> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.novita.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# LLM API Billing Rules Explained

Dear novita AI users,

This notice clarifies our LLM API billing policy, with a focus on how disconnected requests (HTTP 499) are handled.

## Pricing

novita AI LLM API is billed per token:

* **Input Tokens** — tokens consumed by the prompt
* **Output Tokens** — tokens generated by the model

Total Cost = Input Tokens × Input Rate + Output Tokens × Output Rate

Model-specific rates are available on the [Pricing Page](https://novita.ai/pricing).

## Billing Conditions

Charges apply when the model has begun inference. Requests that do not reach the model are not charged.

| Scenario | Charged | Reason |
| :- | :- | :- |
| Successful request (200) | Yes | Model completed inference |
| Client disconnected (499) | Yes | Model had begun inference |
| Invalid request / auth failure / rate limit (400/401/403/429) | No | Request rejected before reaching the model |
| Error due to platform issues (500/503/504) | No | Infrastructure error; absorbed by the platform |

Full status code reference: [Error Codes](/guides/error).

## 499 (Client Disconnected)

When a request reaches the model, inference starts immediately. If the client disconnects mid-request, the compute resources already consumed are still billable.

| Request Mode | Billing |
| :- | :- |
| Non-Streaming | Charged for actual token usage regardless of disconnect timing |
| Streaming | Charged for actual token usage regardless of disconnect timing |

This policy is consistent with standard industry practice across major LLM providers.

## Recommendations

1. **Set `max_tokens`** to control output length at the request level
2. **Configure client timeout ≥ 60s** to prevent unintended disconnections
3. **Select appropriate models** based on task requirements to optimize cost

## FAQ

> **Why am I charged if I disconnected before receiving a response?**
>
> Inference begins upon request arrival. Disconnecting does not stop computation already in progress.

> **How can I avoid 499 charges?**
>
> Use the `max_tokens` parameter to cap output length before sending the request.

> **Where do 499 charges appear in my account?**
>
> In the usage dashboard, listed alongside standard requests with actual token consumption.

For further questions, please contact our support team.

**The novita AI Team**


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