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An AI interview assistant you don't pay for every month
Most job searches are a few busy weeks, not a year. Here is how AI interview assistants charge, and what 3 or 10 interviews actually cost with each model.
20 free credits · macOS & Windows · Nothing to cancel
The short answer
If you have a handful of interviews coming up, pay-as-you-go credits are the cheapest way to get live AI help. With Ghost by Renekin AI, 3 interviews cost $10 and 10 interviews cost $28, paid once. The same help on a monthly plan costs $66 to $299 for a single month.
The 4 ways AI interview assistants charge
The headline price matters less than the model. Pick the one that matches how often you interview.
Monthly subscription
A fixed fee every month, whether or not you have interviews.
Examples: Final Round AI ($150/month), Interview Coder ($299/month), LockedIn AI (about $132/month regular)
Best for: Daily interviews for months on end.
Watch out: Keeps billing after your job search ends unless you cancel. Often non-refundable once started.
Pay per hour of call time
You buy time. The clock runs for the whole call, including small talk and your own answers.
Examples: ParakeetAI (1 credit = 1 hour, $7.80 to $25 per credit)
Best for: Long calls where you need help on almost every question.
Watch out: A 1-hour interview costs the same whether you asked for help once or forty times.
Bring your own API key
You pay for the app (free or a one-time licence), then pay an AI provider like OpenAI or Anthropic directly for usage.
Examples: Several open-source and indie desktop apps
Best for: Developers who already have API keys and want full control.
Watch out: Two bills, setup work, and usage costs you only see after the interview.
Pay-as-you-go credits
Buy a credit pack once. Each question uses a few credits; credits never expire.
Examples: Ghost by Renekin AI ($10 for 200 credits; 1 credit per text question, 2 per screenshot, 3 per voice question)
Best for: A job search with a handful of interviews spread over weeks.
Watch out: If you interview every day for months, an unlimited plan can work out cheaper.
What it really costs
Two common job searches: 3 one-hour interviews in a month, and 10 one-hour interviews over 2 months.
| Tool and pricing model | 3 interviews, 1 month | 10 interviews, 2 months |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost (pay-as-you-go credits) | $10, paid once | $28, paid once |
| ParakeetAI (per hour) | $39 (3-hour pack) | $117 (8 + 3 hours, or the 15-hour pack) |
| LockedIn AI (monthly) | About $66 with promo, $132 regular | About $132 with promo, $264 regular (2 months) |
| Final Round AI (monthly) | $150 | $250 (quarterly plan, cheaper than 2 months at $150) |
| Interview Coder (monthly) | $299 | $598 (2 months) |
How we counted: a typical Ghost interview uses 50 to 60 credits, so 3 interviews fit in the $10 pack (200 credits) and 10 fit in the $28 pack (750 credits). ParakeetAI charges 1 credit per hour of call time. Monthly plans are counted as the months you'd need to stay subscribed.
Competitor prices are from each company's own pricing page in November 2026: Final Round AI on November 6, LockedIn AI on November 6 (shown to us in rupees, so dollar amounts are approximate), ParakeetAI on November 6, and Interview Coder in November 2026. Prices change with promotions, so check each site before you buy. Detailed comparisons: Final Round AI, LockedIn AI, ParakeetAI, Interview Coder.
Pay-as-you-go, with nothing held back
- Coding and system design: screenshot the problem and get the approach, code, complexity and edge cases.
- Live audio: Ghost hears the interviewer's question and suggests an answer in seconds.
- Your resume and the job description: answers use your real experience, so they sound like you.
- Hidden from screen share in Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, on Mac and Windows.
- Every feature on every pack, including the free 20 credits.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an AI interview assistant without a subscription?
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Yes. Ghost by Renekin AI uses one-time credit packs from $10 that never renew. Every new account gets 20 free credits.
What is the cheapest AI interview assistant for a few interviews?
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For 3 to 4 interviews, a $10 pay-as-you-go pack like Ghost's is usually cheapest. Monthly plans start around $66 to $150 for the same month.
How much does one interview cost with Ghost?
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A typical interview uses 50 to 60 credits, about $2 to $3 on the $10 pack and about $2 on the $28 pack.
Do Ghost credits renew or auto-charge?
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No. You pay once per pack and nothing renews, so there is nothing to cancel. Credits never expire.
When is a monthly subscription better?
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If you have interviews almost every day for months, an unlimited monthly plan can cost less per interview than credits.
Does pay-as-you-go mean fewer features?
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Not with Ghost. Every pack, including the free 20 credits, includes voice, screenshots, resume context and staying hidden from screen share.
More questions? See the full Ghost FAQ.
Pay only when you have an interview
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