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⚠️ Fixing the "Quota Exhausted" Error When Adding OTTO Sites

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Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

📋 Overview

Some users see a "quota exhausted" error when trying to add a new OTTO SEO site, even though they believe they still have available site slots. In most cases, this happens because adding OTTO to a brand-new domain requires both a free OTTO site slot and a free Site Auditor project slot for that domain, since OTTO requires a Site Audit project for the same domain, and if one does not already exist, it is created automatically before the OTTO project. OTTO site slots and Site Auditor project slots are two separate quotas, each with its own limit. This article explains why this occurs and walks you through resolving it.

🔍 Why This Happens

Your subscription includes a defined number of OTTO site slots and a separate number of Site Auditor project slots. These are tracked independently, but OTTO requires a Site Audit project for the same domain (one is created automatically first if it does not already exist), which means:

  • Each OTTO SEO site you add consumes one OTTO site slot.
  • Adding OTTO to a brand-new domain also creates a Site Auditor project for that domain automatically first, which uses one Site Auditor project slot.
  • If the domain already has a Site Auditor project, only an OTTO site slot is used (OTTO does not create a second Site Auditor project).
  • Sites created during trials, testing, or by other team members still count toward your totals.

As a result, you may have hit either your OTTO site limit or your Site Auditor project limit for the domain you are trying to add. OTTO top-ups add OTTO site slots only.

✅ How to Check Your Current Usage

Before adding a new site, confirm how your existing slots are being used:

  1. Log in to your Search Atlas account.
  2. Open OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation) and review the list of active sites.
  3. Navigate to OTTO SEO → Site Audit → All Audits and review the list of existing projects.
  4. Compare your OTTO site usage against your OTTO site limit, and your Site Auditor project usage against your Site Auditor project limit.
  5. Check your subscription details to confirm both allowances.

If either quota has reached its limit for what you are trying to add, that is the cause of the quota exhausted error.

🐞 Still Seeing the Error When Slots Appear Available?

In some cases the error appears even though your dashboard or billing shows an open slot. This usually points to a quota count that is temporarily out of sync rather than a genuinely full account:

  • Quota count not fully loaded: On the first load of an account, the Site Audit quota can briefly display as 0/N before your real usage populates. This is a known display issue that has been addressed: refresh the page so the accurate count loads before you try to add a site. The displayed total typically corrects itself after a reload, and it has also been observed to update once you complete an add or delete action.
  • Enforcement vs. billing mismatch: There was a known issue where quota enforcement blocked adding a new site even though billing showed an available slot (for example, blocking an additional site while one slot still appeared free). This has been resolved, but if you still encounter it, reload the page and retry adding the site.

If both your OTTO site usage and your Site Auditor project usage are clearly below their respective limits and the error persists after refreshing, reach out to support so the team can verify your account's quota.

🧹 How to Free Up Quota

To make room for a new OTTO site, you can remove sites or projects you no longer need:

  • Remove unused Site Auditor projects: Open the Site Auditor, identify projects that are no longer active, and delete them to release their slots.
  • Remove inactive OTTO sites: In the OTTO SEO section, delete any sites you are no longer managing.
  • Audit duplicate entries: Look for duplicate or test sites that may have been added during setup and remove them.

After removing the unneeded sites or projects, return to OTTO and try adding your new site again. The slot should now be available.

⬆️ When to Upgrade Your Plan

If all of your current OTTO sites and Site Auditor projects are active and necessary, you have simply reached the limit of your plan. In that case, the best option is to upgrade to a plan with a higher site allowance. To do this:

  1. Go to your subscription or billing settings.
  2. Review the available plans and their site limits.
  3. Select a plan that provides enough OTTO site slots and Site Auditor project slots for your needs.
  4. Confirm the upgrade and return to OTTO to add your new site.

💡 Tips to Avoid This in the Future

  • Periodically review both your OTTO sites and Site Auditor projects to keep usage clean.
  • Remove test or trial sites as soon as they are no longer needed.
  • Coordinate with your team so multiple members do not unknowingly consume shared slots.
  • Plan your site allowance with both tools in mind when choosing a subscription.

💬 Need More Help?

If you need further assistance, click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the platform to start a live chat with a member of our team.