## **🔍 Overview**

This article explains the most common billing questions Search Atlas customers ask: what AI credits are, how top-ups and Pro subscription charges work, and where to locate purchased backlinks inside the platform.

## **🤖 What Are AI Credits?**

AI credits are the in-platform currency that powers Search Atlas's AI-driven tools. Every time you use a feature that relies on artificial intelligence — such as generating content, running AI-assisted SEO audits, or using QUEST LLM Visibility — the action consumes a set number of AI credits from your account balance.

Common features that use AI credits include:

- **AI content generation** — writing or rewriting page content and meta tags
- **QUEST LLM Visibility** — analysing how your brand appears in large language model results
- **Automated SEO recommendations** — generating prioritised action lists for your sites
- **AI-assisted drafting for Authority Campaigns** — note: press release and Cloud Stack distribution itself draws from your shared Hyperdrive Credits balance, not AI credits

## **📦 What Is Included in the Pro Subscription?**

Your monthly Pro subscription charge covers your core plan entitlements. Depending on the tier you selected at sign-up, this typically includes:

- A set monthly allocation of AI credits (refreshed on your billing renewal date)
- Access to all core Search Atlas tools — keyword research, site audits, backlink analysis, rank tracking, and content editing
- Access to the **Authority** suite, including Cloud Stacks, URL Indexer, Campaigns, Inbox, and Sent
- Access to **More Features**, including Backlink Gap Analysis and Backlink Research
- Agency Whitelabel capabilities (if included in your plan tier)

Your exact credit allocation and feature limits are shown under the top-right avatar → **Billing** (Plans & Top-ups tab) inside the platform.

## **⚡ What Are AI Credit Top-Up Charges?**

If you exhaust your monthly AI credit allocation before your renewal date, you can purchase additional credits through an **AI top-up**. Top-up charges appear on your invoice separately from your regular Pro subscription fee. They are a one-time purchase — not a recurring subscription — and the credits are added to your balance immediately after payment is confirmed.

To check your current credit balance or purchase a top-up, navigate to your account billing or usage settings inside the platform.

## **📊 How to Monitor Your AI Credit Usage**

Keeping an eye on your credit consumption helps you avoid unexpected top-up charges. To review usage:

1. Log in to Search Atlas.
2. Open your account settings or billing dashboard.
3. Go to Avatar → **Billing** → **Plans & Top-ups** (the "Your Plan and Credits" section) to see your quota totals.

If your team uses credits faster than expected, consider reviewing which features are running automatically or how frequently AI-assisted tasks are being triggered.

## **🔗 Where to Find Your Purchased Backlinks**

Backlinks you have ordered or analysed through Search Atlas are accessible via the **More Features** section of the platform. There are two dedicated tools:

- **Link Gap Analysis** — compare your backlink profile against competitors and identify link-building opportunities. Navigate to **More Features → Backlinks → Link Gap Analysis**.
- **Backlink Research** — view a detailed breakdown of all backlinks pointing to your site, including new, lost, and existing links. Navigate to **More Features → Backlinks → Backlink Research**.

If you have purchased backlinks as part of an Authority Campaign, you can track their status by going to **Left sidebar → Authority → Campaigns** and selecting the relevant campaign. Related communications are available under **Left sidebar → Authority → Inbox** and **Left sidebar → Authority → Sent**.

## **🛠️ Quick Troubleshooting**

If something does not look right with your billing or credits, run through these checks first:

- **Unexpected charge on your invoice?** — Confirm whether it is labelled as a Pro subscription renewal or a one-time AI top-up. Both appear on the same invoice but are separate line items.
- **Credits not refreshing?** — Credits reset on your billing renewal date, not a fixed calendar date. Check your renewal date in your billing settings.
- **Cannot see purchased backlinks?** — Make sure you are looking under **More Features → Backlinks** and that you are logged into the correct workspace if you manage multiple accounts.
- **Top-up credits not applied?** — Allow a few minutes after payment confirmation. If the balance has not updated after 10 minutes, contact support using the method below.

## **💬 Need More Help?**

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.