> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.catdoes.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Saving Credits

> Tips and strategies to get the most out of your CatDoes credits.

## How Credits Work

Every time a CatDoes agent performs a step — generating a design, writing code, or running a build — it consumes credits. The cost of each step depends on which **agent tier** you're using and the complexity of the task.

## Pick the Right Agent Tier

CatDoes lets you switch between **Low**, **Medium**, **High**, and **Max** agent tiers. This is the single biggest lever you have for controlling credit usage. Higher tiers think harder and produce higher-quality results, but they cost more credits per step.

| Tier       | Best for                                                              | Relative cost |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| **Low**    | Simple tasks, small visual changes, repetitive work                   | Lowest        |
| **Medium** | Bigger features, detailed designs, fixing tricky problems             | Moderate      |
| **High**   | Best-quality thinking, planning complex features, important decisions | High          |
| **Max**    | The hardest problems where top quality matters most                   | Highest       |

New projects start on the **Medium** tier, a balanced default that handles most work well.

The **Max** tier delivers the deepest reasoning and best-in-class quality, but it costs the most per step. A great way to use the higher tiers without burning through credits is to **let them plan first**. Ask **High** or **Max** to figure out how a feature should be built — the approach, the structure, the steps — and then switch to **Low** or **Medium** to actually build it. You get top-tier thinking upfront, and the bulk of the work happens at a lower cost. This often leads to better results in fewer steps, saving you credits overall.

<Tip>
  Start with **Low** or **Medium** and only move up to **High** or **Max** when the task genuinely requires it. For many routine tasks — small layout adjustments, simple component creation, or basic CRUD logic — the lower tiers deliver solid results at a fraction of the cost.
</Tip>

<Note>
  The **High** and **Max** tiers require a credit balance above 50. **Max** is available only when your balance is above 200. If your balance drops below these thresholds, top up your credits to unlock them again.
</Note>

You can switch tiers from the agent dropdown in your project dashboard. The change applies to the next step the agent takes.

## Write Clear Prompts

Vague instructions lead to more back-and-forth steps, and each step costs credits. The more specific you are upfront, the fewer steps the agent needs to get it right. See the [Writing Good Prompts](/features/writing-good-prompts) page for detailed tips and examples.

## Start a New Chat When the Conversation Gets Long

The longer the conversation, the less sharp the agent becomes — it might forget things, make mistakes, or break something that was working. Starting a new chat gives the agent a clean slate so it works better and wastes fewer credits.

{/* <img src="/images/agent-sharpness-chart.png" alt="Agent sharpness decreases as conversation history grows" /> */}

Click the **Compact and Save** button at the bottom of your conversation. Your project and codebase carry over. If something goes wrong, you can always **roll back** to a previous chat to restore your codebase and conversation history.

## Earn Free Credits

There are several ways to earn free credits — from sharing on X to community programs like CatDoes Catapult and Cat Composer. See the [Free Credits](/features/free-credits) page for details.

## Quick Reference

* Use **Low** agents for simple tasks, **Medium** for complex ones, and **High** or **Max** only when top-tier quality is essential.
* Write specific, detailed Prompts to reduce unnecessary steps.
* Start a **new chat** when the conversation gets too long.

- **Share on X** to earn free credits.