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Credits System

Table of Contents

Credits System

1. Why Credits (Not Pure Subscription)

Credits fit waQup because value is created at the moment of ritual creation, not in passive listening.

A ritual is an act of encoding → that is where effort, attention, and meaning happen.

So we price:

  • Creation (encoding)
  • Transformation (deep change)

Not time.

Credits:
  • Feel intentional
  • Reduce churn
  • Avoid "I'm paying but not using it" guilt
  • Match ritual psychology (scarcity + choice)
  • Align infrastructure costs (AI only when needed)

2. What Credits Are (Definition)

A credit = one irreversible act of creation or deep change.

Credits are consumed when the user creates or transforms something meaningful.

Not when they listen. Core Principle: Practice is free, creation is sacred.

3. What Costs Credits (Core Rules)

Consumes Credits

By Content Type (see Content Types & Taxonomy document):
  • Affirmations: 0.5 credits (lighter AI processing, shorter content)
  • Guided Meditations: 1 credit (standard AI processing)
  • Rituals: 1 credit (full AI processing, highest value)
Other Actions:
  • Clone + deeply modify existing content (see thresholds below)
  • Generate hypnosis / NLP-structured content (1 credit)
Optional extra credit:
  • Use premium voices (+0.5 credit, or clarify if included in base)

Does NOT Cost Credits

  • Listening / replaying (unlimited)
  • Daily practice (unlimited)
  • Offline usage (unlimited)
  • Using own voice (if feature exists)
  • Editing text manually (minor tweaks)
  • Minor tweaks (duration, pace, tags)

Modification Thresholds

Free (No Credit):
  • Manual text editing
  • Changing duration
  • Adjusting pace/tone settings
  • Adding/removing tags
  • Organizing in folders
  • Exporting rituals
1 Credit (Deep Modification):
  • Changing practice type (breath work → movement)
  • Changing intent (calming → energizing)
  • Restructuring ritual requiring LLM regeneration
  • Changing core ritual structure
  • Any modification requiring AI regeneration

4. Credit Packs (Simple, Humane)

Example Packs (Illustrative)

  • Starter: 3 credits → €9 (€3/credit)
  • Seeker: 10 credits → €25 (€2.50/credit)
  • Architect: 30 credits → €60 (€2/credit)
Psychology:
  • Small entry point
  • No pressure
  • Higher packs feel like commitment, not upsell
  • Bulk discount rewards intentional use

Credit Properties

  • Never expire (no FOMO, no manipulation)
  • Personal (non-transferable, except future gifting feature)
  • Refundable (on system errors, see error handling)
  • Transparent (always visible balance, clear costs)

5. Free Tier (Important)

Free users get:

  • 1 ritual credit (one-time, to experience creation)
  • Full replay access (unlimited listening)
  • Basic structure only (standard voices, standard features)

This lets them:

  • Feel the power
  • Encode once
  • Understand the system
  • Experience value before paywall

Then the paywall feels natural, not coercive.

6. Error Handling & Refunds

Credit Refund Policy

Credits are refunded when:

  • Ritual generation fails due to system error
  • Audio generation fails after text generation
  • User cancels before ritual completion
  • LLM/TTS service unavailable
  • Any technical failure preventing completion

Credits are consumed when:

  • Ritual successfully generated and saved
  • User confirms ritual completion
  • Ritual appears in library
Principle: User only pays for successful value delivery.

7. Credit Balance & Visibility

Balance Display

  • Always visible in UI (non-intrusive, calm)
  • Shown before consumption: "This will use 1 credit. You have 5 remaining."
  • Transaction history available (credits used, credits purchased, refunds)
  • No pressure messaging (no "low balance" warnings)

Purchase Flow

  • Clear pricing before purchase
  • No hidden fees
  • Immediate credit availability
  • Simple checkout (Stripe integration)

8. Premium Voices

Standard voices: Included in ritual creation credit (1 credit covers creation + standard voice) Premium voices:
  • Option A: +0.5 credit per ritual
  • Option B: Included in base credit (preferred for simplicity)
Recommendation: Include in base credit to maintain simplicity and avoid decision fatigue.

9. Marketplace Relationship

Creator Packs

  • Purchased separately (direct payment or credits)
  • Credits can be used to purchase packs (1 credit = €3 value, or separate pricing)
  • Creator revenue: Separate from user credits (creators receive payment, not credits)

Credit Usage for Marketplace

  • Users can use credits to purchase packs
  • Credit value: €3 per credit (or market rate)
  • Credits supplement, don't replace direct payment

10. Internal Logic (Systemic, Not Cosmetic)

Credits align:

User Psychology → "What is worth encoding now?"
  • Intentional choice
  • Scarcity creates meaning
  • No infinite scrolling
Infrastructure Cost → AI + processing only when needed
  • Pay for what you use
  • Predictable costs
  • Scales with usage
Retention → Rituals stay forever
  • No subscription pressure
  • No "use it or lose it"
  • Credits never expire
Ethics → No addiction loops
  • No streaks
  • No pressure
  • No manipulation
  • No FOMO

This avoids:

  • Infinite content scrolling
  • Meditation gamification
  • Streak anxiety
  • Subscription fatigue

11. Economic Scalability

From a business view:

  • Near-zero marginal cost per replay
  • Credits purchased upfront (cash flow)
  • No refund pressure ("I forgot to cancel")
  • Works globally (no subscription fatigue)
  • Predictable revenue per engaged user
  • Credits = cash flow + clarity

12. Long-Term Extensibility

Credits later can unlock:

  • Creator rituals (revenue share)
  • Couple rituals (2 credits)
  • Trauma-safe guided work (higher credit, 2 credits)
  • Therapist-generated rituals (premium, 2 credits)
  • Custom voice models (premium, 2 credits)
  • Ritual sequences (multiple rituals, proportional credits)

Same system. No redesign.

13. Anti-Gamification Safeguards

What Credits Are NOT

  • Not a reward system (no "earn credits by practicing")
  • Not a loyalty program (no "more credits for streaks")
  • Not a social comparison tool (no leaderboards)
  • Not a manipulation mechanism (no FOMO, urgency)

What Credits ARE

  • Resource management tool
  • Cost allocation mechanism
  • Intentional choice enabler
  • Infrastructure cost alignment

14. Implementation Notes

Credit Management Service

  • Tracks credit balance per user
  • Validates credit availability before consumption
  • Processes refunds on errors
  • Records transaction history
  • Integrates with Payment Service for purchases

API Integration

  • Check credit balance before ritual creation
  • Consume credit on successful completion
  • Refund credit on failure
  • Track credit transactions

UI/UX Principles

  • Calm, non-intrusive balance display
  • Clear cost communication before action
  • No pressure messaging
  • Transparent transaction history
  • Simple purchase flow

15. Content Type Credit Costs

Rationale

  • Affirmations (0.5 credits): Shorter, simpler AI processing, lighter content
  • Guided Meditations (1 credit): Standard processing, medium complexity
  • Rituals (1 credit): Full processing, highest value, but same cost = intentional choice
Alternative Consideration: All cost 1 credit for simplicity and intentionality (recommended for Phase 1, can adjust based on usage data).

16. Open Questions

  1. Affirmation credit cost: 0.5 credits (lighter) or 1 credit (simplicity)?
  2. Premium voice pricing: Include in base credit or +0.5 credit?
  3. Credit gifting: When to implement? What are the mechanics?
  4. Marketplace credit value: Fixed €3/credit or variable?
  5. Bulk discounts: Should larger packs have better per-credit pricing?
  6. Type transitions: Should converting affirmations → meditations → rituals cost credits?

Summary

The credits system is a resource management tool that:

  • Aligns costs with value creation
  • Enables intentional choice
  • Avoids manipulation
  • Scales economically
  • Maintains waQup's anti-gamification principles
Core Principle: Practice is free, creation is sacred.

Token/Reward System

7. Token/Reward System

Non-speculative recognition system for user and creator contributions. Tokens represent value exchange, not investment.

Reward Types:
  • Practice tokens (for regular engagement)
  • Creator tokens (for quality packs)
  • Referral tokens (for word-of-mouth)
  • Feedback tokens (for constructive feedback)
Note: For detailed token mechanics, distribution rules, and economic model, see Value & Growth Economy document.

Marketplace Economics

Marketplace economics details to be added.

Revenue Distribution

Revenue distribution details to be added.