# Do workflows cost more than doing the work by hand?

Canonical URL: https://help.iagenify.com/faqs/workflows/do-workflows-cost-more-than-doing-the-work-by-hand

[← Back to Workflows FAQs](https://help.iagenify.com/faqs/workflows)

HELP CENTER · FAQ Workflows 1 min read
# Do workflows cost more than doing the work by hand?
Automation changes when work runs, not what its steps cost.
IaGenify
Workflows

## What this means in practice
A workflow and the same sequence in a conversation consume credits for the same underlying operations.
Use a workflow when you need repeatability or a trigger to run the work without manually starting each step.
## Practical guidance
A workflow does not add a separate credit surcharge for performing the same work. Its steps consume credits according to the operations they execute, just as those operations would in an interactive agent conversation. The practical difference is when the work starts: a workflow can run from a trigger without waiting for you to begin a chat.
Estimate usage from the actual graph, not just the fact that it is automated. A workflow that invokes a model, captures a web page, and converts a file uses those operations when it runs; a workflow with fewer billable steps may use less. Consider how often the trigger fires as well as the cost of one run. Test with representative inputs, inspect the run trace, and adjust unnecessary steps before scheduling frequent executions. [← Back to Workflows FAQs](https://help.iagenify.com/faqs/workflows)