Managing API Billing

You can use the Billing tab on the API dashboard to manage how you pay for CreatorDB API credits. On the Billing tab, you can save a card, buy credits with it, have credits reload automatically when your balance runs low, cap what you spend each month and view your invoices. Any logged-in user with a verified email can open the Billing tab, on any plan.

​

Opening the Billing tab

1. Click APIs in the left sidebar.
   The API dashboard appears.
2. Click Billing.

The steps on this page start from the Billing tab. For API keys, usage and the credit purchase page, see Managing the API Dashboard. The Billing tab has the following sections:

​

Adding or replacing a card

You need a saved card to buy credits from the Billing tab and to use auto-reload. Saving a card doesn’t charge it.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Payment details section, click Add card, or Replace card if you already have one.
   The Stripe card page appears.
3. Enter your card details and save them.
   You return to the Billing tab, and the Payment method shows your card brand, last 4 digits and expiry date.

​

Editing your billing address

Your billing address is printed on your invoices.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Payment details section, click Edit billing address.
   The Billing address window appears.
3. Enter your Name or company, Country, Address and City. The other fields are optional.
4. Click Save.

​

Buying credits with your saved card

You can buy credits with your saved card without going through checkout. Credits you buy are valid for 1 year and are non-refundable.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Credit balance section, click Buy credits.
   The Buy credits window appears.
3. Select a preset amount or enter the amount of credits you want to buy.
   A purchase is at least 1,000 credits, in multiples of 10. The window shows the Total at your plan’s price per credit.
4. Click Pay.
   CreatorDB charges your saved card. Your credits are added after the payment succeeds.

If your bank asks you to confirm the payment, follow your bank’s steps, or click Confirm payment. Your credits are added after you confirm. If the payment is declined, you aren’t charged and no credits are added.

​

Setting up auto-reload

Auto-reload tops up your credit balance with your saved card when it runs low, so your API and MCP requests don’t stop. You set two amounts: when your balance falls below the first amount, CreatorDB charges your card for the credits needed to bring it back to the second amount.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Auto-reload section, click Set up.
   The Auto-reload window appears.
3. In When my balance falls below, enter the balance that triggers a reload.
4. In Bring it back to, enter the balance you want after a reload.
   The window shows what a typical reload buys and costs.
5. Optional: Change or clear the suggested Monthly spend limit.
   The suggested limit covers about three reloads a month. Leave it empty for no limit. For details, see Setting a monthly spend limit.
6. Read the auto-reload terms, and then select I agree to these terms.
7. Click Turn on auto-reload.
   The Auto-reload section shows On and your settings.

​

Editing or turning off auto-reload

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Auto-reload section, click Edit.
   The Auto-reload window appears.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Change your settings, and then click Save.
   • Click Turn off auto-reload.

​

How auto-reload works with your spend limit

If a reload would push this month’s spend past your monthly spend limit, CreatorDB reduces the reload to fit, down to 1,000 credits. If even 1,000 credits doesn’t fit, auto-reload pauses and you get an email. It resumes automatically on the 1st of the next month (UTC). To get credits sooner, raise your limit or buy credits.

​

Resuming paused auto-reload

When auto-reload pauses, the Auto-reload section shows Paused and why, and you get an email. CreatorDB doesn’t retry a failed charge on its own.

​

Setting a monthly spend limit

A monthly spend limit stops automatic charges, such as auto-reload, once this month’s spend reaches the limit. Credits you buy yourself always go through and count toward the month.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Spend limit and alerts section, click Set limit, or Edit limit if you already have one.
   The Monthly spend limit window appears.
3. In Limit per month, enter a whole-dollar amount.
   The window shows the minimum on your plan.
4. Click Save.

To remove your limit, click Edit limit, and then click Remove limit.

​

Setting spend alerts

Spend alerts email you when this month’s credit spend reaches amounts you choose. You get each alert once a month.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Spend limit and alerts section, click Add alerts, or Edit alerts if you already have them.
   The Spend alerts window appears.
3. In Email me when spend reaches, enter an amount. To add another amount, click Add amount.
   You can add up to 5 different amounts.
4. Click Save.

​

Balance notifications

CreatorDB tells you when your credit balance is low or runs out. Click Buy credits on a banner to open the Billing tab. While auto-reload is off or paused, the banner also shows Auto-reload, which opens the Auto-reload section. Each email is sent once each time your balance crosses the level, and is sent again only after your balance goes back to 500 credits or more. When your balance is 0, API requests return a 402 error with INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS. For details, see Error codes. Billing emails come from billing@creatordb.app and go to your account’s email address.

​

Turning the low-balance email on or off

The low-balance email is on by default.

1. Open the Billing tab.
2. In the Balance emails section, turn Low-balance email on or off.

Turning off the low-balance email doesn’t affect the out-of-credits email or the banners.

​

Viewing invoices

The Invoices section lists your credit purchases, including purchases from the purchase page, Buy credits and auto-reload. Each invoice shows its Date, Credits, Amount and Status. Click Receipt to open the receipt for an invoice, or click Load more to see older invoices.