📋 Overview
Top-ups let you add extra capacity to your Search Atlas account — for example more OTTO site slots or more HyperDrive Credits. If you were not expecting a top-up charge, this article explains how top-ups are purchased, which ones recur, and how to stop or dispute a charge.
💡 How Top-Ups Are Purchased
Most top-ups are bought by you from Profile menu → Billing → Plans & Top-ups. The one exception is the optional Universal Credits automatic top-up, described below.
- HyperDrive Credits: bought from Plans & Top-ups → Authority Building → HyperDrive Credits → Top Up. Credits you purchase roll over until used; credits included in your monthly plan reset each billing cycle.
- OTTO site slots: when you reach your plan's OTTO site limit, adding a new site is blocked and you are prompted to buy more slots.
🔄 Universal Credits Automatic Top-Up
If an account admin turns on Automatic top-up (the Automatic top-up card in the Billing dashboard), Search Atlas charges your saved payment method and adds Universal Credits whenever your balance drops below the trigger threshold you set.
- Off by default — only an account admin can turn it on or change it.
- Trigger threshold — the credit balance that starts a top-up (default 5,000 credits).
- Top-up amount — how much is charged each time.
- It switches itself off after 3 failed charges in a row.
To stop these charges, an admin can open the Automatic top-up card in Billing and turn it off.
🔍 Why You May See a Recurring Charge
An OTTO site top-up is a recurring monthly add-on. After you buy it, it renews automatically each billing cycle until you cancel it or your main plan's cancellation takes effect. Removing or Deep Freezing an OTTO site does not cancel the top-up.
⚙️ How to Stop a Recurring Top-Up
- Click your Profile avatar and go to Billing → Services.
- Open the ⋮ (three-dot) menu on the top-up.
- Select Cancel and complete the confirmation step.
💰 Disputing an Unexpected Top-Up Charge
If you were charged for a top-up that you believe was applied in error, our support team can review your billing history and evaluate your case for a refund.
Before reaching out, it helps to have the following information ready:
- The date(s) of the charge(s) in question.
- The amount(s) charged.
- A brief description of why you believe the charge was unexpected or unauthorised.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.