> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.limecall.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.limecall.com/account/usage-and-credits.md).

# Usage & credits

What you have used, what it costs, and how to avoid running out.

Open **Settings → Usage & credits**.

## What is metered

| Meter             | What it counts                             |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Call minutes**  | Time on calls handled by people.           |
| **AI minutes**    | Time your AI receptionist spends on calls. |
| **Messages**      | SMS and MMS, per segment.                  |
| **Number rental** | Monthly, per number held.                  |
| **Enrichment**    | Per lookup, where enabled.                 |

AI minutes are metered separately from call minutes. A call the AI answers and transfers uses both.

## Allowances and credits

Your plan includes an allowance per billing period. It resets each period and does not roll over.

Usage beyond the allowance draws on **credits** — a prepaid balance. With credits, service continues and draws down. Without them, service stops.

## What stops when you run out

**AI minutes exhausted** — the assistant stops answering. Calls fall through to whatever else the number is configured to do, or nowhere if nothing is set.

**Call minutes exhausted** — outbound calling is restricted.

**Messages exhausted** — sending stops.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Nothing announces this to your callers. A number whose AI has run out and which has no fallback simply fails to help anyone who rings it. Set a fallback destination on every number.
{% endhint %}

## Set an alert

Under **Settings → Notifications**, set a usage alert at around 80% of your allowance.

Send it to email and to Slack. Finding out from a customer that your phone has not been answered since Friday is avoidable for the cost of one checkbox.

## Auto-recharge

Where available, auto-recharge tops credits up automatically when the balance falls below a threshold. This is the most reliable way to avoid interruption.

Set a sensible cap so an unexpected spike — a spam wave, a runaway automation — cannot run up a large bill.

## What costs more than expected

**Spam calls.** Every robocall your AI answers is metered. Enable screening — see [Spam & blocking](/ai-receptionist/spam-and-blocking.md).

**Long message content.** Messages bill per segment. Emoji and other non-GSM characters sharply reduce characters per segment.

**International destinations.** Rates vary considerably by country.

**Held calls.** A caller who sets the phone down without hanging up keeps the call open. Set a maximum call length.

**Testing.** Test calls are metered like real ones.

## Reducing usage

* Screen spam aggressively.
* Shorten the AI's greeting — seconds saved on every call add up.
* Ask only for fields you will act on.
* Transfer early on calls the AI cannot resolve.
* Release numbers you are not using.

## Reviewing

Check usage against results monthly under **Analytics**. Usage rising alongside conversions is a business growing; usage rising alone is something to investigate.