## **💡 What Are Universal Credits?**

Universal Credits is Search Atlas's unified credit system that consolidates usage across multiple tools into a single, flexible balance. Instead of managing separate credit pools for different features, Universal Credits gives you one shared balance you can spend across the platform — making it easier to track usage and allocate resources where you need them most.

## **🔍 Am I Already on Universal Credits?**

To check whether your account has been migrated to Universal Credits, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Search Atlas account.
2. Look at your credit balance displayed in the platform header or billing area.
3. If your balance is shown as a single unified total (rather than separate credit types per tool), your account is on Universal Credits.
4. If you see distinct credit pools labelled per feature or tool, your account is still on the legacy credit system.

**Note:** Trial accounts have a capped Universal Credits balance. If you exhaust your trial credits, you will see an upgrade prompt — this is expected behaviour.

## **🚀 How to Switch to Universal Credits**

The switch to Universal Credits is a **one-way, instant migration** — once you move to Universal Credits, the change cannot be reversed. Before switching, make sure you are comfortable with this and have reviewed how your current credits will be affected.

If the option to switch is available on your account, you will see it in your billing or account settings. The migration is applied immediately after confirmation.

**Important:** Not all accounts will see the self-serve switch option at the same time, as rollout is managed via a feature flag. If you do not yet see the option, it may not be available for your account tier or region yet.

## **⚙️ Where Universal Credits Are Used**

Once on Universal Credits, your balance is shared across tools throughout the platform, including:

- **Authority → Cloud Stacks** — Cloud Stack creation starts from 15 credits per stack.
- **Authority → PR Distribution** — Publishing press releases and AI projects.
- **Authority → Indexer** — Submitting URLs for indexing.
- **Authority → QUEST AI Visibility** — Running visibility analyses.
- **Authority → Campaigns** — Creating and managing outreach campaigns.

Keep an eye on your unified balance as you use these tools, since all activity draws from the same pool.

## **❓ Frequently Asked Questions**

**Can I switch back after migrating?**  
No. The switch to Universal Credits is one-way and cannot be reversed. Review your current usage carefully before confirming.

**I'm on a trial — why do I see an upgrade prompt?**  
Trial accounts have a capped Universal Credits balance. When that cap is reached, you will be prompted to upgrade your plan to continue using credit-based features.

**The switch option is not visible in my account. Why?**  
Rollout of the self-serve switch is gradual. If you do not see the option yet, your account may not have been included in the current release. You can request assistance via the chat widget (see below).

**Will my existing credits carry over?**  
Credit conversion rates are applied during migration. The exact exchange rate depends on your account type. If you have questions about how your balance will be converted, contact our team before switching.

## **🛠️ 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.