Free AI glossary: limits, credits and licensing

Free AI glossary: find a term

API free credits

API free credits are an introductory balance for making requests through a provider's developer interface. They aren't the same as a free chat account: DeepSeek lists paid API usage separately from its consumer chat app. Eligibility, expiry and supported models depend on the provider.

AI rate limits

AI rate limits restrict how much you can request within a time window. They can count messages, tokens or a particular action such as image creation. ChatGPT's free tools have separate limits, so hitting an upload cap doesn't necessarily mean every feature is unavailable.

AI context window

An AI context window is the amount of information a model can work with in one request, measured in tokens. Input and generated output can share that budget. It isn't a daily allowance: Claude's usage restrictions are a separate question from how much text a model accepts.

free tier vs free trial

Free tier vs free trial is the difference between ongoing limited access and a temporary opportunity to test a product. A starter credit pool can sit inside a plan called Free: Runway's 125 one-time credits don't refill, even though the account remains free.

open weights vs open source

Open weights vs open source distinguishes downloadable model parameters from the broader rights and materials needed to use, study, modify and share an AI system. DeepSeek publishes model weights, but the relevant model's license still matters; a download alone doesn't establish unrestricted use.

AI tokens

AI tokens are units of text a language model processes, not necessarily whole words. They can represent word fragments or punctuation. DeepSeek's API pricing counts input and output tokens separately; a chat message, a token and a builder credit aren't interchangeable units.

AI daily message cap

An AI daily message cap limits the number of messages an account can send during a defined day or rolling period. It differs from a token pool or a dynamic usage window. Claude's free usage can vary, so a fixed daily number isn't a reliable substitute for its stated policy.

AI watermarking

AI watermarking adds a visible mark or a detectable signal to generated media. Runway's free outputs carry a watermark, which is a plan restriction. Invisible provenance systems serve a different purpose; a clean-looking download doesn't prove that its origin cannot be detected.

AI commercial use rights

AI commercial use rights describe whether a provider's terms allow generated output in business work. ElevenLabs excludes commercial use from its Free plan. A provider's permission doesn't settle every copyright, likeness or trademark issue, so free access and business permission need separate checks.

AI attribution requirements

AI attribution requirements say when you must credit a provider or source when sharing output. ElevenLabs requires attribution for published Free-plan content. Attribution isn't the same as commercial permission: adding a credit doesn't remove a non-commercial restriction or create rights you don't have.

AI credits

AI credits are a provider-specific allowance for using generation tools. Runway's 125 one-time credits and ElevenLabs' 10,000 monthly credits aren't directly comparable: each service defines what its units buy. Refill periods, eligible actions and model costs matter more than the headline balance.

self-hosted AI

Self-hosted AI runs on infrastructure you control rather than solely through a provider's hosted app. DeepSeek publishes weights that can support this approach. The model download can be free while hardware, electricity, setup and maintenance still cost money; the release's license remains relevant.