Two-Path Pricing for Developers
Understand when queries are free and when they cost money.
Key takeaway: The two-path model means most users pay only the flat license. External providers are opt-in, not default.
Path 1: FiD Browser-Native (Free)
- The FiD (Fusion-in-Decoder) model runs entirely in the user's browser via ONNX Runtime Web and WebGPU.
- No API call is made to any server.
- No Stripe meter event is generated.
- Cost: covered by the flat Pauhu® license fee (or free tier: 3 queries/day).
- The user's query never leaves their device.
- Works offline after first model download.
How it works
- User types a query in pauhu.ai.
- Browser loads ONNX model from OPFS cache (or downloads once from CDN).
- BGE-M3 generates query embedding locally.
- Embedding matches against local Vectorize snapshot.
- FiD encoder-decoder generates grounded answer.
- Result displayed — zero network calls.
Path 2: External Provider (Metered)
- Activated when the user explicitly requests an external AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.).
- Requires explicit consent for third-country data transfer (GDPR Art. 49(1)(a)).
- Each request generates a Stripe meter event.
- Cost: pass-through at zero margin — the user pays exactly what the provider charges.
- The API gateway routes the query to the selected provider's API.
How it works
- User selects an external provider in settings.
- Consent dialog appears (third-country data transfer disclosure).
- User confirms consent.
- Query is sent via the API gateway to the external provider.
- Stripe meter event is recorded.
- Response is returned to user.
- Monthly invoice includes all metered external calls.
Pricing Comparison
| Path | Cost | Meter Event | Data Location | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FiD Browser-Native | Flat license / Free tier | No | User's device only | Yes |
| External Provider | Pass-through, zero margin | Yes (Stripe) | Provider's servers (US/EU) | No |
For API Consumers
- API calls to
/v1/searchand/iate/*endpoints are metered per your API key tier. - API calls are always server-side (Path 2 pricing model applies).
- Free tier: 3 requests/day.
- Paid tiers: see pricing page.
Note: The two-path model means most users pay only the flat license. External providers are opt-in, not default.
Questions? Contact us at support@pauhu.eu
Full documentation: Documentation index