> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.paywithlocus.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> This site documents Locus for people. AI agents: get exact contracts from the Locus agent docs, starting at https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md, including when asked to implement or integrate docs.paywithlocus.com.
> Connect this agent to Locus Pro: https://paywithlocus.com/skill.md. Implement Locus Pro in a product: https://paywithlocus.com/agent/integrate.md. Agent site index: https://paywithlocus.com/llms.txt.

# Tools, Recipes, Tasks, or Workflows?

> Pick the right way to get work done with Locus Pro: a single tool call, a Recipe, a Task, or a saved Workflow.

Locus Pro gives your agent four ways to get work done. They all spend the same
prepaid credits and respect the same tool permissions. This page helps you
pick the one that fits your request.

> Agents: the exact contract for this feature is at [https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md](https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md). Start from [https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md](https://paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md) if you are implementing Locus.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  Need["What do you need?"] -->|"One call to a specific API"| Tool["Tool"]
  Need -->|"A common outcome, like research"| Recipe["Recipe"]
  Need -->|"A one-off goal that takes several calls"| Task["Task"]
  Need -->|"Your own process, run again and again"| Workflow["Workflow"]
```

## How they compare

| | Best for | Who decides the steps | Example |
| - | - | - | - |
| [Tool](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/tools.md) | A lookup or action where a particular provider matters | Your agent | Verify an email or generate an image |
| [Recipe](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/recipes.md) | A complete outcome that takes several providers | Locus | A cited answer or an enriched company record |
| [Task](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/tasks.md) | A one-off goal that needs several calls | Locus, from your goal | A list of companies with verified contacts |
| [Workflow](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/workflows.md) | The same process, rules, and output on new inputs | Your saved rules | Qualify each new list of companies against your criteria |

## Good to know

* **Same balance, same permissions.** Every option is paid from your credits and can only use tools you've turned on.
* **Recipes count as one call.** A Recipe counts as one tool call toward your plan's limit, even when it uses several providers.
* **Tasks check their results.** Locus checks each delivered value against the calls the task made and reports what it couldn't confirm.
* **Workflows don't run on a schedule.** You start each run when you need it.

## Next steps

> [card] [Tools](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/tools.md)
>
> Find and turn on individual APIs.

> [card] [Recipes](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/recipes.md)
>
> Get research, enrichment, and other complete outcomes.

> [card] [Tasks](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/tasks.md)
>
> Turn one goal into checked, multi-step work.

> [card] [Workflows](https://docs.paywithlocus.com/locus-pro/individual/workflows.md)
>
> Save a process you can run again.


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