How Do Credits Work?
Credits are the currency that powers AI generation in Carousel Studio. Every time you create a carousel, credits are deducted from your balance based on the number of slides and the options you choose. This guide explains how credits work, how many you get, and how to make the most of them.
What Are Credits?
When you click Generate in Carousel Studio, the app uses AI to write copy for each slide, design layouts, apply themes, and (optionally) generate images. All of this AI processing requires credits.
Think of credits as your generation budget. Each carousel you create costs a certain number of credits, and your balance decreases accordingly. Different plans come with different credit allotments.
How Many Credits Does a Carousel Cost?
The base cost is simple: 1 credit per slide.
- A 3-slide carousel = 3 credits
- A 5-slide carousel = 5 credits
- A 7-slide carousel = 7 credits
- A 10-slide carousel = 10 credits
AI Image Pattern (PRO Only)
If you use a theme with the Image pattern — which uses AI to generate custom images for your slides — each generation adds 2 extra credits to the total cost. This covers the additional AI processing needed to create unique images.
Examples:
| Carousel | Slides | Image Pattern? | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick tip post | 5 | No | 5 |
| Step-by-step guide | 8 | No | 8 |
| Visual listicle | 6 | Yes | 6 + 2 = 8 |
| In-depth carousel | 10 | Yes | 10 + 2 = 12 |
If you're watching your credit usage, choosing a theme without the Image pattern will keep costs at 1 credit per slide.
Credits by Plan
Free Plan
When you sign up for Carousel Studio, you receive 20 credits to get started. This is enough to create a few carousels and explore the app's features.
- 20 credits at signup
- No monthly credit allocation after the initial allotment
- All credits can be used for standard carousel generation (no AI Images on Free plan)
The Free plan is designed for testing and occasional use. Once your signup credits are used, you can upgrade to PRO for a monthly credit allotment.
PRO Plan (Plus)
The PRO plan includes 500 credits every month. That's enough for approximately 50 high-quality carousels (assuming an average of 10 slides each), or more if your carousels are shorter.
- 500 credits refresh on your billing date each month
- Credits do not roll over — unused credits expire when your new monthly allotment arrives
- AI Images are included (adds 2 credits per generation when using Image pattern)
- Access to premium AI models for higher-quality content generation
Free Trial
When you start a PRO trial, you receive 50 credits during the 3-day trial period. You get full access to all PRO features, including AI Images, premium themes, and premium AI models. When you convert to a paid plan, your balance resets to the full 500 monthly credits.
When Do Credits Reset?
PRO plan credits reset on your billing date each month. For example, if your billing date is the 15th, your balance refreshes to 500 credits on the 15th of every month.
Unused credits from the previous month do not carry over. If you have 200 credits remaining when your reset date arrives, your balance goes back to 500 — not 700.
What Happens When You Run Out of Credits?
If you run out of credits:
- Free plan users: You won't be able to generate new carousels until you upgrade to PRO. Your existing carousels are still accessible and editable in Canva.
- PRO plan users: Your credits will refresh on your next billing date. In the meantime, you can still edit and export carousels you've already generated.
Tips for Managing Your Credits
Here are a few ways to get the most value from your credits:
- Plan your carousels before generating — A well-thought-out prompt produces better results on the first try, so you won't need to regenerate
- Choose the right number of slides — Don't create 10-slide carousels if 5 slides would be enough. Shorter carousels cost fewer credits.
- Skip the Image pattern when you don't need it — If your content doesn't require AI-generated images, use a theme without the Image pattern to save 2 credits per generation
- Batch your carousel creation — If you create content on a schedule, plan your carousels for the month and generate them in batches so you can track your usage
Getting More Credits
- Free users: Upgrade to PRO to receive 500 credits every month, plus access to AI Images, premium themes, and all PRO features
- PRO users: Your 500 credits renew automatically on each billing date. If you consistently need more, consider creating shorter carousels or using non-image themes to stretch your allotment
Learn more about pricing and plans
Have questions? Contact our support team or visit our pricing page.