📋 Overview
Every Search Atlas plan includes a monthly Keyword Research quota. Once you reach the 5,000-keyword limit, new keyword lookups are paused until you either top up your quota or your quota resets at the start of your next billing cycle. This article explains how to purchase additional credits so you can keep researching without interruption.
⚠️ How You Know You've Hit the Limit
When your quota is exhausted, you will see a Quota Exhausted message inside the Keyword Research tool. No new keyword data will load until additional credits are added or your quota renews.
- Existing saved results remain visible — only new lookups are blocked.
- Your quota resets automatically on your billing renewal date at no extra cost.
- If you need access sooner, you can purchase a one-time top-up at any time.
🛠️ How to Top Up Your Keyword Research Quota
- In the left sidebar, click Keywords to open the Keyword Research tool (or navigate directly to /research/keyword-researcher).
- When the Quota Exhausted banner appears, navigate to Billing → Plans & Top-ups and click the Top Up button.
- Select the number of additional keyword credits you want to purchase from the available options.
- Review the one-time charge amount, then click Confirm Purchase to complete the transaction using your saved payment method.
- Your new credits are applied instantly — you can continue running keyword searches immediately after payment.
Note: Top-up purchases are one-time charges and do not affect your recurring subscription. Your standard monthly quota will still reset on your normal billing date.
💡 Tips to Make Your Quota Last Longer
- Use filters before searching. Narrow results by country, search volume, or keyword difficulty upfront to avoid pulling large irrelevant data sets.
- Save important keywords. Add high-value keywords to a list so you do not need to re-research them later and consume additional quota.
- Review in bulk. Plan your research sessions so you cover related topics together rather than running separate searches repeatedly.
- Check your usage regularly. Monitor your remaining quota in the Keyword Research tool before starting large research tasks.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does a top-up roll over to next month?
No. Any unused top-up credits expire at the end of your current billing cycle. Use them before your renewal date.
Will I be charged twice if I click Confirm Purchase more than once?
No. Search Atlas uses duplicate-charge protection on all one-time top-up purchases, so accidental double-clicks will not result in a duplicate charge.
I still see a Quota Exhausted error even though I have credits available — what should I do?
Try refreshing your browser. If the error persists after a refresh, your quota counter may need a moment to sync. Wait one to two minutes and refresh again. If the issue continues, contact support using the instructions below.
Can I upgrade my plan instead of topping up?
Yes. Upgrading to a higher-tier plan increases your monthly quota allowance. Visit your Account Menu (avatar) → Billing → Plans & Top-ups and click Change Plan to compare plan options.
🙋 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.