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

# Buying Credits

> Top up your credit balance to keep Alva running.

If your monthly allocation runs out before the end of the billing cycle, you can purchase additional credits at any time.

## How to buy credits

1. Go to **Settings → Billing**
2. Click **Buy Credits**
3. Select the amount you'd like to purchase
4. Complete the secure checkout

## One-off credits vs monthly allocation

|                      | Monthly allocation                                | One-off purchase                         |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Included in plan** | ✅ Yes                                             | ❌ Purchased separately                   |
| **Refreshes**        | Every billing cycle                               | Never — they persist                     |
| **Expires**          | At end of billing cycle                           | Never                                    |
| **Used first**       | ✅ Monthly credits are used before one-off credits | Used after monthly credits are exhausted |

One-off credits **never expire** — they remain in your balance until used. This makes them a safe way to ensure you always have credits available, especially if your usage is unpredictable.

## When to buy credits

Common scenarios for buying additional credits:

* **You're mid-month and running low** — your BDR agents are active and using credits faster than expected
* **You have a big discovery search planned** — searching across many locations will use credits quickly
* **You're onboarding a new team member** — more people means more AI conversations
* **You want a safety buffer** — keep a reserve so features never stop working unexpectedly

## Checking your balance

Your current credit balance is always visible at **Settings → Billing**. The Usage page (**Settings → Usage**) shows a detailed breakdown of where credits are being spent.

<Tip>
  If you find yourself buying one-off credits regularly, it might be more cost-effective to upgrade your plan — higher tiers come with larger monthly allocations and better per-credit rates.
</Tip>