Hotpot AI has gained attention as one of the go-to tools for AI image editing, art, and creative expression. Although Hotpot AI offers a free plan that is generous in itself, its most appealing features and tools are locked behind a paywall.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll explore Hotpot’s pricing structures and the key details of its offerings. We’ll also make a side-by-side comparison of direct competitors and their counteroffers
Hotpot AI Pricing Explained
Hotpot uses a credit system with the options of a one time payment, monthly subscription or a yearly billing cycle with a lump sum payment. The credits denominations are: 1000, 2500, 5000, 10 000, 20 000.
The reason for its credit based system is simple: each premium feature requires a different amount of credits. For example, a short story costs 10 credits, while a NFT collection description costs 20 credits. It boils down to the amount of computing power and resources required per task variation.
Here’s more information of the credit cost per feature for Hotpot’s writing tool:
| Feature | Credits |
| NFT Collection Idea | 25 |
| Song Lyric | 5 |
| Song Idea | 10 |
| Writing Sample | 5 |
| Movie idea | 10 |
| Book Idea | 10 |
| Album summary | 10 |
| Graphic Idea | 5 |
| Tagline/Headline | 10 |
| Product Name | 5 |
| Product Summary | 20 |
| Product description | 40 |
| 10 | |
| Instagram post | 10 |
Also read: Hotpot AI Review
Hotpot AI Headshot
This feature is in a separate category, with its own pricing structure. It does not use a credit-based system but rather a checkout system for payment. The Hotpot AI headshot can provide up to 800 images for up to 500 people.
A specific number of images are tagged with a price; however, these prices aren’t final. Hotpot generates a quote that comprises both the number of images and the number of people the headshot is intended for.
I generated a quote for 80 images tagged at $15 and 20 people. That came around to $300.
The AI avatar generator also uses the same pricing structure.
Which Hotpot Pricing Plan Is Best for You?
1. Individuals/Casual Users
If starting out, it’s best to opt for one-off payments that allow tinkering about before making a substantial financial commitment. The most affordable offer is 1000 credits, which goes for $12.
Depending on the outcome, you can pay a recurring fee for a monthly subscription or commit a lump sum for a yearly plan.
Educators and influencers can also benefit from a break on premium features by collaborating with the Hotpot team. The Hotpot platform encourages reaching out to them (Hotpot) request discounted or free credits, in exchange for a promotion with their(educators/influencers) audiences. This also applies to people that work at Google cloud.
2. Small Businesses and Teams
The choice of a plan comes down to business needs. A business that requires corporate headshots for its employees should purchase the plan that covers that area. Likewise team focused on writing, marketing and content creation is better off making bulk credit purchases.
How Hotpot’s Pricing Compares to Competitors
| Tool | Starting Price | What You Get |
| Hotpot AI | – Free plan available- $10/month for 1000 credits | Credits for AI image edits, writing, NFTs, and colorization. |
| MidJourney | – No free plan- $10/month (Basic Plan) | Strictly image generation capped at 200 image generations/month. Access is via Discord bot |
| Canva | – Free plan – $12.50/month (Pro) | Premium templates, stock photos, brand kit, background remover, and unlimited folders. |
| ChatGPT | – Free plan – $20/month (pro) | – Extensive writing and reasoning capabilities on free plan without caps. – Premium unlocks access to higher level reasoning and front access to updates. |
FAQs
1. Is Hotpot AI Free to Use?
Yes, Hotpot AI has a free plan. However, free use is limited and most results come with watermarks. To remove watermarks and unlock full features, you need to buy credits or purchase a subscription.
2. Is Hotpot AI Good?
Hotpot AI is a solid tool for quick image edits, design templates, brand logo generation, and AI-powered enhancements. It’s especially useful for background removal, object cleanup, and colorization. Although not as advanced as some pro design tools, it works well for everyday creative needs.
3. How Does Hotpot AI Work?
Hotpot works by using AI to edit and enhance images. You upload your image, choose the feature you want (like background remover or AI art), and the tool processes it automatically. Most tasks take only a few seconds.
4. How Do I Cancel My Hotpot AI Subscription?
To cancel your Hotpot AI subscription, log into your account, go to the billing or subscription settings, and select the option to cancel. If you subscribed through a third-party platform (like an app store), you’ll need to cancel directly through that service.
