> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.creatordb.app/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Managing API Billing > How to save a card, buy API credits, set up auto-reload, set a monthly spend limit and alerts, and view invoices on the API dashboard Billing tab. 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](https://docs.creatordb.app/creatordb_app/user_guide/api_dashboard.md). The **Billing** tab has the following sections: | Section | Description | | - | - | | **Credit balance** | Your **Available** credits, what you've **Spent this month** and the date the monthly spend resets. | | **Payment details** | Your saved card and the billing address printed on your invoices. | | **Auto-reload** | Whether auto-reload is off, **On** or **Paused**, and its settings. | | **Spend limit and alerts** | Your **Monthly spend limit** and **Spend alerts**. | | **Balance emails** | Turn the low-balance email on or off. | | **Invoices** | Your credit purchases and their receipts. | > [!NOTE] > > Monthly spend is counted per UTC calendar month, by the date each purchase was paid. It includes every credit purchase, from the purchase page, **Buy credits** and auto-reload, at the amount you paid. Subscription fees aren't included, and refunds aren't subtracted. Your first month gets the full spend limit, even if it's a partial month. ## 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](#opening-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. > [!NOTE] > > * You can save a card directly or through Stripe Link. Bank accounts saved in Link aren't accepted. > * If you try to add a card too many times, you have to wait an hour before you try again. > * If auto-reload is paused because a charge failed, replacing your card retries the failed charge on the new card right away. For details, see [Resuming paused auto-reload](#resuming-paused-auto-reload). ## Editing your billing address Your billing address is printed on your invoices. 1. [Open the Billing tab](#opening-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. > [!WARNING] > > You need a saved card. For details, see [Adding or replacing a card](#adding-or-replacing-a-card). 1. [Open the Billing tab](#opening-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. > [!NOTE] > > * A monthly spend limit doesn't block credits you buy yourself. These purchases always go through and count toward the month's spend. > * You can buy credits from the **Billing** tab on any plan with a published credit price. If your plan doesn't have one, contact CreatorDB. > * You can also buy credits on the **Purchase V3 API credits** page and pay at checkout. For details, see [Buying API credits](https://docs.creatordb.app/creatordb_app/user_guide/api_dashboard.md#buying-api-credits). ## 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. > [!WARNING] > > You need a saved card. For details, see [Adding or replacing a card](#adding-or-replacing-a-card). 1. [Open the Billing tab](#opening-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](#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. | Setting | Rule | | - | - | | **When my balance falls below** | At least 100 credits, in multiples of 10. | | **Bring it back to** | At least 1,000 credits more than **When my balance falls below**, in multiples of 10. | | Each reload | Buys the difference between your balance and **Bring it back to**, rounded to a multiple of 10. A reload is at least 1,000 credits. | > [!NOTE] > > * Each reload is invoiced and appears in [Invoices](#viewing-invoices). Credits bought by auto-reload are valid for 1 year and are non-refundable. > * Each reload is charged at your plan's price per credit at the time of the charge. > * You can also turn on auto-reload when you buy credits on the **Purchase V3 API credits** page. For details, see [Buying API credits](https://docs.creatordb.app/creatordb_app/user_guide/api_dashboard.md#buying-api-credits). > * If the auto-reload terms change, you're asked to accept the new terms the next time you save your settings. Until then, auto-reload keeps running under the terms you accepted. ### Editing or turning off auto-reload 1. [Open the Billing tab](#opening-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](#setting-a-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](#buying-credits-with-your-saved-card). ### 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. | Reason | How to fix it | | - | - | | The last charge didn't go through. | Click **Replace card** to retry the charge on a new card right away, or click **Resume auto-reload** to retry with the same card. The section shows the amount and card of the last attempt. | | Your bank needs you to confirm the last payment. | Click **Confirm payment** and follow your bank's steps. | | Even the smallest reload would go past your monthly spend limit. | Auto-reload resumes on the 1st of the next month (UTC). To resume sooner, raise your spend limit. | | There's no saved card. | Click **Add card**. | | A credit purchase was refunded, or a payment was disputed with your bank. | The unused credits from that purchase are removed. Click **Resume auto-reload** when you're ready. | | Buying credits isn't available for your plan. | Contact CreatorDB. | ## 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](#opening-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**. > [!NOTE] > > The minimum spend limit is the cost of one 1,000-credit reload at your plan's price per credit, so it depends on your plan. If you change plans and your saved limit is below the new minimum, CreatorDB keeps it until you next edit it. ## 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](#opening-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. | When | Banner | Email | | - | - | - | | Your balance falls below 500 credits. | The API dashboard **Overview** shows a low-balance banner, unless auto-reload is on and not paused. | You get a low-balance email, unless auto-reload is on and not paused, or you've turned the email off. | | Your balance reaches 0. | The API dashboard **Overview** shows an out-of-credits banner. API and MCP requests are refused. | You always get an out-of-credits email. If auto-reload is on, CreatorDB waits 5 minutes and sends it only if your balance is still 0. | 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](https://docs.creatordb.app/api-v3/error-code.md). Billing emails come from [billing@creatordb.app](mailto: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](#opening-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. | Status | Description | | - | - | | **Paid** | The payment succeeded and the credits were added. | | **Waiting for confirmation** | Your bank needs to confirm the payment. Credits are added after it's confirmed. | | **Failed** | The payment didn't go through. No credits were added. | | **Refunded** | The purchase was refunded. | | **Disputed** | The payment was disputed with your bank. | This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.