Use backend-provided podcast estimates and remove UI heuristics

backend/api/podcast/handlers/analysis.py

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ from api.story_writer.utils.auth import require_authenticated_user
 from services.llm_providers.main_text_generation import llm_text_gen
 from services.llm_providers.main_image_generation import generate_image
 from services.podcast_bible_service import PodcastBibleService
+from services.subscription import PricingService
+from models.subscription_models import APIProvider
 from utils.asset_tracker import save_asset_to_library
 from loguru import logger
 import os
@@ -33,6 +35,82 @@ def _is_podcast_only_mode() -> bool:
     """Check if podcast-only demo mode is enabled."""
     return os.getenv("ALWRITY_ENABLED_FEATURES", "").strip().lower() == "podcast"
 
+
+def _estimate_tokens(text: str) -> int:
+    if not text:
+        return 0
+    return max(1, len(text) // 4)
+
+
+def _build_analysis_estimate(
+    db: Session,
+    idea: str,
+    duration: int,
+    speakers: int,
+    has_avatar: bool,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """
+    Build a user-facing estimate from pricing catalog and phase-level assumptions.
+    """
+    # Defaults if catalog lookup fails
+    gemini_in_token = 0.00000015
+    gemini_out_token = 0.0000006
+    exa_per_request = 0.005
+    image_per_request = 0.01
+    video_per_request = 0.01
+    audio_per_request = 0.005
+
+    try:
+        pricing_service = PricingService(db)
+        gemini_pricing = pricing_service.get_pricing_for_provider_model(APIProvider.GEMINI, "gemini-2.5-flash") or {}
+        gemini_in_token = float(gemini_pricing.get("cost_per_input_token") or gemini_in_token)
+        gemini_out_token = float(gemini_pricing.get("cost_per_output_token") or gemini_out_token)
+        exa_pricing = pricing_service.get_pricing_for_provider_model(APIProvider.EXA, "exa-search") or {}
+        exa_per_request = float(exa_pricing.get("cost_per_request") or exa_per_request)
+        img_pricing = pricing_service.get_pricing_for_provider_model(APIProvider.STABILITY, "stable-image-ultra") or {}
+        image_per_request = float(img_pricing.get("cost_per_request") or image_per_request)
+        video_pricing = pricing_service.get_pricing_for_provider_model(APIProvider.VIDEO, "minimax-video-01") or {}
+        video_per_request = float(video_pricing.get("cost_per_request") or video_per_request)
+        audio_pricing = pricing_service.get_pricing_for_provider_model(APIProvider.AUDIO, "gemini-2.5-flash-preview-tts") or {}
+        audio_per_request = float(audio_pricing.get("cost_per_request") or audio_per_request)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning(f"[Podcast Analyze] Pricing catalog lookup failed, using defaults: {exc}")
+
+    # Phase assumptions
+    query_count = 5
+    analyze_in = _estimate_tokens(idea) + 240
+    analyze_out = 750
+    analyze_cost = (analyze_in * gemini_in_token) + (analyze_out * gemini_out_token)
+
+    gather_cost = query_count * exa_per_request
+
+    script_chars = max(1000, duration * 900)
+    write_in = _estimate_tokens(idea) + _estimate_tokens(str(script_chars)) + 320
+    write_out = max(900, int(duration * 220))
+    write_cost = (write_in * gemini_in_token) + (write_out * gemini_out_token)
+
+    tts_cost = max(1, speakers) * audio_per_request
+    avatar_cost = 0.0 if has_avatar else image_per_request
+    video_cost = max(1, duration) * video_per_request
+    produce_cost = tts_cost + avatar_cost + video_cost
+
+    breakdown = [
+        {"phase": "Analyze", "cost": round(analyze_cost, 6)},
+        {"phase": "Gather", "cost": round(gather_cost, 6)},
+        {"phase": "Write", "cost": round(write_cost, 6)},
+        {"phase": "Produce", "cost": round(produce_cost, 6)},
+    ]
+    total = round(sum(item["cost"] for item in breakdown), 6)
+    return {
+        "ttsCost": round(tts_cost, 6),
+        "avatarCost": round(avatar_cost, 6),
+        "videoCost": round(video_cost, 6),
+        "researchCost": round(gather_cost, 6),
+        "total": total,
+        "breakdown": breakdown,
+        "currency": "USD",
+    }
+
 router = APIRouter()
 
 
@@ -388,6 +466,13 @@ Requirements:
         bible=bible_obj.model_dump() if bible_obj else None,
         avatar_url=final_avatar_url,
         avatar_prompt=final_avatar_prompt,
+        estimate=_build_analysis_estimate(
+            db=db,
+            idea=request.idea,
+            duration=request.duration,
+            speakers=request.speakers,
+            has_avatar=bool(final_avatar_url),
+        ),
     )
 
 
@@ -492,4 +577,3 @@ Requirements:
     except Exception as exc:
         logger.error(f"[Regenerate Queries] Failed for user {user_id}: {exc}")
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Regenerate queries failed: {exc}")
-

backend/api/podcast/models.py

@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class PodcastAnalyzeResponse(BaseModel):
     bible: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
     avatar_url: Optional[str] = None
     avatar_prompt: Optional[str] = None
+    estimate: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
 
 
 class PodcastEnhanceIdeaRequest(BaseModel):

frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx

@@ -253,26 +253,6 @@ export const CreateModal: React.FC<CreateModalProps> = ({ onCreate, open, defaul
     setShowAIDetailsButton(topicInput.trim().length > 0 && !isUrl);
   }, [topicInput, isUrl]);
 
-  // Calculate estimated cost
-  const estimatedCost = useMemo(() => {
-    const chars = Math.max(1000, duration * 900); // ~900 chars per minute
-    const secs = duration * 60;
-    
-    const ttsCost = (chars / 1000) * 0.05;
-    const avatarCost = speakers * 0.15;
-    const videoRate = knobs.bitrate === 'hd' ? 0.06 : 0.03;
-    const videoCost = secs * videoRate;
-    const researchCost = 0.3; // Fixed research cost
-    
-    return {
-      ttsCost: +ttsCost.toFixed(2),
-      avatarCost: +avatarCost.toFixed(2),
-      videoCost: +videoCost.toFixed(2),
-      researchCost: +researchCost.toFixed(2),
-      total: +(ttsCost + avatarCost + videoCost + researchCost).toFixed(2),
-    };
-  }, [duration, speakers, knobs.bitrate, knobs.scene_length_target]);
-
   // Check if avatar is present (from any source: upload, brand avatar, or generated)
   const hasAvatar = Boolean(
     avatarFile ||                         // User uploaded an image
@@ -560,7 +540,7 @@ export const CreateModal: React.FC<CreateModalProps> = ({ onCreate, open, defaul
               placeholderIndex={placeholderIndex}
               loading={enhancingTopic}
               loadingMessage={enhanceTopicMessage}
-              estimatedCost={estimatedCost}
+              estimatedCost={null}
               duration={duration}
               speakers={speakers}
               knobs={knobs}

frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/TopicUrlInput.tsx

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ interface TopicUrlInputProps {
     videoCost: number;
     researchCost: number;
     total: number;
-  };
+  } | null;
   duration?: number;
   speakers?: number;
   knobs?: Knobs;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export const TopicUrlInput: React.FC<TopicUrlInputProps> = ({
             </Typography>
           </Stack>
           
-          {estimatedCost && (
+          {estimatedCost ? (
             <Tooltip
               title={
                 <Box>
@@ -171,6 +171,20 @@ export const TopicUrlInput: React.FC<TopicUrlInputProps> = ({
                 }}
               />
             </Tooltip>
+          ) : (
+            <Chip
+              icon={<AttachMoneyIcon sx={{ fontSize: "0.875rem !important" }} />}
+              label="Est. Unavailable"
+              size="small"
+              sx={{
+                background: "rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.12)",
+                color: "#64748b",
+                fontWeight: 600,
+                border: "1px solid rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.2)",
+                fontSize: "0.75rem",
+                height: 26,
+              }}
+            />
           )}
         </Stack>
         <Tooltip

frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/types.ts

@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ export type PodcastEstimate = {
   videoCost: number;
   researchCost: number;
   total: number;
+  breakdown?: Array<{ phase: "Analyze" | "Gather" | "Write" | "Produce"; cost: number }>;
+  currency?: "USD";
+  lastUpdated?: string;
   voiceName?: string;
   isCustomVoice?: boolean;
 };
@@ -196,7 +199,7 @@ export type CreateProjectPayload = {
 export type CreateProjectResult = {
   projectId: string;
   analysis: PodcastAnalysis;
-  estimate: PodcastEstimate;
+  estimate: PodcastEstimate | null;
   queries: Query[];
   bible?: PodcastBible;
   avatar_url?: string | null;

frontend/src/services/podcastApi.ts

@@ -59,43 +59,6 @@ const deriveSegments = (option?: OptionLike): string[] => {
   return segments.slice(0, 5);
 };
 
-const estimateCosts = ({
-  minutes,
-  scenes,
-  chars,
-  quality,
-  avatars,
-  queryCount = 3,
-  voiceId,
-}: {
-  minutes: number;
-  scenes: number;
-  chars: number;
-  quality: string;
-  avatars: number;
-  queryCount?: number;
-  voiceId?: string;
-}): PodcastEstimate => {
-  const secs = Math.max(60, minutes * 60);
-  const ttsCost = (chars / 1000) * 0.05;
-  const avatarCost = avatars * 0.15;
-  const videoRate = quality === "hd" ? 0.06 : 0.03;
-  const videoCost = secs * videoRate;
-  const researchCost = +(Math.max(1, queryCount) * 0.1).toFixed(2);
-  const total = +(ttsCost + avatarCost + videoCost + researchCost).toFixed(2);
-  const isCustomVoice = Boolean(voiceId && !["Wise_Woman", "Friendly_Person", "Inspirational_girl", "Deep_Voice_Man", "Calm_Woman", "Casual_Guy", "Lively_Girl", "Patient_Man", "Young_Knight", "Determined_Man", "Lovely_Girl", "Decent_Boy", "Imposing_Manner", "Elegant_Man", "Abbess", "Sweet_Girl_2", "Exuberant_Girl"].includes(voiceId));
-  const voiceName = isCustomVoice ? "My Voice Clone" : (!voiceId ? "Wise Woman" : voiceId.replace(/_/g, " "));
-  return {
-    ttsCost: +ttsCost.toFixed(2),
-    avatarCost: +avatarCost.toFixed(2),
-    videoCost: +videoCost.toFixed(2),
-    researchCost,
-    total,
-    voiceName,
-    isCustomVoice,
-  };
-};
-
 const mapPersonaQueries = (persona: ResearchPersona | undefined, seed: string): Query[] => {
   const baseIdea = seed || "AI marketing for small businesses";
   const personaKeywords = persona?.suggested_keywords?.filter(Boolean) || [];
@@ -302,15 +265,21 @@ export const podcastApi = {
     // so users can manually choose which queries to run
 
     const projectId = createId("podcast");
-    const estimate = estimateCosts({
+    const estimateData = analysisResp.data?.estimate;
-      minutes: payload.duration,
+    const estimate: PodcastEstimate | null = estimateData
-      scenes: Math.ceil((payload.duration * 60) / (payload.knobs.scene_length_target || DEFAULT_KNOBS.scene_length_target)),
+      ? {
-      chars: Math.max(1000, payload.duration * 900),
+          ttsCost: Number(estimateData.ttsCost ?? 0),
-      quality: payload.knobs.bitrate || "standard",
+          avatarCost: Number(estimateData.avatarCost ?? 0),
-      avatars: payload.speakers,
+          videoCost: Number(estimateData.videoCost ?? 0),
-      queryCount: queries.length || 3,
+          researchCost: Number(estimateData.researchCost ?? 0),
-      voiceId: payload.knobs.voice_id,
+          total: Number(estimateData.total ?? 0),
-    });
+          breakdown: Array.isArray(estimateData.breakdown) ? estimateData.breakdown : [],
+          currency: estimateData.currency || "USD",
+          lastUpdated: estimateData.last_updated || estimateData.lastUpdated,
+          voiceName: estimateData.voiceName,
+          isCustomVoice: estimateData.isCustomVoice,
+        }
+      : null;
 
     return {
       projectId,