# Support Assistant

The Support Assistant bills per question once it finishes, typically $0.10 to $0.50, and failed questions are free.

## Price

| Meter | Included | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | None | About $0.10 to $0.50 per question, never more than its `maxCostUsd` ($3 by default) |

There is no subscription and no fee for reading answers. The exact amount comes back as `costUsd` on each answer.

## What counts

| Question | You pay |
|---|---|
| A typical question | $0.10 to $0.50 |
| The most one question can cost | Its `maxCostUsd`: from $0.50 to $3, $3 by default |
| Handed to the Zernio team (`needs_human`) | Charged like an answered question |
| Failed or expired (`failed`) | $0 |
| Reading answers (`GET` calls and webhooks) | $0 |

## Example

A question that cost $0.33 is charged $0.33, shown as `costUsd`. Ten of them in a month cost $3.30.

## Limits

- **`maxCostUsd` caps each question.** Near the cap the run stops investigating and answers with what it found (`stopReason: cost_cap`). If it has nothing to answer yet, it ends as `failed` and costs nothing.
- **At most $100 per account per UTC month.** A question is accepted only if its `maxCostUsd` fits in what is left, and questions still running count at their cap. Otherwise it gets `429 support_monthly_cap_exceeded`.
- **Needs** a usage-based plan and a card on file.
- **Invoice line:** Support API.

## Related

- [How billing works](/pricing/billing)
- [Support Assistant](/support-assistant): ask a question, and the integration steps.
- [Support Assistant webhooks](/webhooks/support-assistant)