---
title: "Zerocost"
description: "Monetization platform for AI apps and SaaS: native in-app ads and consented, anonymized data instead of a paywall."
canonical: "https://zerocost.app/"
last_updated: 2026-10-15
---

# Zerocost

> Zerocost is the monetization platform for AI apps and SaaS. Publishers earn from native in-app ads and consented, anonymized data instead of a paywall. Advertisers buy contextual placements inside AI apps and developer tools. Data buyers license consented LLM conversation and UX session datasets.

## When to use Zerocost

- You run a free AI app, SaaS product, website or developer tool and want revenue without charging users.
- You want to advertise inside AI apps and developer tools with contextual (not behavioral) targeting.
- You need consented, anonymized LLM conversation logs or screen-recording sessions for training or evals.

## Get started (publishers)

1. Create a free account at https://zerocost.app/register. No credit card required.
2. Create an API key in the dashboard. Keys are self-serve and free.
3. Install the SDK: `npm install @zerocost/sdk`
4. Initialize it and choose placements. Full guide: https://zerocost.app/docs/quick-start
5. Preview ad formats in the browser before you ship them: https://zerocost.app/playground

## For agents

- Developer hub: https://zerocost.app/developers
- Pricing (markdown): https://zerocost.app/pricing.md
- Full product description: https://zerocost.app/llms.txt
- Docs index for agents: https://zerocost.app/docs/llms.txt
- OpenAPI spec: https://zerocost.app/openapi.json
- Public REST API: https://zerocost.app/api
- Product MCP server (streamable HTTP): https://zerocost.app/mcp
- Docs MCP server (streamable HTTP): https://zerocost.app/docs/mcp
- NLWeb endpoint: https://zerocost.app/ask?query=...
- Authentication guide: https://zerocost.app/auth.md
- Agent guide: https://zerocost.app/agents.md
- Agent skill: https://zerocost.app/.well-known/agent-skills/zerocost-sdk/SKILL.md
- Any page as markdown: append `.md` to its URL, e.g. https://zerocost.app/faq.md

## Pages

- [App Monetization Platform for AI Apps and SaaS](https://zerocost.app/): Zerocost is the monetization platform for AI apps and SaaS. Earn from in-app ads and consented anonymized data instead of a paywall. No upfront fees.
- [Monetize Free Users Without a Paywall](https://zerocost.app/s): Turn free users into revenue without charging them. Install the Zerocost SDK, run native in-app ads, sell consented anonymized data, and grow MRR paywall free.
- [Advertise Inside AI Apps and Developer Tools](https://zerocost.app/a): Run contextual ad campaigns across AI apps, developer tools, and vertical SaaS. Reach high intent users while they work, with clear CPM pricing and ROAS reporting.
- [Buy LLM Conversation and Screen Recording Data](https://zerocost.app/d): License anonymized LLM conversation logs and real screen recording sessions for model training, evals, and agent research. Consented, structured, ready to use.
- [Zerocost Docs and SDK Reference](https://zerocost.app/docs): Install the Zerocost SDK, render ad placements, enable consented data collection, and track earnings. Quick start guides and full API reference.
- [Privacy Policy](https://zerocost.app/privacy): How Zerocost collects, anonymizes, uses, and protects data across ads and consented datasets.
- [Terms of Service](https://zerocost.app/terms): The terms that govern use of the Zerocost platform, SDK, ad network, and data marketplace.
- [About Zerocost](https://zerocost.app/about): Zerocost builds monetization infrastructure so software teams can keep products free and still cover AI inference and hosting costs.
- [Careers at Zerocost](https://zerocost.app/careers): Open roles at Zerocost. Help build the monetization layer for AI apps and modern software.
- [Blog: App Monetization Guides and Benchmarks](https://zerocost.app/blog): Practical guides on app monetization, ad placements, RPM and CPM benchmarks, paywall alternatives, and growing MRR without charging your users.
- [Contact Zerocost](https://zerocost.app/contact): Talk to the Zerocost team about monetization, ad campaigns, datasets, or partnerships.
- [Zerocost FAQ](https://zerocost.app/faq): Answers on payouts, ad formats, SDK setup, data consent, pricing, and how Zerocost monetization works end to end.
- [Platform Status](https://zerocost.app/status): Live status of Zerocost ad serving, the SDK, the dashboard, and the data pipeline.
- [Use Cases](https://zerocost.app/use-cases): See how AI apps, developer tools, and SaaS products use Zerocost to monetize free users.
- [Free Monetization Tools and Calculators](https://zerocost.app/free-tools): Free tools for founders. Estimate ad RPM, model revenue per user, and plan monetization before you build a paywall.
- [AI App Monetization With Ads and Data Revenue](https://zerocost.app/monetization): A complete monetization stack for AI apps: native ad placements, consented data revenue, live analytics, and payouts. Cover inference costs without a paywall.
- [Sell Anonymized AI Usage Data](https://zerocost.app/data-sales): Turn consented, anonymized AI usage and conversation data into recurring revenue, with per session pricing and full user consent controls.
- [Native Display Ads for AI Apps](https://zerocost.app/display-ads): Display, native card, inline text, and video ad formats built for AI products. No layout shift, no popups, and full control over every placement.
- [Self Serve Ad Platform for SaaS Audiences](https://zerocost.app/self-serve-ads): Launch a campaign in minutes. Upload creatives, target industries, set budgets, and reach engaged users inside AI apps and developer tools.
- [AI Training Data Marketplace](https://zerocost.app/data-marketplace): Browse anonymized LLM conversation datasets and screen recording sessions by industry, volume, and recency. Licensed with user consent.
- [Enterprise Data and Monetization API](https://zerocost.app/enterprise-api): Programmatic access to Zerocost datasets, campaign management, and revenue reporting for enterprise teams.
- [Monetization Case Studies](https://zerocost.app/case-studies): How real teams replaced paywalls with ad and data revenue, and what happened to their RPM, MRR, and retention.
- [Ad Metrics: CPM, RPM, and Fill Rate](https://zerocost.app/ad-metrics): Understand CPM, RPM, fill rate, and click through benchmarks across Zerocost ad formats, and what each one means for your revenue.
- [SDK Playground](https://zerocost.app/playground): Test Zerocost ad formats, placements, and consent flows live before you ship them.
- [Zerocost Developers: API, MCP Server, CLI and SDK](https://zerocost.app/developers): Zerocost developer resources: REST API and OpenAPI spec, MCP server, OAuth 2.0, the zerocost CLI, the @zerocost/sdk package, llms.txt and agent skills.
- [Zerocost API Versioning and Deprecation Policy](https://zerocost.app/developers/versioning): How the Zerocost API is versioned, what can change within a version, and how deprecations and removals are announced (Deprecation and Sunset headers, 90 days notice).

## Company

- About: https://zerocost.app/about
- Contact: https://zerocost.app/contact
- Privacy: https://zerocost.app/privacy
- Terms: https://zerocost.app/terms
- Status: https://zerocost.app/status