Definition
Credits vs Actions billing is the dual-meter model (popularized by Clay's March 2026 pricing overhaul) where each operation consumes both Data Credits (for the data fetched) AND Actions (for the workflow step executed), forcing teams to manage two budgets simultaneously and making per-workflow cost prediction harder.
In Depth
Clay's March 2026 restructure collapsed three tiers into Free, Launch ($185/mo), Growth ($495/mo). Each plan includes both Credits and Actions; Claygent runs consume both, and the relationship is non-trivial when prompts fan out across enrichment chains. The contrast is single-meter PAYG (DataForSEO $0.60/1K SERP, Outscraper $3/1K records) or single-meter subscription (Scavio $30/mo for 7K credits, no actions counter). Single-meter is more predictable; dual-meter is more granular for billing different cost types separately. Pick by team's tolerance for billing complexity.
Example Usage
Team budgets Claygent at $185/mo Launch tier. A 1K-row enrichment with a 4-step Claygent prompt consumes ~3K Data Credits + 4K Actions. Plan limits hit at row ~600. Teams new to dual-meter routinely under-estimate cost. Single-meter Scavio at the same monthly spend doesn't have this surprise.
Platforms
Credits vs Actions Dual-Meter Billing is relevant across the following platforms, all accessible through Scavio's unified API:
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