. They don’t roll over month to month.
That’s good to know. I’ve also heard people worry about burning through credits too fast and getting hit with surprise charges. How does this compare to contact tiers, where you can easily get bumped up to a new pricing level?
Great question. With contact tiers, if you go over, you automatically get upgraded—and there’s no going back. Credits are more flexible. If you use all your credits, you can choose whether to auto-upgrade to the next level or pay as you go. That way you’re not forced into a higher plan without warning.
That’s reassuring. What about beta tools? I’ve heard some are free for now but might start using credits later.
Yes, that’s another thing to watch out for. Some beta agents and AI tools are free temporarily. But once they roll out fully, they’ll start consuming credits. So check your usage regularly—especially if you’ve been experimenting with new tools.
Got it. So best practices would be:
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Check your usage page regularly.
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Keep an eye on tools moving out of beta.
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Communicate with your team since credits are shared across the account.
Exactly. Designate someone—maybe an admin or RevOps lead—as the “credit master.” They can track usage and help prevent surprises.
I like that idea. And for folks who are new to this, it sounds like a good approach is to experiment with the free credits first, right?
Definitely. Use your free credits to explore different agents and tools. You’ll get a sense of what’s valuable before committing to more.
So don’t be afraid to get in there and start testing.
Exactly. It might feel confusing at first, but the more you use it, the clearer it gets. And if you’re seeing value from things like customer agents, intent signals, or smart properties with the Data Agent, those are likely worth paying for once you understand their impact.
Great advice. Well, I think that wraps it up. Hopefully this helps clear up some of the confusion around HubSpot credits. We’ll include links to HubSpot’s rate tables and help docs below.
And as always, if you have questions or need help experimenting with HubSpot’s AI tools, we’re here to help.
Thanks everyone!
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