The 3-month plan is $8.99 a month ($26.97 per quarter), and the 1-month plan is $9.99 for the first month, then $13.99. This page shows what each plan costs per token, how far tokens go, when yearly beats monthly, and which plan we would buy (prices checked October 6, 2026).
Candy AI Premium costs $3.99 a month on the 12-month plan ($47.88 billed yearly), $8.99 a month on the 3-month plan ($26.97 per quarter), or $9.99 for the first month and $13.99 after that (October 2026 prices). Every plan includes 100 tokens per month. Yearly is the cheapest route once you stay four months or more.
On this page
- Candy AI pricing 2026: every plan at a glance
- What does Candy AI Premium include?
- How much does Candy AI cost per token?
- Candy AI tokens explained: what they buy and how they expire
- What do tokens buy on Candy Shorts?
- Monthly vs quarterly vs yearly: which Candy AI price is cheapest?
- Renewals, payment methods, discreet billing and refunds
- What can push your Candy AI cost higher?
- Which Candy AI plan should you buy?
- FAQ
Candy AI pricing 2026: every plan at a glance
Candy sells Premium as a subscription in three main plans. Here is the table as shown on its subscription page in October 2026, in US dollars, with local taxes possibly added:
| Candy Premium plan | Monthly price | Billed | Tokens | ≈ Cost per token |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months Best value | $3.99 | $47.88 per year (70% off) | 100/mo | $0.04 |
| 3 months | $8.99 | $26.97 per quarter (35% off) | 100/mo | $0.09 |
| 1 month | $9.99 first month | then $13.99 / month | 100/mo | $0.10 → $0.14 |
Prices shown on candy.ai/subscriptions on October 6, 2026 (US$, local taxes may apply). All plans auto-renew and can be cancelled any time.
All plans say “Cancel any time” and auto-renew for the same price and term. The payment step also lists two shorter cycles: every 2 weeks at $9.79 and weekly at $5.60. The small numbers look friendly, but renewed continuously they come to roughly $21 a month (26 payments a year) and $24 a month (52 payments), more than the $13.99 monthly plan, and we haven’t verified what they include. We steer readers to the three main plans.
The discount labels all measure against the $13.99 monthly rate. The yearly plan’s “70% off” is actually about 71.5% on exact numbers ($3.99 against $13.99), and it is a standing offer rather than a coupon. The quarterly plan’s 35% (nearer 36%) and the first month’s 29% are measured the same way.
How much does Candy AI cost per token?
Premium includes 100 tokens per month, and tokens are what you spend on images, videos, voice notes and Shorts episodes. Dividing each plan price by its tokens shows what a token really costs. These figures are our arithmetic from Candy’s own prices, assuming you use the full allowance:
| Plan | Tokens included | Cost per token | Standard Shorts episode (12 tokens) | Creator episode (30 tokens) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 1,200 per year | about $0.04 | about $0.48 | about $1.20 |
| 3 months | 300 per quarter | about $0.09 | about $1.08 | about $2.70 |
| 1 month, first month | 100 | about $0.10 | about $1.20 | about $3.00 |
| 1 month, renewal | 100 per month | about $0.14 | about $1.68 | about $4.20 |
A yearly token costs under a third of a monthly-renewal token. The comparison is deliberately narrow: Premium also gives you unlimited text chat, 18+ image and video generation, the character creator and Live Actions, none of which a per-token figure captures. Use the table to compare plans against one another, not as a price list for individual features.
Candy AI tokens explained: what they buy and how they expire
Think of Premium as two things: access and a spending allowance. Access is the plan, which unlocks unlimited text messages, the character builder, 18+ image and video generation and the full Live Action experience. The allowance is the 100 tokens, generally refreshed monthly, which pay for extended features such as image generation, voice notes, videos and Shorts episodes.
Run out and you can top up anytime, as Candy puts it. Token packs exist, and Candy’s terms mention them, but we haven’t verified their prices, so we won’t print any. Work out a pack’s cost per token before you buy and compare it with the yearly plan’s roughly $0.04. The rules to know: tokens can’t be transferred, traded or exchanged for money, and unused tokens expire at the end of the billing period after you cancel. They don’t carry over to a new subscription.
How to make 100 tokens go further
- Watch episodes 1 and 2 of any series first; they cost nothing.
- Pick standard series over creator series when you’re budgeting, since an episode costs 12 tokens instead of 30.
- Check a long series’ total in the calculator below before you start unlocking.
- Spend what’s left before you cancel, because unused tokens expire.
- Choose the yearly plan if you expect to spend tokens regularly: its token costs under a third of a monthly one.
What do tokens buy on Candy Shorts?
Shorts is the cleanest way to see tokens in action, because every price is public. Episode 1 is free without an account and episode 2 is free after a free sign-up. From episode 3, a locked episode costs 12 tokens on standard series and 30 on creator series. Candy says unlocked episodes are “Yours forever. No ads, no waiting.” This is what finishing a series costs by plan:
| What you unlock | Tokens | Yearly plan | Quarterly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 5-episode series 108 series | 36 | $1.44 | $3.24 | $5.04 |
| Creator 5-episode series 10 series | 90 | $3.59 | $8.09 | $12.59 |
| 15-episode series e.g. Mona’s Worst Enemy | 156 | $6.22 | $14.02 | $21.82 |
| YES MA’AM (20 episodes) 1 series | 216 | $8.62 | $19.42 | $30.22 |
| My Bestie Betrayed Me (34 episodes) longest series | 384 | $15.32 | $34.52 | $53.72 |
A standard five-episode series needs 36 tokens, about $1.44 on the yearly plan. A creator five-parter needs 90 tokens, about $3.59. So 100 monthly tokens stretch to two standard series (72 tokens) plus 28 to play with, or a single creator series (90) plus 10. The longest series, My Bestie Betrayed Me at 34 episodes, takes 384 tokens, roughly $15 at the yearly rate. Try your own numbers here:
Browse the full series catalog to see episode counts, or read how the free episodes work before spending anything.
Monthly vs quarterly vs yearly: which Candy AI price is cheapest?
Here is what each route has cost you at different points, using the first-month offer for the monthly path:
| Route | Paid at start | By month 3 | By month 6 | By month 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | $47.88 | $47.88 | $47.88 | $47.88 |
| 3 months | $26.97 | $26.97 | $53.94 | $107.88 |
| 1 month ($9.99, then $13.99) | $9.99 | $37.97 | $79.94 | $163.88 |
The break-even points are easy to read from it:
- Yearly vs monthly: three monthly payments total $37.97; the fourth lifts the total to $51.96, past $47.88. If you’ll still be a customer in month four, yearly is cheaper.
- Yearly vs quarterly: the second quarterly payment, due at the start of month four, brings you to $53.94. Renew a quarter once and you’ve overtaken the yearly price.
- Over a full year: yearly saves $60.00 against quarterly, $116.00 against the first-month route and $120.00 against twelve $13.99 payments.
The caveat is commitment. The yearly plan puts $47.88 on the line at once, and the refund window is 24 hours with a cap of 20 tokens used. If you’re unsure, the $9.99 first month is the cheaper experiment. Candy’s terms say plan changes take effect at the start of the next billing cycle, so you can test first and move to yearly after. If you already know you’ll stay past month three, take the yearly plan on Candy and skip the detour.
Quarterly deserves a fair word. At $8.99 a month it saves 35% against the monthly rate and asks for a smaller commitment than yearly. It suits one narrow buyer: someone who wants three months of use, won’t commit to twelve, and doesn’t want to meet a $13.99 renewal. Everyone else is better served by one of the other two routes.
Renewals, payment methods, discreet billing and refunds
Renewal is automatic, at the same price and for the same term. Yearly rolls into another 12 months at $47.88, and monthly renews at $13.99. To stop it, open Settings and choose Unsubscribe; you keep Premium until the paid period ends. Our cancellation guide has the full steps.
Candy takes Visa, MasterCard and crypto (BTC, ETH, USDC, Litecoin and others). Candy’s FAQ says transactions are encrypted and that statements show a neutral merchant name rather than anything pointing to Candy AI. Discreet billing has a flip side: you won’t spot a renewal by name on a statement, so keep your own reminder. Our Candy AI safety check covers the billing and privacy questions in more depth.
The refund numbers that matter
Refunds are far narrower than cancellation. Outside the EU and UK, Candy’s terms require a request within 24 hours of payment, deny it if more than 20 tokens were used, and cover card payments only. Token packs follow a similar rule: 24 hours, unused tokens, card only. Refunds don’t extend to user-side technical issues, moderation actions or removed and modified characters. EU and UK buyers instead get a 14-day right of withdrawal, counted from the first purchase, and email support@candymail.ai to use it. Because crypto sits outside the card-only rule, pay by card if a refund option matters to you.
What can push your Candy AI cost higher?
The sticker prices are clear. The extras that raise a bill are the ones people skip over:
- The renewal jump. The first month is $9.99 and month two is $13.99, a 40% rise.
- Token top-ups. Heavy image or video use, or creator episodes at 30 tokens each, can drain 100 tokens fast.
- Short billing cycles. Weekly or 2-week options add up faster than they look.
- Silent auto-renewal. On the yearly plan, a missed reminder means another $47.88 at once.
- Taxes. Candy’s US$ prices may have local taxes added at checkout.
A sensible budget treats the plan price as your fixed cost and top-ups as optional. If you find yourself buying tokens every month, check where they go. Creator series at 30 tokens an episode burn the allowance 2.5 times faster than standard ones at 12.
Which Candy AI plan should you buy?
| Your situation | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Regular user, staying four months or more | 12 months, $47.88 | Lowest monthly rate and cost per token; our recommendation |
| Want a trial run | First month, $9.99 | Cheap test; set a reminder before the $13.99 renewal |
| Won’t commit to a year but will stay a quarter | 3 months, $26.97 | $8.99 a month, 35% off, 300 tokens |
| Anyone tempted by weekly or 2-week billing | Skip them | About $24 and $21 a month if renewed, more than the $13.99 monthly plan |
Our pick is the yearly plan for anyone who plans to stay. Check the live plan prices on Candy before you pay (taxes can be added at checkout), and read the Candy AI review if you’re still weighing whether Premium earns its price. The cheapest discount we know of is covered on the promo code page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Candy AI cost per month?
As of October 2026, Candy AI costs $3.99 a month on the 12-month plan (billed $47.88), $8.99 a month on the 3-month plan (billed $26.97), or $9.99 for the first month and $13.99 a month after that. Each plan includes 100 tokens per month, and local taxes may apply.
Is Candy AI a subscription or pay as you go?
Both. Premium is a subscription that auto-renews, and tokens are a spending allowance on top: 100 per month with Premium, plus top-ups you can buy anytime. Tokens can’t be exchanged for money, and unused ones expire at the end of the billing period after you cancel.
How many tokens do you get with Candy AI Premium?
Candy lists 100 tokens per month with Premium. That works out to 1,200 over the 12-month plan and 300 over the 3-month plan. Tokens pay for extended features like image generation, voice notes, videos and Shorts episodes, and they don’t carry over to a new subscription.
Does Candy AI renew automatically?
Yes. Every plan auto-renews at the same price and term, so the monthly plan renews at $13.99 and the yearly plan for another 12 months. Autorenewal can be switched off whenever you like through Unsubscribe in Settings; Premium then lasts to the end of the term already paid.
Can you pay for Candy AI with crypto?
Yes. Crypto is on the payment list next to Visa and MasterCard (BTC, ETH, USDC, Litecoin and others). Under Candy’s refund terms only card payments are refundable, so pay by card if you want the 24-hour refund option to stay available.
Why is the Candy AI yearly plan so much cheaper?
Candy markets it as 70% off the $13.99 monthly rate, which gives $3.99 a month, billed $47.88 once. Candy doesn’t explain the reasoning, but the usual trade is commitment: you pay for 12 months upfront, with only a 24-hour refund window outside the EU and UK (14 days inside them).