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

# Understanding SphereScout credits and usage

> Credits are the currency you spend to export contacts from SphereScout. Learn how credits work, when they reset, and what to do when you run out.

Credits are the unit of measurement for contact exports in SphereScout. Every time you export a contact record, one credit is deducted from your balance. Your plan gives you a fixed pool of credits each month, and that balance resets on your billing date — unused credits do not carry over. Understanding how credits work helps you plan your outreach campaigns without interruption.

## What counts as one credit

One credit equals one exported contact record. When you run a search and export 500 contacts, SphereScout deducts 500 credits. Browsing search results, previewing contacts in the dashboard, and running searches without exporting are all free — credits are only consumed at the point of export.

## Viewing your credit balance

Your current credit balance is always visible in the top bar of your dashboard. The display shows:

* **Subscription credits remaining** — credits from your current monthly plan
* **Purchased credits remaining** — one-time top-up credits, if you have any

Both pools are available to use at any time. SphereScout draws down your subscription credits first, then uses purchased credits once your subscription balance reaches zero.

## Monthly credit reset

Subscription credits reset on the same date each month — your billing date. The reset brings your balance back to your plan's full monthly allocation. Credits that you did not use in the previous month are forfeited; they do not roll over to the next cycle.

<Note>
  Purchased (one-time) credits do **not** reset monthly. They remain in your account until you use them, regardless of billing cycles.
</Note>

## Subscription plans and credit allocations

SphereScout offers four subscription tiers. All plans include access to every search filter, all export formats, and unlimited searches.

| Plan    | Monthly credits | Price         |
| ------- | --------------- | ------------- |
| Starter | 10,000          | \$49 / month  |
| Growth  | 40,000          | \$99 / month  |
| Pro     | 100,000         | \$199 / month |
| Scale   | 300,000         | \$499 / month |

<Tip>
  Need more contacts than your plan provides? Once you have an active subscription, you can buy a one-time credit top-up at any time. See [managing your subscription](/billing/managing-subscription) for the top-up flow.
</Tip>

## What happens when you run out of credits

When your credit balance reaches zero, exports stop. You can still search and preview results, but the export button will be disabled until you replenish your balance.

You have two options to restore access:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Buy a credit top-up" icon="coins">
    Purchase a one-time block of credits to continue exporting without waiting for your monthly reset. Top-ups are immediately added to your purchased credit balance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Upgrade your plan" icon="arrow-up">
    Switch to a higher plan tier to get a larger monthly credit allocation. Your new plan credits become available immediately on upgrade.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Subscription credits vs. purchased credits

SphereScout maintains two separate credit pools in your account.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Subscription credits">
    These credits come from your active monthly plan. They refresh automatically on your billing date and are the primary source of credits for most users. Subscription credits expire at the end of each billing cycle if unused.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Purchased credits">
    These are credits you buy as a one-time purchase outside your subscription. They do not expire and are not affected by billing cycles. SphereScout uses your subscription credits first; purchased credits only draw down after your subscription balance is exhausted.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Warning>
  Cancelling your subscription removes access to subscription credits immediately. Purchased credits remain in your account and can still be used after cancellation.
</Warning>

## How to make the most of your credits

<Steps>
  <Step title="Narrow your search before exporting">
    Use filters to target exactly the contacts you need. A tighter search means fewer irrelevant records in your export, so your credits go further.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use presence filters">
    Filter for contacts that have an email, phone, or specific social profiles before exporting. This ensures every credit you spend produces a contact you can actually reach.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor your balance">
    Keep an eye on the credit counter in the dashboard top bar, especially mid-month during active campaigns. Top up early to avoid campaign interruptions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upgrade if you consistently run out">
    If you exhaust your credits before your billing date every month, upgrading your plan is more cost-effective than buying repeated top-ups.
  </Step>
</Steps>