Running out of credits

SmarterSEO never lets a run push your balance below zero. Instead it blocks manual runs that cost more than you have, warns you a day ahead when scheduled rank checks are at risk, skips the checks it cannot pay for, and pauses a tracker after three skips in a row. This article explains each of those behaviours and how to recover.

#Manual runs are blocked, not partially run

Every tool form estimates the cost before you start. If the estimate is higher than the balance, the Run button is disabled and the form shows:

"This run needs X credits but the organization has Y."

Bulk keyword metrics adds "Top up under Billing & credits." The rank tracker form shows "balance N is too low for one run" under its cost line. The REST API and MCP server respond with HTTP 402 and the code insufficient_credits.

Free workspaces are topped up to 200 credits for the month before a run is refused, so if it is a new calendar month the run may go ahead after all.

Tip: The estimate is only a check. A cheaper run of the same tool (fewer keywords, a shallower depth, a smaller grid) often fits the balance you have.

#The low-balance warning

Scheduled organic rank trackers are the most common thing to run out of credits unattended, so SmarterSEO watches for it:

• Every 10 minutes, for credit-plan workspaces with active scheduled rank trackers, the system estimates one day of checks: all tracked keywords across the organization multiplied by the SERP price at the deepest tracker's depth.
• If the balance is below that figure, it sends one in-app notification and one email to everyone who has Ranking alerts turned on in their notification preferences.
• The notification title is Credits are running low and the text reads: "{balance} credits left; the next day of scheduled checks needs about {need}. Runs that can't be covered are skipped." The email subject is "{Org}: credits are running low".
• The warning re-arms once the balance is back above the need, so you are warned again next time, but not every 10 minutes.

#Skipped scheduled runs

When a scheduled rank tracker run comes due and cannot be paid for, the run is skipped and you receive a notification titled Scheduled run of "{tracker}" skipped. Its text repeats the credit error and ends with "N more skipped run(s) and the tracker pauses."

Nothing is charged for a skipped run and the tracker's history simply has a gap for that day.

#Auto-pause after three skips

After 3 skipped runs in a row, the tracker pauses its own schedule. You get a notification and an email titled "{tracker}" paused after 3 skipped runs with the text: "Top up or change plan, then resume the schedule from the tracker's Settings tab."

While paused:

• The tracker keeps all of its data and shows a Paused badge on its card and in the header.
• Manual runs still work: click Run tracker whenever you have credits.
• Nothing else is affected; other trackers continue on their own schedules.

#Resuming a paused tracker

1. Top up your balance (see below) or move to a plan whose monthly credits cover your trackers.
2. Open the tracker and go to its Settings tab.
3. Click Resume schedule. The next run is queued according to the tracker's schedule.

The skip counter resets to zero whenever a run is successfully queued or the schedule is resumed. See Schedules and settings.

#Grids, AI trackers and reviews only skip

The low-balance warning and auto-pause apply only to organic rank trackers. Local grids, AI search trackers and Google review fetches behave more simply: if a scheduled scan, check or fetch cannot be paid for, you receive a "skipped" notification ("Scheduled scan of … skipped" for grids) each time it happens, and the schedule carries on trying at the next due time. They never pause themselves, so once you top up the next scheduled run goes ahead without any action from you.

#How to top up

You have three options, all under Settings → Billing & credits:

Note: Plan renewals and the Free top-up happen on their own schedule. If a renewal is a day or two away, you can simply wait; skipped runs do not cost anything, and the tracker will not pause unless three in a row are missed.

#Checking where the credits went

If a balance is lower than expected, the Credit history table on the billing page lists every grant and debit with the running balance, and the Usage page breaks the month down call by call with the cache hit rate. See Usage and history.

#Related

• Credits explained
• Credit costs by tool
• Credit packs and codes
• Schedules and settings
• Email notifications