diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 1230024e..e5cd7aee 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -207,6 +207,17 @@ Seamless translation between formats: - Monthly reports and insights - Optimize your AI spending +> **💡 IMPORTANT - Understanding Dashboard Costs:** +> +> The "cost" displayed in Usage Analytics is **for tracking and comparison purposes only**. +> 9Router itself **never charges** you anything. You only pay providers directly (if using paid services). +> +> **Example:** If your dashboard shows "$290 total cost" while using iFlow models, this represents +> what you would have paid using paid APIs directly. Your actual cost = **$0** (iFlow is free unlimited). +> +> Think of it as a "savings tracker" showing how much you're saving by using free models or +> routing through 9Router! + ### 🌐 Deploy Anywhere - 💻 **Localhost** - Default, works offline @@ -237,6 +248,41 @@ Seamless translation between formats: --- +### 📊 Understanding 9Router Costs & Billing + +**9Router Billing Reality:** + +✅ **9Router software = FREE forever** (open source, never charges) +✅ **Dashboard "costs" = Display/tracking only** (not actual bills) +✅ **You pay providers directly** (subscriptions or API fees) +✅ **FREE providers stay FREE** (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen = $0 unlimited) +❌ **9Router never sends invoices** or charges your card + +**How Cost Display Works:** + +The dashboard shows **estimated costs** as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is **not billing** - it's a comparison tool to show your savings. + +**Example Scenario:** +``` +Dashboard Display: +• Total Requests: 1,662 +• Total Tokens: 47M +• Display Cost: $290 + +Reality Check: +• Provider: iFlow (FREE unlimited) +• Actual Payment: $0.00 +• What $290 Means: Amount you SAVED by using free models! +``` + +**Payment Rules:** +- **Subscription providers** (Claude Code, Codex): Pay them directly via their websites +- **Cheap providers** (GLM, MiniMax): Pay them directly, 9Router just routes +- **FREE providers** (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen): Genuinely free forever, no hidden charges +- **9Router**: Never charges anything, ever + +--- + ## 🎯 Use Cases ### Case 1: "I have Claude Pro subscription" @@ -303,6 +349,102 @@ Access via: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal... --- +## ❓ Frequently Asked Questions + +
+📊 Why does my dashboard show high costs? + +The dashboard tracks your token usage and displays **estimated costs** as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is **not actual billing** - it's a reference to show how much you're saving by using free models or existing subscriptions through 9Router. + +**Example:** +- **Dashboard shows:** "$290 total cost" +- **Reality:** You're using iFlow (FREE unlimited) +- **Your actual cost:** **$0.00** +- **What $290 means:** Amount you **saved** by using free models instead of paid APIs! + +The cost display is a "savings tracker" to help you understand your usage patterns and optimization opportunities. + +
+ +
+💳 Will I be charged by 9Router? + +**No.** 9Router is free, open-source software that runs on your own computer. It never charges you anything. + +**You only pay:** +- ✅ **Subscription providers** (Claude Code $20/mo, Codex $20-200/mo) → Pay them directly on their websites +- ✅ **Cheap providers** (GLM, MiniMax) → Pay them directly, 9Router just routes your requests +- ❌ **9Router itself** → **Never charges anything, ever** + +9Router is a local proxy/router. It doesn't have your credit card, can't send invoices, and has no billing system. It's completely free software. + +
+ +
+🆓 Are FREE providers really unlimited? + +**Yes!** Providers marked as FREE (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen) are genuinely unlimited with **no hidden charges**. + +These are free services offered by those respective companies: +- **iFlow**: Free unlimited access to 8+ models via OAuth +- **Kiro**: Free unlimited Claude models via AWS Builder ID +- **Qwen**: Free unlimited access to Qwen models via device auth + +9Router just routes your requests to them - there's no "catch" or future billing. They're truly free services, and 9Router makes them easy to use with fallback support. + +**Note:** Some subscription providers (Antigravity, GitHub Copilot) may have free preview periods that could become paid later, but this would be clearly announced by those providers, not 9Router. + +
+ +
+💰 How do I minimize my actual AI costs? + +**Free-First Strategy:** + +1. **Start with 100% free combo:** + ``` + 1. gc/gemini-3-flash (180K/month free from Google) + 2. if/kimi-k2-thinking (unlimited free from iFlow) + 3. qw/qwen3-coder-plus (unlimited free from Qwen) + ``` + **Cost: $0/month** + +2. **Add cheap backup** only if you need it: + ``` + 4. glm/glm-4.7 ($0.6/1M tokens) + ``` + **Additional cost: Only pay for what you actually use** + +3. **Use subscription providers last:** + - Only if you already have them + - 9Router helps maximize their value through quota tracking + +**Result:** Most users can operate at $0/month using only free tiers! + +
+ +
+📈 What if my usage suddenly spikes? + +9Router's smart fallback prevents surprise charges: + +**Scenario:** You're on a coding sprint and blow through your quotas + +**Without 9Router:** +- ❌ Hit rate limit → Work stops → Frustration +- ❌ Or: Accidentally rack up huge API bills + +**With 9Router:** +- ✅ Subscription hits limit → Auto-fallback to cheap tier +- ✅ Cheap tier gets expensive → Auto-fallback to free tier +- ✅ Never stop coding → Predictable costs + +**You're in control:** Set spending limits per provider in dashboard, and 9Router respects them. + +
+ +--- + ## 📖 Setup Guide