specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Civitai
providerId: civitai
created: '2026-05-25'
modified: '2026-05-25'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - FinOps
  - Cost Management
  - FOCUS
  - AI
  - Image Generation
  - Video Generation
description: |
  FOCUS-aligned FinOps definition for Civitai. Civitai is billed in Buzz, a virtual credit. Buzz is acquired
  via monthly memberships (Free/Founder/Bronze/Silver/Gold) and via one-off Buzz Packs. Generation, training,
  and certain content actions deduct Buzz. There is no per-API-call USD pricing; cost discovery is mediated
  through the `cost` field returned on each workflow.
sources:
  - https://civitai.com/pricing
  - https://education.civitai.com/civitai-buzz-and-memberships/
  - https://developer.civitai.com/
  - https://developer.civitai.com/site/oauth/buzz-limits
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: Civitai
serviceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based + Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly (membership) + On-demand (Buzz packs)
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
    - Purchase
    - Subscription
    - Credit
    - Adjustment
  primaryUnit: buzz
  secondaryUnits:
    - workflow
    - blob_byte
    - vault_byte
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Civitai
  ServiceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
  ProviderName: Civitai
  PublisherName: Civitai
  InvoiceIssuerName: Civitai
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
  PricingUnit: BUZZ
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: buzz_spent_imagegen
    unit: buzz
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - engine
      - model
      - quantity
      - width
      - height
      - steps
  - name: buzz_spent_videogen
    unit: buzz
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - engine
      - duration_s
      - fps
      - aspect_ratio
  - name: buzz_spent_audio
    unit: buzz
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - subtype
      - duration_s
  - name: buzz_spent_training
    unit: buzz
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - base_model
      - dataset_size
      - epochs
  - name: buzz_purchased
    unit: buzz
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - source
      - usd_paid
  - name: vault_storage_used
    unit: kilobyte
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - membership_tier
  - name: blob_storage_used
    unit: byte
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - mime_type
buzzModel:
  description: |
    Buzz is Civitai's internal virtual credit. It is not denominated in USD on a 1:1 basis; conversion ratios
    vary by promotion. Buzz balance is debited at workflow submit; insufficient balance returns HTTP 402 and
    no provider is engaged.
  acquisitionChannels:
    - Membership stipend (monthly allowance by tier)
    - Buzz Pack one-off purchase
    - Community rewards (Yellow Buzz)
    - Creator earnings (model tips, image reactions)
  flavors:
    - name: Blue Buzz
      description: Purchased / membership Buzz — fully fungible, spendable on any recipe.
    - name: Yellow Buzz
      description: Earned Buzz — community-rewarded, restricted to a subset of features.
  spendCaps:
    - scope: OAuth third-party app
      description: Each OAuth app receives a per-day Buzz spend cap configured at app registration.
        Civitai will not allow the app to exceed the cap on the user's behalf.
recommendations:
  - Capture the `cost.total` from each workflow response and tag with workflow `id` and `tags` for FOCUS
    attribution.
  - Track Buzz purchases as Purchase charges with USD paid; track workflow spend as Usage charges in Buzz.
  - Use the `tags` array on submitted workflows as a project/cost-center allocation key.
  - Set a low Buzz spend cap on OAuth apps until they have demonstrated stable cost behavior.
  - Alert on Buzz-balance < threshold to avoid HTTP 402 during production batches.