🔍 What Are Universal Credits?
Universal Credits are a flexible credit pool included with your Search Atlas subscription. They can be used across a wide range of tools and features inside the platform, automatically applying to supported actions without requiring you to manage separate budgets for each tool.
⚠️ Features Not Covered by Universal Credits
Universal Credits do not cover every feature in Search Atlas. The following tools and actions use HyperDrive Credits (HDC) exclusively and cannot be funded by Universal Credits:
- HyperDrive-powered indexing and citation creation — including URL submissions through the Authority → Indexer tool
- Cloud Stacks creation — each stack deducts HyperDrive Credits, not Universal Credits
- Citation building — local citation actions triggered from Local → Local Citations consume HyperDrive Credits
- PR Distribution publishing — distributing press releases via Authority → PR Distribution draws from HyperDrive Credits
In short: Universal Credits power most standard research and content tools, while HyperDrive Credits power high-velocity authority and indexing actions. The two pools are separate and cannot substitute for one another.
📊 Why Your HyperDrive Balance May Show 175 Instead of 230
If you expected 230 HyperDrive Credits — for example, 30 from a July challenge reward plus 200 from a Platinum package upgrade — but your balance shows 175, there are several common explanations:
- Credits were consumed before you checked. HyperDrive Credits are deducted in real time when actions like citation creation, indexing, or Cloud Stack generation are performed. Any activity between when the credits were awarded and when you checked your balance would reduce the total.
- UI refresh delay. In some cases, the platform UI does not immediately reflect a credit top-up or deduction. This is a known display issue that has been addressed in recent updates. Try refreshing your browser or logging out and back in to see the current balance.
- Challenge credits applied on a delay. Bonus credits from challenges or promotions (such as the July challenge) may be credited on a specific processing date rather than instantly. If your 30 challenge credits had not yet been applied when the balance was captured, your visible total would be lower than expected.
- Package upgrade timing. If your Platinum upgrade was processed mid-billing cycle, credits may have been prorated or applied on the next cycle start date depending on your plan terms.
- A portion was consumed by citation or indexing actions. Specifically, citation creation through Left sidebar → Local → Local Citations is a known consumer of HyperDrive Credits. If any citations were created around the time your credits were added, the deduction may not have been immediately visible in the UI — this display sync issue has been resolved in a recent platform update.
🛠️ How to Check Your Current Credit Balances
To view your Universal Credits and HyperDrive Credits at any time:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Look at the Hyperdrive Credits balance indicator in the header top-bar (e.g., 'Hyperdrive Credits 691'), visible on pages such as Authority → Press Releases.
- If a recent top-up is not reflected, perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Cmd+Shift+R on Mac) or log out and log back in.
💡 Tips to Avoid Credit Discrepancies
- Check your credit balance before and after running large batches of indexing, citation, or Cloud Stack actions so you can track consumption accurately.
- If you receive bonus credits from a challenge or promotion, allow up to 24 hours for them to appear in your account before performing high-volume actions.
- Note that Universal Credits and HyperDrive Credits are non-interchangeable — running out of one will not draw from the other.
- Keep your browser up to date and refresh the platform after any significant account change (upgrade, reactivation, or credit award) to ensure the UI reflects your true balance.
🆘 Still Seeing an Incorrect Balance?
If your HyperDrive or Universal Credit balance still looks wrong after refreshing and reviewing the points above, our team can audit your credit history and confirm exactly when each credit was applied or consumed. 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.