All of Tern's AI features share a single monthly usage limit, so you can see and manage all of your AI usage in one place. Notetaker does not count toward this limit.
This article covers what counts toward your limit, how to view your usage breakdown, when limits take effect, what happens when you reach 100%, and when your usage resets.
For pricing and how to add more usage with Tern Pro, see Tern Pro.
Notetaker Doesn't Count Toward Your Limit
Meetings recorded with the AI Notetaker don't use your AI usage. Notetaker keeps joining your meetings even if you reach 100% of your limit.
When Usage Limits Take Effect
You'll see your usage in Subscription Settings. Usage limits are in effect as of July 1st at 10am ET.
What Counts Toward Your AI Usage
These features run on AI and draw from your monthly usage. Each one shows up as its own category in your usage breakdown, so the names below match what you see there:
AI Chat — asking Tern questions in the chat panel.
Email triage through Smart Inbox — sorting your synced emails, plus any chat that starts from an incoming email.
Automation-triggered agents — AI agents that run automatically from your automations.
AI Assist — importing an itinerary or activity, and drafting destination guides, packing lists, and your writing style.
Chrome extension import — importing activities and itineraries with the Chrome extension, plus any forms or message templates you build through it.
AI Reconciliation — reading commission statements to match your payments.
You can adjust your email triage settings anytime in your email and scheduling settings within Smart Inbox.
Voice transcription in notes does not count toward your AI usage. You can use voice transcription at any time, including after you've reached 100% of your limit.
How to View Your Usage Breakdown
Go to Subscription Settings and open your AI usage details to see a breakdown of your month.
Each colored segment is one of the features above, with the percentage of your monthly allowance it has used. If you ever see a segment climbing faster than you expect, this is the fastest way to spot which feature is driving it:
Notifications As You Approach Your Limit
Tern alerts you by email and inside the app as you get closer to your limit, so you're never surprised.
You'll receive an email at three points: when you reach 75%, 90%, and 100% of your monthly limit.
Below 75%, you have full access to every AI feature, including AI Chat, AI Assist, the Chrome extension, and AI reconciliation.
At 90%, you'll see an in-app warning that you've used 90% of your AI limit. This warning appears in several places so you can track where you stand:
On your dashboard
In AI Chat, each time you start a new chat
In a trip, on the itinerary, at AI Assist
In an activity, at AI Assist
On Statement upload
What Happens When You Reach 100% of Your AI Limit
When you reach your monthly limit, AI features pause until your next monthly billing cycle. You can see this date in your Subscription Settings.
All AI-generated content, including your existing AI Chats, remains readable. If you try to use one of the AI features, you'll see a notice explaining that you've hit your limit and can either upgrade or wait until the next month.
Here's what pauses when you reach 100%:
AI Chat: You can't send new messages. Existing chats remain readable and your current message will finish processing.
AI Assist: Paused at both the itinerary level and the activity level.
Notetaker: Not paused. Notetaker doesn't count toward your AI usage and keeps joining your meetings.
AI reconciliation: In commission and statements, you can still upload a statement file manually, but AI will not reconcile it for you.
Chrome extension: Paused.
The rest of Tern keeps working exactly as it does today. You can still book trips, send proposals, manage commissions, run reports, and do everything else in Tern.
To resume AI features immediately, upgrade to Tern Pro or to a higher Tern Pro tier from Subscription Settings. Your full new allocation is available right away.
When Your Usage Resets
Your AI usage resets every month. The reset date depends on how you pay for Tern.
If you pay for Tern individually: Your usage resets on the same day each month, aligned with your Tern subscription start date. If your Tern subscription started on the 14th, your usage resets on the 14th of each month.
If you're on an agency-paid seat with no personal Tern Pro: Your usage resets on the first day of each calendar month.
If you're on an agency-paid seat and you've added a personal Tern
Pro: Your usage resets on the same day each month, aligned with your Tern Pro add-on start date.
You can see your current cycle's start and end dates in Subscription Settings.
How can I upgrade
You will be able to upgrade to a Pro Tier in your Subscription tab.
Common Questions
Why are there limits on AI usage? Every time you use AI, there's a real cost to Tern. We cover a monthly amount of usage for every advisor because we believe AI should be available to everyone. Limits let us keep doing that while giving advisors who need more the option to add it through Tern Pro.
Does Notetaker count toward my AI usage? No. Notetaker doesn't use your AI usage, and it keeps joining your meetings even if you reach your limit.
When will I be notified that I'm approaching my limit? You'll get an email at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your limit. You'll also see in-app warnings at 90% on your dashboard, in AI Chat, and on trip itineraries and activities at AI Assist.
Does voice transcription count toward my limit? No. Voice transcription in notes does not count toward your AI usage, and you can use it even after you've reached 100%.
What happens if I hit my limit in the middle of a chat? In-progress messages will finish. A message you already sent in AI Chat will complete. New chats and new AI Assist actions are paused until your usage resets or you upgrade.
Can I still upload commission statements after I hit my limit? Yes. You can still upload a statement file manually. AI reconciliation will not run on it until your usage resets or you upgrade.
Do unused AI usage roll over to the next month? No. Your monthly allocation resets at the start of each cycle.
Will I be charged if I go over my limit? No. Tern does not charge overage fees. If you reach 100% of your AI limit, AI features pause until your next cycle resets or until you upgrade.
Where do I see my current usage? Go to Subscription Settings. Usage is shown as a percentage of your monthly limit.
Need Help
If you have questions about your usage or limits, contact Tern support from the help menu in your Tern account.