Dear MATE users and supporters,

Today, I'm sharing an update that changes how you will use AI features in MATE.

This wasn't an easy decision, and I don't take it lightly.

Here is a quick summary

- Exploding API costs are forcing me to change model usage. This is not the email you want to read but I covered the costs for MATE myself for the last months and I can’t do that any longer.

- Included models are GPT 5.4 Mini and Claude Haiku 4.5. - *please note: these models are still better than what we had last year when most of you signed up for MATE.*

- For higher-tier models you will need to use your own API keys and cover the usage costs yourself

- This unlocks availability for the latest and best models as soon as they become available (e.g. Claude Opus 4.8, GPT 5.5, Gemini 3.5 Flash).

- To keep costs low for you, MATE will soon support local models (Kimi, Qwen, Deepseek, etc) and “AI routers” like OpenRouter that help with usage management.

- MATE Desktop will become available very, very soon. With that you will be able to use Claude/ChatGPT with your Claude subscription.

- I’m really sorry about this step but there is no other way. I appreciate your support!

- For InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop please update MATE now.

(The other MATEs will be updated next).

Here's why

When I launched MATE, I included AI in every subscription because I wanted you to just use it. No friction, no cost considerations. It was the right decision at the time.

Unfortunately, the numbers haven't been adding up in recent months. The models have improved dramatically (which is great), and they've also gotten dramatically more expensive.

They process more and burn more tokens per task.

The cost per user is growing faster than I can absorb.

I've been paying the difference myself for the past few months (literally paying for this little project), hoping the costs will come down again (I've tried to lower them). In the end, it hasn't really helped to reduce costs and I'm having a hard time paying the bills myself anymore.

Please keep in mind, MATE is based on Bootstrap (self-funded) and there is no external funding (by the way, if you know someone who knows someone... I'm open to ideas).

Ultimately, I don't want to simplify the product. I don't want to lower the quality of MATE just to make financial sense. I want you to use the best models available, as much as you need.

What's new

1//

Still included: GPT-5.4-mini and Claude Haiku 4.5 stay included in your subscription. (If this feels like a regression, please keep in mind that these models are still far better than what was available last year). And you still keep your subscription price.

2//

For higher-tier models and future top models you will need your own API keys. You will need to create your own API keys and also pay the usage costs for these models. I have written guides on how to get API keys: https://www.omata.io/mate/docs/how-to-get-an-api-key

(Please note: a regular subscription for ChatGPT or Claude does not support API keys. These are separate products. API keys need a separate developer account.)

3//

Best new models like GPT 5.5, Opus 4.8, Gemini 3.5 Flash are now available for everyone (with your own API keys). These are amazing tools. But they are not cheap. So be warned.

3//

“Custom API key” licenses keep working as they always have. You use them with your own API keys like you always had.

4//

Free mode will no longer be available. Not enough people subscribed when using it and the costs are getting too high to keep it. For new customers, there will be a 7 day free trial before payments start. This will give new users enough time to test MATE.

What to do now

The new versions of MATE for InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop are live. I’m asking you to upgrade now. The old versions are being sunset in the next weeks.

MATE for InDesign, v3.0:

https://adobe.com/go/cc_plugins_discover_plugin?pluginId=202718&workflow=share

MATE for Illustrator, v3.0

https://adobe.com/go/cc_plugins_discover_plugin?pluginId=109684&workflow=share

MATE for Photoshop, v2.0

https://adobe.com/go/cc_plugins_discover_plugin?pluginId=7ad8ee93&workflow=share

Figma, After Effects, Adobe Express will be updated next.

Why MATE, the plugin, is not free

MATE can massively speed up your workflows and save you and your company a lot of time and increase the quality of results creating solutions that are not available without scripting.

Developing and maintaining an AI product in a constantly changing market requires consistent work. As much as you can’t work for free, neither can I.

I want to keep pushing updates and new features. That’s only possible with a paid product.

Why I think this is a better model

This is not the end state. I'm working on ways to make AI in MATE cheaper and easier for everyone:

• Support for local models (Kimi, Qwen, Gemma, GLM, others). Run models on your computer, total privacy, no API cost (it’s simple via Ollama, LMStudio). Local models wIll be available with the next update.

• Support for Claude and ChatGPT subscriptions via MATE Desktop, so you can use your existing subscriptions instead of an API key.

• Support for "access management" tools like OpenRouter, LangDock, and others. With these you can better control credit costs for AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, etc) and share credits with several services and also within your team. MATE will soon support these. Starting with OpenRouter. LangDock and other EU-friendly alternatives next.

The goal hasn't changed: I want MATE to be the best plugin and assistant you've ever had. That work continues.

I can now focus again on much requested UI improvements and other big and small features that make MATE more useful.

I know this isn't the email you wanted to read.

I really tried to make the included model work.

I really appreciate your trust and support!

Eugen