What does an AI code review really cost?
Code review tools are easy to demo on a small change. Their economics become clearer when a busy repository, repeated pushes, and human follow-up enter the picture.
Define a useful review
Measure issues found and accepted by developers, rather than comment count. Include incorrect suggestions and the time spent checking them. Start with a pilot on one repository and a clear rule for sensitive source code.
Watch the repeated work
A bot that rereads the whole repository after every push can create unnecessary usage. Track context size, review frequency, and re-review policy. Review only the relevant change and its dependencies when the tool allows it.
Match billing to usage
Compare seat subscriptions with metered API usage using your actual pull request volume. Keep a budget for retries and larger changes. Confirm whether API credits can fund the specific tool; a subscription and an API balance are different purchases.