Credit card and AI Assistant?
Answered
Had a quick question. Is it necessary to link a credit card to use AI Assistant at all, even if I don't currently intend on using any online services and want to try it out with my own locally hosted models first?
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Hello Crotron,
Starting with the 2025.1 update, JetBrains has introduced a temporary card verification step for AI Free and AI Trial subscriptions. This measure was implemented due to increased instances of free subscription abuse and fraudulent activity, and helps ensure that each subscription is tied to a real user.
Please note that this verification will not result in any charges, either now or after the trial period, and both the AI Free and AI Trial plans remain completely free of charge.
You can find more information by using the following link:
SUPPORT-A-2340 Why credit card details are required for AI-Free or AI Trial subscription?
I understand that the credit card verification is necessary to prevent people from abusing your servers. But if I wish to use my own locally hosted model that is running on my own hardware, then would that be a problem? Is credit card verification still necessary even if what I am doing should not impact your servers whatsoever?
Hello Crotron,
At this time, an active AI License is required, even when using offline models. For this reason, the credit card verification is a necessary step.
Soon we will implement Bring Your Own Key support, and eventually support using your own models without a license. But for now, the credit card verification is still required.
You can read more about the upcoming BYOK feature here https://blog.jetbrains.com/ai/2025/11/bring-your-own-key-byok-is-coming-soon-to-jetbrains-ai/