Free AI helpdesk cost calculator for credits and plan fit
Enter monthly ticket volume and the share using AI triage, sidekick drafts, and auto-resolve. Get an immediate monthly credit estimate, likely Protodesk plan, utilization, and any top-up need before automation enters the daily queue.
Set credit costs from your current workflow estimates; the calculator defaults are editable assumptions.
Count auto-resolve attempts separately from successful resolutions and include each metered workflow step.
Manual inbox work, editing drafts, canned responses, and normal replies do not spend AI credits.
Classify topic, urgency, sentiment, language, and routing before agents open the queue.
Prepare a grounded draft, summary, or suggested answer for a human to review.
Attempt a safe customer-facing resolution with sources, confidence checks, and escalation.
Start from a scenario
Estimated monthly usage
825
AI credits per month
Plan matching this credit estimate
Pro
$29.99/mo, 1,000 AI credits, 15 seats
Plan utilization: 83%
No top-up needed for this estimate.
How the AI credits estimate works
The calculator models monthly support volume against the AI workflows most small teams adopt first: triage on incoming tickets, sidekick drafts for human-reviewed replies, and auto-resolve for narrow routine questions. This is a scenario estimate, not a billing quote. Default costs of 1, 1, and 2 credits are examples for triage, drafting, and auto-resolve attempts. Replace them with the costs of your configured workflow, including context and verification where used. A successful resolution is not guaranteed by an attempt.
Credit formulas used by the calculator.
| Workflow | Formula | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| AI triage | Monthly tickets × triage coverage × assumed credits per run | Makes the queue easier to read before agents choose what to answer first. |
| AI sidekick drafts | Monthly tickets × draft usage × assumed credits per run | Prepares replies and summaries while keeping humans in control of the final answer. |
| AI auto-resolve | Monthly tickets × auto-resolve attempt rate × assumed credits per attempt | Attempts customer-facing automation only when sources and guardrails allow it. |
Example monthly usage scenarios
These illustrative scenarios use the default assumptions of 1 credit per triage run, 1 per draft run, and 2 per auto-resolve attempt. They exclude additional actions and retries. Adjust the costs to your workflow before comparing a plan allowance; the examples are not quotas or prices.
Illustrative estimates using default cost assumptions.
| Scenario | Tickets/month | Workflow mix | Estimated credits | Likely fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean queue | 125 | 100% triage, 30% drafts, 5% auto-resolve | ~175 credits | Within Starter’s credit allowance under these assumptions. |
| Growing support | 500 | 100% triage, 35% drafts, 15% auto-resolve | ~825 credits | Within Pro’s credit allowance under these assumptions. |
| Automation-heavy | 1,200 | 100% triage, 55% drafts, 30% auto-resolve | ~2,580 credits | Exceeds Business’s allowance by about 80 credits under these assumptions. |
What does not spend AI credits
Reading, assigning, searching, filtering, and replying manually.
Editing an AI sidekick draft before sending it.
Using canned responses or saved snippets.
Viewing customer history, notes, and previous conversations.
Keeping the shared inbox open after the monthly credit allowance is used.
How to reduce AI support cost without slowing the team
The goal is not to spend the fewest credits. The goal is to spend credits where they reduce repeated work without increasing risk.
Use AI triage broadly because it makes every queue easier to scan.
Limit sidekick drafts to topics where agents often rewrite the same answer.
Use auto-resolve only on topics with strong knowledge base coverage and low escalation risk.
Improve weak articles before regenerating more drafts from the same bad source.
Track reopen rate and draft edits by topic so credits move toward workflows that actually help.
Where to go next
After estimating credits, compare the plan allowance against the support workflow you want to run.
Pricing
Compare Starter, Pro, Business, included credits, seats, ticket limits, and top-up packs.
Learn moreAI helpdesk guide
Learn how triage, sidekick drafts, auto-resolve, and escalation fit together in a support workflow.
Learn moreAI credits glossary
Understand workspace credits, metered actions, workflow estimates, and what remains free.
Learn moreCustomer support comparisons
Compare Protodesk’s credit model against helpdesk tools that price AI by resolution, seat, or add-on.
Learn moreFrequently asked questions
Try Protodesk free for 7 days
Connect your first inbox, invite your team, and see AI triage, sidekick drafts, and auto-resolve with 300 trial credits. No credit card required.