Usage Limits
Atom itself has no usage limits. You can send as many messages as you want, whenever you want. The limits you may run into come from OpenAI, and they are based on your subscription with them.
What uses your allowance
Every message you send and every response Atom receives consumes tokens. Some things use more than others.
- Simple edits like renaming a layer or changing a color use very little.
- Multi-step automations like building a comp with keyframes and expressions use a moderate amount.
- Large project scans where Atom reads hundreds of layers use more.
- Long conversations where you build on context over many messages add up cumulatively.
Staying efficient
- Be specific. Targeted prompts use fewer tokens than vague ones. “Add a 0.5s ease-in opacity fade to the selected layer” is more efficient than “make it look nice.”
- Start fresh when the context gets stale. Long conversations accumulate tokens. If you’ve switched tasks, start a new chat.
- Use skills for repetitive work. Saved prompts reduce back-and-forth.
- Work in focused sessions. Batching related edits into one session is more efficient than scattering single requests throughout the day.
OpenAI plans
Codex runs through your OpenAI subscription.
| Plan | Price | Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Plus | $20/mo | Generous, with rolling caps |
| Pro | $200/mo | Near-unlimited access |
ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo is one of the best values in AI right now. It covers a solid amount of After Effects automation. ChatGPT Pro gives near-unlimited access, but most users won’t need it.
OpenAI also offers API credits as an alternative. With API credits you pay per token with no rolling windows. Subscriptions are heavily subsidized though, so for regular use they’re almost always the better deal.