Creative Units (CUs) are how Layer measures and charges for generation activity. Understanding how they work helps you get the most out of your subscription and know exactly what to expect when something goes wrong during a generation.
How Creative Units work
Every time you successfully create something on Layer, whether it's an image, video, audio clip, or 3D asset, a number of Creative Units are deducted from your workspace balance. The exact amount depends on a few factors:
Modality: 2D, video, 3D, and audio each have different base costs, with video and 3D typically consuming more CUs than images or audio.
Resolution or duration: Higher resolution images and longer videos cost more CUs than smaller or shorter ones.
Model type: Different AI models have different costs set by their respective providers. These can change over time as providers update pricing or improve efficiency.
All CU usage is pooled across your workspace. Every team member draws from the same shared balance, so you only ever pay for what your team actually creates, regardless of how many users are in the workspace.
What happens when a generation fails
If a generation fails or gets stuck without completing, Creative Units are not deducted from your balance. You are only charged for generations that finish successfully. This applies whether the failure is caused by a platform issue, a third-party model provider outage, or any other error.
If a generation is slow but eventually completes successfully, CUs will be charged as normal. The time taken does not affect whether a charge applies; only whether the generation finishes.
How to verify your usage after a failed generation
If you believe CUs were deducted incorrectly after errors, you can check your usage directly in your workspace:
1 | Click your workspace icon in the top left corner of Layer. |
2 | Select Usage from the menu. |
3 | Review your usage events. Each logged entry corresponds to a generation that completed successfully and was charged. Failed generations will not appear here. |
4 | Use the filters to narrow by user, model, modality, or date range if you need to find a specific session. |
If after reviewing your usage events something still looks incorrect, contact support with your session link and we will investigate directly.
Common balance issues
Purchased units not showing up
Occasionally, units purchased via a one-time CU pack or a subscription change may take a short time to appear in your balance. If your balance has not updated after a few minutes, try refreshing your workspace. If it still has not updated, contact support with confirmation of your purchase and we will resolve it promptly.
Balance showing as negative
A negative balance can occur if CU packs from a previous billing cycle were applied and then reset, or if there is a processing delay between a payment and the balance being credited. If your balance is showing as negative after a payment, contact support with your payment confirmation and we will correct it.
Charged for a subscription you did not intend to continue
Layer subscriptions renew automatically at the start of each billing cycle. If you were charged for a period you did not intend to use, contact support as soon as possible. Refund eligibility is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with recent charges being the most straightforward to address.
Accidentally upgraded to the wrong plan
If you selected a higher subscription tier than intended, contact support with the details of the change and we will help review your options. You can also adjust your subscription tier at any time by going to Workspace Settings > Subscriptions.
Tracking and managing your CU balance
You can monitor your remaining Creative Units and review detailed usage at any time from your workspace:
Go to Workspace > Usage for a breakdown of consumption by user, model, modality, and date range.
Your current balance is visible from the same area, showing how many CUs remain in the current billing cycle.
On monthly plans, unused CUs reset at the start of each billing cycle. Up to 10% of your monthly allocation may carry over.
On annual plans, your full year's allocation is available upfront. Up to 10% of your annual allocation may carry over at renewal.
If you are running low on CUs before your next billing cycle, you can purchase a one-time top-up pack of 500 units for $40, or increase your monthly subscription allocation from the Subscriptions page. For more detail on plan options and pricing, see the Guide to Layer's Subscriptions and Pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
I got an error during generation. Were my CUs charged?
No. CUs are only deducted for generations that complete successfully. If your generation returned an error and did not produce an output, you were not charged. You can confirm this by checking Workspace > Usage and looking for an entry matching that session.
My generation was very slow but eventually finished. Am I charged?
Yes. If a generation completes and produces an output, CUs are charged as normal regardless of how long it took to finish.
I purchased a CU pack but my balance is still showing zero.
Try refreshing your workspace first. If the balance has still not updated after a few minutes, contact support with your purchase confirmation and we will credit the units manually.
Do CUs roll over if I do not use them all?
A small rollover is available. On monthly plans, up to 10% of your monthly allocation may carry over to the next cycle. On annual plans, up to 10% of your annual allocation may carry over at renewal. One-time CU packs must be used before the end of your current billing cycle and do not roll over.
Do all workspace members share the same CU balance?
Yes. All members of a workspace draw from the same shared CU balance. Adding or removing users does not affect the balance directly; only the generations they produce consume CUs.
What happens to my remaining CUs if I cancel my subscription?
Any remaining CUs stay available until the start of your next billing cycle, after which they expire. CUs are non-transferable and non-refundable upon cancellation.
Can I get a refund if I was charged but did not use the platform?
All usage is prepaid and non-refundable as a general policy. However, if you believe a charge was applied in error or if you were charged shortly before cancelling, contact support with the details and the team will review it.
Still seeing an issue with your balance or a charge that does not look right? Contact our support team with your session link or payment confirmation and we will look into it.