# Keep your AI spending in check

> Put a credit limit on your OpenRouter key, and use each Chirp's visitor limits, so a busy Chirp never spends more than you plan.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/openrouter/spending-limits  
Plans: Essentials, Creator, Business, Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-26

When you're done, there's a firm ceiling on what your Chirps can spend, and a way to slow down or pause
any single Chirp.

**Who can do this:** the account owner, on any plan. Visitor limits can also be set by team members who
can edit Chirps.

**What you'll need:** your OpenRouter key connected to Chirp Builder.

There are two layers. The first, at OpenRouter, protects your whole account. The second, in Chirp
Builder, protects each Chirp.

## 1. Give your key a credit limit at OpenRouter

This is the most important one: the key simply stops working once it has spent its limit, so nothing
can spend past it.

1. Go to [openrouter.ai/keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys) and open the key you use for Chirp Builder.
2. Set its **credit limit**, for example $20, and choose how often it resets: daily, weekly, monthly or
   never.
3. Save it at OpenRouter. There's nothing to change in Chirp Builder.

Chirp Builder's Settings reminds you of this under your key:

![The connected OpenRouter card in Settings with the tip Keep your spending in check.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/openrouter/spending-limits/SS-OR-015-01__spending-tip__essentials__detail__v01.webp?v=eaa2564230)

When the limit is used up, your Chirps stop answering until it resets or you raise it. Click **Check
again** on the card in Settings to see why; it says **This key's own credit limit is used up. Raise it
at OpenRouter, or make a new key.**

## 2. Set visitor limits on a Chirp

Each Chirp has its own limits, in section **10. Visitor limits** of its editor:

![The Visitor limits section: Pause this Chirp, Messages per visitor per day and Messages per day for this Chirp.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/openrouter/spending-limits/SS-OR-015-02__visitor-limits__essentials__detail__v01.webp?v=b4071cdd7a)

- **Pause this Chirp:** visitors see "This Chirp is taking a short break. Please check back later."
  until you turn it off.
- **Messages per visitor per day:** how many messages one visitor can send this Chirp each day.
  Visitors are counted by their internet connection, so people on the same school or office network
  share one allowance.
- **Messages per day for this Chirp:** how many messages all visitors together can send it each day.

Leave a box empty for no limit. Click **Save**, and the limits apply straight away; you don't need to
publish. Days reset at midnight UTC. You're never limited in your own preview.

When a limit is reached, visitors see "You've reached today's message limit for this Chirp. Please
come back tomorrow." or "This Chirp has reached its message limit for today. Please come back
tomorrow."

## Other ways to spend less

- **Choose a cheaper model.** The model list shows about what a typical reply costs. See
  [Choose your Chirp's AI model](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/openrouter/choose-a-model).
- **Shorten replies.** A lower **Max reply tokens** under **5. Model** caps how long an answer can be.
- **Turn off what you don't need.** Web search and image creation cost extra on each use.
- **Watch your costs** on your dashboard and in Analytics: [See what your Chirps cost](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/openrouter/costs).