Quick answer
Usage credits are Anthropic's new name for extra usage. On Pro and Max they let you keep using Claude Code after a limit, billed at standard API rates from a prepaid balance. Turn them on in Settings > Usage and set a monthly spend limit so a long run cannot surprise you.
How usage credits work
- You prepay a balance. Auto-reload is optional.
- Usage past your plan limit draws from it at standard API rates.
- A monthly spend limit caps the total.
- In Claude Code,
/usage-creditsreplaced/extra-usage, and/rate-limit-optionsoffers credits when you hit a limit.
"Requires usage credits" in the model picker
On Pro and Team Standard, Fable models need usage credits, so /modelmarks them "Requires usage credits." Turn credits on in Settings > Usage to use them. Anthropic's usage credits article has the details.
Track what is left
When credits are on, UsageAtlas shows how much of your monthly spend limit remains, next to the five-hour and weekly windows. You can see how close you are before a long agent run starts.
Questions, answered
Is extra usage the same as usage credits?
Yes. Anthropic renamed extra usage to usage credits, and /extra-usage became /usage-credits.
What do usage credits cost?
They are billed at standard API rates for the model you use. A monthly spend limit caps the total.
Can I use Max's API credits instead?
No. Anthropic says the monthly API credits included with Max cannot be used in Claude Code or the Claude apps.