Why am I seeing an upgrade prompt on Martini?
Short answer
You see an upgrade prompt when the action you're trying to take requires a higher plan tier than your current one — common reasons include using a model your plan doesn't include, exceeding your monthly credit quota mid-month, or hitting a feature gate (e.g., higher resolution, longer duration, NLE export, workspace seats). The prompt names the gate so you know which plan unlocks it. You can upgrade, wait for the next billing cycle, or buy a wallet top-up depending on which gate you hit.
Plan-locked model
Some video, image, and audio models are reserved for specific plan tiers. Sora 2 in 1080p, Veo 3 cinematic, and certain enterprise-only providers require a paid plan or higher tier than the one you currently hold. The model card on the node shows a lock icon and a label such as Requires Pro or Requires Standard+. Clicking Run on a locked model triggers the upgrade prompt with that specific gate named.
Check the model picker on the node — sibling models at your current tier are often a close substitute. If a flagship model is the only fit for the brief, upgrading is the fix. The plan that unlocks the model is named in the prompt itself, so you can see the price before committing.
Out of monthly credits
Every plan has a monthly subscription credit quota. When you exhaust that quota mid-cycle and the wallet top-up balance is also empty, the next AI generation triggers an upgrade prompt rather than running. The prompt offers two paths: upgrade to a higher plan with a larger monthly quota, or buy a wallet top-up that posts immediately.
Top-ups are the cheaper path if you only need a one-time buffer for a heavy month. Upgrading is the better path if you consistently run out of credits before the cycle reset. The Settings, Billing page shows your current quota usage and the date it next resets — use that to decide.
Feature gate (resolution, duration, export, seats)
Specific features sit behind plan gates regardless of credit balance. Examples: video resolution above 720p on certain models, video durations beyond a fixed limit, NLE export (project files for Premiere or DaVinci Resolve), additional workspace seats, and priority queue access. Trying to enable any of these on a plan that does not include them triggers the upgrade prompt with the feature named.
The Plans page lists which features each tier includes side by side. If the gated feature is core to your workflow, upgrade. If it is incidental, downgrade the project to fit (lower resolution, shorter duration) and stay on your current plan.
What to do depending on which gate hit
For a plan-locked model, switch to a sibling at your current tier or upgrade. For an exhausted credit quota, buy a wallet top-up if it is a one-off, or upgrade if the pattern repeats every month. For a feature gate, weigh whether the feature is core to the brief — if not, scale the request down to your current plan; if yes, upgrade. Cancellations and downgrades are reversible — upgrading mid-cycle prorates the new tier.
Examples
- Selecting Sora 2 on a Free plan triggers the prompt with Requires Pro.
- Generating at 1080p on a model where 1080p is gated triggers a Requires Standard+ prompt.
- Running a generation after exhausting your monthly quota triggers an out-of-credits prompt with Buy Top-Up and Upgrade options.
- Adding a fourth workspace seat on a plan that includes three triggers a seat-limit prompt.
- Enabling NLE export on a plan that does not include it triggers a feature-gate prompt naming NLE.
Edge cases
- A plan-change scheduled for the next cycle does not unlock the gate today — only an immediate upgrade does.
- Workspace plan gates apply to every member; an individual member cannot bypass with a personal plan.
- Promotional or trial credits may not unlock plan-gated features — the model gate sits on the plan tier, not the balance.
- If the prompt lists a feature you believe is included in your plan, contact support — there may be an account-flag issue.
What to do next
- Read the gate name in the prompt to understand whether it is a model, credit, or feature issue.
- Switch to a sibling model at your tier from the model picker on the node if the gate is model-specific.
- Open Settings, Billing and click Buy Credits to add a wallet top-up if the gate is credit-balance.
- Click Upgrade Plan from the prompt to see the lowest tier that unlocks the named gate.
Related help articles
Related docs
Still need help? Contact support.