How many compute points do Poe bots cost?
It varies widely by bot. Light chat models can cost as little as around 20 points per message, mid-tier models a few hundred, and frontier reasoning models thousands. Image generation runs from hundreds to a few thousand points, and video generation can cost tens of thousands. Poe shows each bot's exact cost before you send.
Why — the first-principles explanation
There's no single number because a bot's point cost mirrors how expensive it is for Poe to run that model. Poe pays the underlying provider for the computing power (the 'compute') each response uses, then passes that cost to you as points. Cheaper models get cheaper price tags; heavier ones cost more. Compute points are simply that cost translated into one common unit.
Three things drive the number up. Model size and reasoning depth: a big model that 'thinks' through steps burns far more computing than a small, fast one. Output type: generating an image is heavier than text, and generating video is heaviest of all — which is why video bots can cost tens of thousands of points per clip. Length and context: longer prompts, big attached files, and long replies all add compute, so the same bot can cost more on a giant request than a short one.
That's why any fixed 'price list' is only a rough guide. Costs shift as providers change their own pricing and as Poe adds new models. The reliable move is to read the per-message cost Poe displays next to each bot before you send — it's the live, accurate number for that model right now.
The practical rule of thumb: text is cheap, images are moderate, video is expensive, and 'thinking' frontier models are pricey. Matching the bot to the job — light models for simple tasks, heavy ones only when needed — is how you keep your daily or monthly points from vanishing.
An example that makes it click
Think of ordering at a restaurant where the menu prices are in tokens instead of dollars. A side of fries (a light text model) costs a couple tokens. A main course (a mid-tier model) costs a couple dozen. The chef's tasting menu that takes an hour to prepare (a frontier reasoning model) costs hundreds. And catering a whole party — that's video generation — costs thousands.
You wouldn't guess the price; you'd read the menu. Poe works the same way: the token cost is printed next to every bot before you order, so you always know what a message will cost before you 'send' it.
How to do it
- Open the bot or model you want to use in Poe.
- Look for the per-message compute point cost shown near the input box or on the bot's page.
- For text tasks, pick lighter models to spend fewer points; reserve frontier models for hard problems.
- Expect image bots to cost hundreds to a few thousand points, and video bots tens of thousands.
- Watch your remaining balance and switch to cheaper bots as needed to make points last.
Key facts
- Compute point cost per message reflects the model's underlying computing cost and varies by bot.
- Light text models can cost around 20 points per message; mid-tier models a few hundred.
- Frontier reasoning models can cost thousands of points per response.
- Image generation typically costs hundreds to a few thousand points; video generation can cost tens of thousands.
- Poe displays each bot's exact per-message cost before you send, and costs change as models update.
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How many compute points do Poe bots cost? There's no single answer, because the cost reflects how expensive each model is to run. Light text models can cost as little as around twenty points per message. Mid-tier models cost a few hundred. Big frontier models that 'think' through problems can cost thousands. Making an image usually costs hundreds to a few thousand points, and generating video is the priciest of all — sometimes tens of thousands per clip. Three things push the number up: how big and powerful the model is, whether it's making text, images, or video, and how long your prompt and reply are. Because prices change as models update, don't rely on a fixed list. Instead, read the exact cost Poe shows next to each bot before you send — that's the live, accurate number. The simple rule: text is cheap, images are moderate, video is expensive. Match the bot to the job and your points last a lot longer.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Why do some Poe bots cost so many more points?
Bigger models, reasoning tasks, and image or video generation use far more computing, so they cost more points per message.
How do I know a bot's cost before using it?
Poe displays the per-message compute point cost next to each bot, so you can check before sending.
Does a longer message cost more points?
Yes. Long prompts, attached files, and long replies increase the computing used, raising the point cost.
What's the cheapest way to use Poe?
Stick to lighter text models for everyday tasks and reserve frontier, image, and video bots for when you truly need them.