A support agent that costs more than the ticket it deflected

Support automation is justified on cost per contact: the agent has to be cheaper than the human it stands in for. That case is usually made once, on an estimate, and then never checked against what the agent actually spends — which moves every time a prompt, a model or a retry policy changes.

Try for free Read the docs

What a provider dashboard leaves you with

01
Cost per resolved conversation is not a number the provider can produce, so the business case is never re-tested.
02
A retry loop on a failing tool call turns one conversation into fifty requests, and nothing stops it.
03
Triage, drafting and escalation agents share a credential, so a cap on it stops the whole desk rather than the one misbehaving.

What Capsera does about it

Cost per run, not per call: A conversation is a run. Attribution at the run level is what makes cost per resolved contact a number you can actually read.
Per-agent envelopes: Triage, drafting and escalation each get their own budget, so one agent hitting its ceiling does not take the others down with it.
Anomaly detection: A loop that multiplies requests is flagged the same day it starts rather than the following month.

The number this is judged on

Cost per resolved conversation

None of this is assumed. We scanned 133 public agent repositories and found a cost defect in most of the ones making live model calls.

Read the method and limitations

import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")

    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()

assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",

 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):

)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:

        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic

def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)

for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02

from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(

)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:

 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")

    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()

assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",

 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):

)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:

        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic

def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)

for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02

from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(

)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:

 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")

    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()

assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",

 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):

)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:

        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic

def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)

for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02

from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)
 
# checked before the call
capsera.budget(
    monthly=500,
    on_exceed="block",
)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(

)
 
with capsera.agent("summarizer"):
    client = Anthropic()
    resp = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-6",
        max_tokens=1024,
    )
 
# no proxy, no gateway
assert resp.usage.cost < 0.02
 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:

 
if capsera.over_budget():
    raise BudgetExceeded()
 
@capsera.track()
def extract(doc):
    return chain(doc)
 
# cheaper route, same output
capsera.route(prefer="cost")
 
spend = capsera.usage(
    group_by="agent",
    window="30d",
)
 
for a, cost in spend:
    print(a, f"${cost:.2f}")
 
# fails open, always
capsera.flush()
 
for task in queue:
    run(task)
 
log("run complete")
import capsera
from anthropic import Anthropic
 
capsera.init(
    agent="reasoning_agent",
    run_id=ctx.run_id,
)

Know what a resolved conversation costs.

Stop runaway agents before they become runaway invoices.

Try for free