Compute units (CUs) are Whim’s unified billing currency. Every task you run consumes CUs based on two factors: container runtime and AI token usage.
What is a CU?
One compute unit represents a standardized amount of cloud resources. Specifically, 1 CU is equivalent to:
| Resource | Amount |
|---|
| Container runtime | 30 minutes at base configuration |
| Input tokens | ~14,000 tokens |
| Output tokens | ~2,800 tokens |
| USD cost | ~$0.044 |
Base configuration is 1 vCPU + 1 GB RAM. Higher machine profiles consume CUs proportionally faster.
How CUs are calculated
Each running task accrues CUs from two sources:
Container CU
Every task runs in its own cloud container. Container CU is based on how long the container runs:
- Rate: 1 CU per 0.5 hours (30 minutes) at base configuration
- Charged continuously while the task container is active
- Pausing or sleeping a task stops container CU accrual
Token CU
AI model usage is metered by tokens processed:
- Input tokens: ~14,000 tokens per CU
- Output tokens: ~2,800 tokens per CU
- Token CU varies by model and provider — more expensive models consume CUs faster
Your total CU for a task is the sum of container CU and token CU.
CU allocation and periods
CUs are allocated weekly based on your plan:
| Plan | CU per week |
|---|
| Free | 50 |
| Pro | 100 |
| Max | 500 (base, scales with multiplier) |
Monitoring your balance
Track your CU balance from the Usage tab in Settings. The balance display shows:
- CU allocated — your total weekly budget
- CU used — container + token consumption so far
- CU remaining — what’s left in the current period
- Period start/end — when the current period resets
Warning thresholds
Whim alerts you as your balance gets low:
| Level | Threshold | Indicator |
|---|
| Normal | < 80% used | Green |
| Warning | 80% used | Yellow |
| Critical | 90% used | Red |
| Depleted | 100% used | Tasks may be paused |
When your CU balance is fully depleted, a grace period begins. During the grace period, running tasks can continue briefly, but you won’t be able to start new tasks until you upgrade or your period resets.
Reserved machine CUs
If your workspace uses reserved machines (warm containers kept ready for instant task starts), they consume a small ongoing CU cost:
- 3 CU per week per reserved machine
- Default reserves vary by plan: Free (3), Pro (5), Max (10)
- Maximum 20 reserved machines per tracked branch
Reserved machine CUs are deducted from your weekly allocation.
Bonus CU
Your account may have bonus CU from promotions or credits. Bonus CU is tracked separately and used after your regular weekly allocation is consumed. 
