Keyword Explorer is designed to surface keyword insights proactively — which means some credit consumption happens automatically as part of the tool's normal operation. This article explains when credits are used, how to stay in control of your balance, and what to do if you believe credits were consumed unexpectedly.
Keyword Explorer uses credits in two situations:
Manual searches and keyword reviews: Every time you search for keywords or trigger a keyword review inside the tool, credits are deducted. This is expected and intentional.
Background processing: Keyword Explorer may consume credits automatically in the background as part of normal platform operations, even when you are not actively using the tool. Credits used this way count toward your regular daily quota, the same pool used for manual searches.
To keep track of how many credits Keyword Explorer is consuming, log in to your Search Atlas account and navigate to your account's credit or usage section. If you notice a spike on a date when you were not actively using Keyword Explorer, note the date and the credit volume — you will need these details if you pursue a refund.
Checking your usage regularly is the most reliable way to catch unexpected consumption early.
If automatic background credit consumption is causing issues with your credit balance, monitor your daily quota so you can plan manual searches around background usage. If background consumption is consistently exhausting your quota before you can complete manual work, document the dates and volumes and raise this with our support team — the team can review whether your account configuration is contributing to higher-than-expected background usage.
We understand it can be frustrating to discover credits were used without your awareness. Here is what to expect from the refund process:
Eligibility: Refunds or credit adjustments are considered when credits were consumed by automatic background processes in a way that was not expected based on your account's normal usage pattern. Credits used by manual searches you initiated are not eligible for a refund.
What to have ready: When you raise a dispute, have the relevant dates and credit volumes documented so the support team can review your account's credit activity and determine whether the consumption falls outside expected behavior.
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.