specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Chatbase
providerId: chatbase
created: '2026-06-20'
modified: '2026-06-20'
reconciled: true
tags:
- AI
- Chatbot
- AI Agent
- Customer Support
- Conversational AI
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Chatbase spend. Chatbase bills a fixed monthly (or discounted
  annual) subscription per plan that includes a monthly message-credit
  allotment. Each AI response consumes message credits, with per-response cost
  varying by model. Overage is handled via auto-recharge credit packs. Extra
  AI agents and branding removal are additional recurring charges. Plan tier
  also governs training-data size, team seats, and feature access (API access
  starts on Standard).
notes: >-
  Per-plan prices, credit allotments, and per-model credit costs are subject
  to change; verify against the Chatbase pricing page during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://www.chatbase.co/pricing
- https://www.chatbase.co/docs
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Chatbase
serviceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Chatbase
  ServiceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
  ProviderName: Chatbase
  PublisherName: Chatbase
  InvoiceIssuerName: Chatbase
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: plan_subscription
  description: Recurring monthly or annual subscription fee for the selected plan tier.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: message_credits
  description: Message credits consumed by AI responses; per-response cost varies by model.
  unit: credits
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - chatbot
  - model
- name: auto_recharge_credits
  description: Additional message credits purchased via auto-recharge when the plan allotment is exhausted.
  unit: credits
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: extra_agents
  description: Additional AI agents beyond the plan allotment, billed per agent per year.
  unit: agents
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: branding_removal
  description: Annual add-on to remove Chatbase branding from the agent widget.
  unit: addon
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: training_data
  description: Training-data size consumed against the plan cap.
  unit: bytes
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - chatbot
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track message-credit burn per agent and model in the Chatbase dashboard; watch for auto-recharge events that signal overage.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map agents and API keys to teams or customers; attribute credit consumption and seats to internal cost centers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Route responses to lower-credit standard models where quality allows; reserve premium models for high-value interactions; right-size the plan tier to actual credit usage.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner per workspace and agent; review monthly credit spend and add-on charges against budget before renewing or upgrading.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com