Understanding Token Usage
A token is one metered credit that works across the whole platform — the Signals API, Delta Agent, satellite imagery, reports, and MCP. Here is exactly what each operation costs.
TL;DR: A token is Off-Nadir Delta's single metered usage credit. One balance covers satellite tiles, the Signals API, Delta Agent, assessments, reports, and MCP. As a reference point, 1 satellite tile (256×256 px) = 1 token. Browsing the Watchfloor, the daily brief, and checking your balance are free. Tokens reset monthly; purchased packages last 365 days. Free tier available.
How Tokens Work
The Basics
- One credit for everything — the same balance covers tiles, API, Agent, and analysis
- 1 satellite tile (256×256 px) = 1 token — the reference unit
- Charged only on metered actions; browsing and briefs are free
- Plan tokens reset monthly; purchased packages last 365 days
Free — no tokens
- Browsing the Watchfloor and Signals on screen
- The daily World Brief and reading reports on screen
- Checking your usage / balance (get_usage)
- Managing saved layers, Layer Sets, and monitoring areas
- Re-displaying tiles already cached in your browser
What Each Operation Costs
Per-action metered costs. These are the same figures the API and app charge — the app and the API never disagree. For subscription prices and monthly allocations, see Pricing.
Map & satellite imagery
| Operation | Tokens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| View a satellite tile (Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2, VIIRS) | 1per 256×256 tile | The reference unit. A map viewport loads many tiles as you pan and zoom; cached tiles are free. |
| Change-detection (difference) analysis | 10per run | Server-side change detection between two dates. |
| Ship detection | 5per run | SAR vessel detection over an area. |
| Area monitoring | 2 + 0.5per check + per new scene | A catalog check per trigger, plus each newly processed scene. |
Delta Agent & AI assessment
| Operation | Tokens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Agent question | 5–45per question | Metered from the work the question actually did — light questions cost the floor, heavy tool-using ones the cap. |
| Delta Agent — deep mode | up to 150per question | Opt-in extended-reasoning runs with wider budgets. |
| Signal assessment (Assess) | 5 / 15quick / deep | AI remote-sensing deep-dive for a single signal. |
Reports
| Operation | Tokens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daily report PDF export | 5per document | Assembled from the persisted daily brief. Reading reports on screen is free. |
API & MCP (same cost via REST and MCP)
| Operation | Tokens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Signals query — query_signals | 3per page (≤500 signals) | GET /api/v1/signals. |
| Single signal by ID | 1per call | GET /api/v1/signals/{id}. |
| Stats & hotspots — query_stats / query_hotspots | 1per call | Aggregated roll-ups. |
| Imagery catalog search — search_imagery | 2per call | GET /api/v1/imagery. |
| Weather observability | 1per call | Optical-viewing outlook for an area. |
Delta Agent and Assess are metered from the actual model work each run performs, so real costs land within the ranges shown. See the API reference and MCP docs for per-endpoint details.
Tips to Optimize Usage
Browse free before you spend
Reading the Watchfloor, Signals, and the daily brief on screen is free. Spend tokens only when you deep-dive: an assessment, the Agent, or an API pull.
Focus on your area of interest
Zoom directly to your target area instead of panning around — each new area loads new tiles. Cached tiles never re-charge.
Batch your API pulls
A single query_signals page returns up to 500 signals for a flat cost. Filter server-side and page with the cursor instead of many small calls.
Right-size Agent questions
The Agent is metered by the work it does. Specific, well-scoped questions cost near the floor; open-ended multi-tool research costs more.
When You Hit Your Limit
When your token balance is exhausted:
- • Metered operations pause — tiles, analyses, Delta Agent, assessments, PDF exports, and API/MCP calls
- • Free actions keep working — browsing the Watchfloor and Signals, the daily brief, checking your balance
- • Already-loaded tiles and saved layers remain visible
- • Plan tokens reset automatically at your next billing cycle
Need more right away? Buy a one-time token package from your Billing & Tokens page, or upgrade your plan for a larger monthly allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a token?▼
What is free and what is metered?▼
How many tokens does typical usage consume?▼
Where do plan prices and allocations come from?▼
Do tokens roll over to the next month?▼
What happens when I run out of tokens?▼
Why do some operations cost more than others?▼
Are cached tiles counted?▼
How can I check my remaining tokens?▼
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