MCP server queries do not use a separate credit type — they draw from the same credit pools as the Search Atlas dashboard. Understanding how quotas are shared and when they reset helps you avoid unexpected exhaustion, especially if you run automated or high-volume workflows via MCP.
🔄 How MCP Credits Work
Each MCP query consumes from the quota tied to the feature it calls.
For example:
- A keyword lookup via MCP draws from your Keyword Lookup quota.
- A backlink analysis call via MCP draws from your Backlink quota.
There is no separate MCP credit bucket. Dashboard usage and MCP usage share the same pool for each feature.
The amount consumed per MCP query matches the equivalent action in the dashboard. A single call is metered the same way that feature is metered in the dashboard — so a keyword lookup that returns 74 keywords draws from your Keyword Lookup quota at the same rate as running that same lookup in the dashboard. Using MCP does not add a surcharge or change the per-query cost.
📅 When Quotas Reset
Most Search Atlas quotas reset annually on your account renewal date, not on your monthly billing date. These are two different dates:
- Monthly billing date — when your recurring payment is charged (e.g., June 28).
- Annual renewal date — when your feature quotas reset (e.g., July 28).
Your quota resets on the annual renewal date regardless of when your most recent monthly charge occurred. Heavy automated or MCP usage can exhaust an annual quota weeks or months before that reset date.
Note on terminology: the billing page (Billing → Plans & Top-ups) shows the text "All recurring quotas reset on your next billing date (Oct 21, 2026)", which led some annual-plan customers to assume their quota refreshes monthly. Regardless of how the date is labeled, the reset for annual plans is annual.
📊 How to Check Your Remaining Quota
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Click your avatar in the top-right corner and select Billing.
- Review the remaining balance for each feature pool under the relevant tab (e.g., Plans & Top-ups or Services).
Be aware that some quota displays can merge recurring and purchased (top-up) credits into a single figure, which can make the balance look like it never refreshes. If the numbers appear inconsistent, verify them against your annual renewal date or contact support.
📌 Note
If your quotas are exhausted before your renewal date due to unexpected MCP or automated usage, contact Search Atlas support. Do not assume a monthly billing charge will restore your quota — only the annual renewal date triggers a reset.