Do Research sources use credits? Guide
Research sources are free to connect, but running research through the assistant or an agent draws on your plan's usage like any other work.
Last updated July 16, 2026
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Research sources are data connections you add so the assistant and your agents can gather information from the web and other providers on your behalf. Connecting one is free, but actually running research is real work — so it draws on your plan's usage the same way other assistant and agent activity does.
Connecting a Research source is free
Research sources appear in your Integrations hub alongside your other tools. Most connect with a single click of Add — there's no sign-in and no separate account to set up.
Adding a Research source simply makes its capabilities available to the assistant and your agents. Nothing is consumed until you ask for a research task that uses it.
Running research draws on your usage
When you ask the assistant to research something — or an agent runs a task that pulls from a Research source — that run counts toward your plan's usage, just like any other request the assistant handles.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Larger or broader research requests do more work than small, targeted ones.
- A task that gathers from several sources does more than one that checks a single source.
- Agents that run research automatically on a schedule or trigger will use some of your usage each time they run.
Tip: If you want a quick answer, ask a specific question. "Find the three most recent funding announcements for this company" uses far less than "research everything about this company."
How to keep research efficient
- Be specific about what you need and how much detail you want back.
- Point the assistant at the exact source or topic rather than asking it to search broadly.
- For recurring research, set up an agent with a clear, narrow task so each run stays focused.
- Review your usage from your account's Usage area to see how research and other activity are tracking over time.
Checking your usage
You can review how much of your plan you've used at any time from the Usage section of your account. This shows your overall activity across the assistant and your agents, including research runs, so you can plan the rest of your billing period.
If you find you're doing a lot of research, higher plans include more room for assistant and agent activity. You can compare and change your plan from your billing settings whenever you need to.
Common questions
Does leaving a Research source connected cost anything?
No. A connected Research source only uses your plan when you actually run a research task with it. An idle connection sits in your Integrations hub at no cost.
Why did a single research request use more than a normal question?
Research often involves gathering and reviewing information from one or more sources, which is more work than answering a straightforward question. Narrowing the scope of your request is the best way to keep each run lean.
Do my agents use my plan when they run research on their own?
Yes. When an agent runs a task that includes research — whether you start it or a trigger does — that run counts toward your usage. If you want tighter control, keep each agent's task focused and review its activity regularly.