Transparent Cursor API Pricing Model
Our cursor API pricing model charges strictly by usage with prepaid crypto credit, so you pay exactly for what you consume without hidden monthly fees or subscription traps. This transparent approach eliminates unexpected billing shocks and keeps your development costs predictable.
Prepaid credit only. Funds do not expire.
Usage examples
A developer runs a daily batch job generating 50,000 tokens of documentation from a 100,000-token context window.
Cost calculation: (100,000 / 1,000,000) * $0.15 + (50,000 / 1,000,000) * $0.50 = $0.015 + $0.025 = $0.04 per run. This workload costs just four cents daily.
An engineer tests function calling with a 20,000-token prompt and receives a 2,048-token response.
Cost calculation: (20,000 / 1,000,000) * $0.15 + (2,048 / 1,000,000) * $0.50 = $0.003 + $0.001 = $0.004 per request. Each test costs less than half a cent.
A team processes 1 million input tokens and generates 200,000 output tokens over a month.
Cost calculation: (1,000,000 / 1,000,000) * $0.15 + (200,000 / 1,000,000) * $0.50 = $0.15 + $0.10 = $0.25 total. High volume usage remains exceptionally cheap.
How Prepaid Credit Works
You fund your account once and spend down the balance as you use the API. Errors and refusals do not consume your tokens, so you only pay for successful completions. This prepaid model ensures that your actual spending matches your usage exactly without surprise charges.
You can top up using USDT or USDC, and your credit never expires. This flexibility allows you to pause development without losing your balance. The system tracks every token request in real-time, giving you full visibility into your consumption.
Trial Credit and Expiration Policy
Every new account receives $0.50 in trial credit valid for seven days. This trial lets you verify that the integration works with your existing client code before committing to larger purchases.
The trial credit expires after one week, but purchased credit remains active indefinitely. You can accumulate funds over time without any monthly subscription fees. This structure supports both quick experiments and long-term development cycles efficiently.
Why Prepaid Keeps Costs Predictable
Traditional providers often penalize users with rate limits or hidden fees when usage spikes. Our cursor API pricing model eliminates these uncertainties by requiring upfront payment. You know your exact budget limit before you send a single request.
When your balance reaches zero, requests simply stop until you add more crypto. This prevents runaway costs during intensive coding sessions or automated testing phases. You maintain complete control over your expenditure without waiting for a monthly bill to arrive.
Common questions
Does the cursor API require a monthly subscription?
No, there are no monthly fees or subscription traps. You only pay for the tokens you consume using your prepaid balance. This model allows you to scale your usage up or down without financial commitment.
How do I top up my cursor API key balance?
You can top up using USDT on the TRC20 network or USDC on the Base network. Minimum top-ups start at $20, and you can add any whole amount up to $500 at a time.
What happens if I get a refund error during a request?
Refunds and errors do not consume your token balance. You only pay for successful completions, so you never lose credit for failed attempts. This ensures that your prepaid balance reflects only the actual value you received.
Is the trial credit renewable?
Each account receives one $0.50 trial valid for seven days. Once that trial expires, you must purchase additional crypto credit to continue using the API. The purchased credit itself never expires, allowing you to use it whenever you need it.
