# Run Budget Guard

> A hard spending cap for one AI agent run, shared by every sub-agent. Your agent checks before each model or tool call and gets a clear STOP when the run hits its dollar, token, call or time limit. Free 500 checks a day, then $9 a month.

## Connect
- MCP (streamable HTTP): https://budget.botrecipe.com/mcp
- Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http run-budget-guard https://budget.botrecipe.com/mcp`
- REST: `POST https://budget.botrecipe.com/api/run/<tool>` with JSON args. OpenAPI: https://budget.botrecipe.com/openapi.json
- Auth: optional `Authorization: Bearer <key>`. Free key: `POST https://budget.botrecipe.com/api/key`

## Pricing
- Free: 500 calls/day (daily, not a trial). No signup.
- Pro: $9/month, 50000 calls/day: https://pay.instaloops.com/b/8x2fZh0Ped799P94Kr83C3w
- Bring your own model. Works with Claude, Codex, ChatGPT, Grok Bot.

## Tools
### open_budget
Open a hard budget for one agent run before it starts: max dollars, tokens, calls and/or wall-clock seconds. Returns a handle. Give the handle to every sub-agent; they all draw from the same ledger, so one runaway loop or fork cannot exceed the run cap.
Inputs: `label` (string), `max_usd` (number), `max_tokens` (integer), `max_calls` (integer), `max_seconds` (integer), `ttl_hours` (integer)

### reserve
Call BEFORE each model call, tool call or sub-agent spawn with your estimate. Returns allowed=true and deducts it, or allowed=false with the limit that tripped. When allowed is false, stop, do not retry, and return your partial result to the user. Atomic, so parallel sub-agents cannot both slip under the cap.
Inputs: `handle` (string, required), `usd` (number), `tokens` (integer), `calls` (integer), `note` (string)

### record
After a call, report the actual usage minus what you reserved (positive if it cost more, negative to give back an overestimate). Keeps the ledger honest without blocking.
Inputs: `handle` (string, required), `usd` (number), `tokens` (integer), `note` (string)

### budget_status
See spend vs limits, remaining budget, whether the run is stopped and why, and the last 20 ledger events. Set close=true when the run finishes.
Inputs: `handle` (string, required), `close` (boolean)

### usage_and_upgrade
Usage today + upgrade link (not metered).

## Example result
`open_budget({"max_usd":"2.00"})` → Budget open: $2. Call reserve with this handle before every model or tool call, and pass it to sub-agents.

## FAQ
### What problem does this solve?
Agent loops and sub-agent forks can burn millions of tokens in one run before anyone notices. Provider caps are monthly or org-wide, and SDKs report usage after the run. Run Budget Guard gives one run a hard cap that every sub-agent shares, checked before each call.

### How does my agent use it?
Call open_budget at the start with max_usd, max_tokens, max_calls and/or max_seconds. Before every model call, tool call or sub-agent spawn, call reserve with your estimate. If allowed is false, stop and return the partial result. Optionally call record with the actual usage to keep the ledger exact.

### Does it work across sub-agents running in parallel?
Yes. Pass the handle to each sub-agent. Every reserve is an atomic check-and-deduct on one ledger row, so eight parallel calls against a cap of five calls allow exactly five.

### Who estimates the cost?
Your agent does. Run Budget Guard does not see your prompts or proxy your model traffic; it only counts the numbers you send. Use your provider's published prices for the estimate and record to correct it.

### What happens when a limit trips?
The run is marked stopped with the reason (max_usd, max_tokens, max_calls, max_seconds) and every later reserve returns allowed=false, so a looping agent cannot creep past the cap. Open a new budget to continue.

### What does it cost?
Free: 500 checks a day, 10 open runs, handles last 24 hours. Pro is $9 a month: 50,000 checks a day, 200 open runs, handles last up to 7 days. You get your Pro key on screen right after paying.

Publisher: Supa Humans (https://supahumans.ai). Marketplace: https://botrecipe.com/tools/

## Machine files
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/index.md
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/llms.txt
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/llms-full.txt
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/SKILL.md
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/openapi.json
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/tool.json
- https://budget.botrecipe.com/.well-known/mcp.json