Your provider bills you for a step that actually runs on your own key. PixelClaw uses no AI credits for that step. Other steps in the same post can still use PixelClaw credits.
Writing. A draft that runs on your own Claude key is billed by Anthropic. A writing step that runs on a metered PixelClaw plan uses its displayed credit price.
Images. With a Claude writing key, a new hero image can still use a plan image model. Eligible OpenAI and Google image keys are separate options. An existing cover can be kept when you generate a new draft.
Research: Web lookups can use plan credits unless you connect your own supported research account. Using a writing key does not pay for those lookups.
An owner or admin can check Settings → Integrations → Writing model and billing. With Only after my plan’s AI credits run out, PixelClaw checks the price of the next writing step. If your available AI balance is too low and an eligible saved model can take over, the whole step runs on your key. The credits left stay available for other work. See Billing → Credit activity and the provider setup guide.