Query-based usage

Query-based usage is measured by the number of queries generated, based on a user’s activity. In most cases, one credit is consumed for every query that is generated.

What is a credit?

A credit is a unit of measure you use to pay for using ThoughtSpot to get insights from your data. Insights are created by executing queries to request information from a connected data warehouse.

Types of credits

  • Base credits: credits included in the base subscription of each edition.

  • Flexible credits: any additional credits that you would like to purchase to add to your subscription.

Query-based pricing

To purchase query-based credits, you purchase a number of base-credit packages. Each base-credit package is valid for one year and sets a subscription term of one year. If you purchase multiple base-credit packages in an order form, the subscription term will be extended for that number of years.

What is a query?

When a user requires information from an external data warehouse, system cache (data fetched previously or a result of recent calculation, and stored in the system), or descriptive/statistical metadata, the system triggers an event, called a query. Some functions, like a scheduled Liveboard, monitor, or SpotIQ, also trigger queries.

Various kinds of user actions or system functions generate one or more queries.

Examples of queries:

  • A chart view from a search typically generates one query.

  • Pivot tables and stacked charts generate multiple queries.

  • A Liveboard view may generate multiple queries when loading multiple visualizations.

For information on user actions that generate queries, see User actions and queries.