> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.insurestack.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Billing Overview

> Understand how InsureStack's credit-based pricing system works

## How Pricing Works in InsureStack

InsureStack operates on a **credit-based system**. Every action you take (quotes, submissions, proposals, policy checks, or commissions) costs **a certain amount of credits**.

### Core Principles

* **Everyone starts with 10 free monthly credits** on the 'Pay as you Go' plan - no credit card required
* **Every action consumes credits** based on its type
* **Two ways to get more credits**:
  1. **Upgrade to a paid plan** for higher monthly credit allocations
  2. **Purchase additional credits for \$1 each** that work with any plan

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="View Plans" icon="credit-card" href="/billing/plans">
    Compare subscription plans and pricing
  </Card>

  <Card title="Buy Credits" icon="cart-shopping" href="/billing/purchasing">
    Purchase additional credits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credit Types" icon="layer-group" href="/billing/credit-types">
    Understand the 3 types of credits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Billing FAQ" icon="circle-question" href="/billing/faq">
    Common billing questions answered
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## When Are Credits Consumed?

<Note>
  **Important:** Credits are deducted **only when a run reaches a final state** of 'succeeded', 'failed', or 'declined'.
</Note>

### What This Means

* **Succeeded** - Task completed successfully ✅ Credits consumed
* **Failed** - Task encountered an error ✅ Credits consumed
* **Declined** - Carrier declined the request ✅ Credits consumed
* **Processing/Running** - Task still in progress ❌ No credits consumed yet
* **Terminated mid-process** - Task stopped before completion ❌ No credits consumed

### Why This Model?

We only charge for completed processes (even if declined or failed) because:

* The system did the work to reach a final determination
* Failed/declined states indicate either carrier appetite issues or missing information
* We absorb the cost of mid-process terminations to be fair to users

<Tip>
  If a quote or submission fails repeatedly, review your input data for completeness before retrying to avoid consuming more credits.
</Tip>

## Viewing Your Credit Balance

### UsageTrackingBar (Top of Screen)

A sticky bar at the top of every page shows:

* **Total remaining credits** for the current period
* **Refresh button** - Click to get the latest credit count in real-time
* **Expandable details** - Click the dropdown to see credit costs and possible runs available for each module

### Balance Display (Settings/Billing Page)

For detailed credit information:

1. Go to **Settings** → **Billing**
2. View the Balance Display widget showing total remaining credits
3. Click **"Refresh"** to update in real-time

## What Happens When You Run Out of Credits?

When you attempt to use a feature without sufficient credits:

1. The action button shows a **disabled appearance** (grayed out, lower opacity)
2. You **cannot use the platform** until you:
   * Purchase additional credits (\$1 each)
   * Upgrade to a higher plan with more monthly credits
   * Wait for credits to refresh at the start of the new billing cycle

<Warning>
  Plan ahead! If you're running low on credits mid-month, consider purchasing additional credits or upgrading your plan to avoid disruption.
</Warning>

## Credit System Architecture

InsureStack uses **Metronome** for usage-based tracking. Credits are utilized based on priority:

### Usage Priority Order

1. **First:** Monthly Free Credits (10 credits)
2. **Second:** Monthly Plan Credits (30, 350, or 2,000 depending on plan)
3. **Third:** Purchased Credits (valid for 1 year)

This is automatically handled by the system - you don't need to manually choose which credits to use.

## Cost Per Module

Different modules consume different amounts of credits:

### Typical Credit Costs

<Note>
  Exact costs are displayed in the expanded UsageTrackingBar. Click the bar to see current credit costs for each module.
</Note>

Module costs vary based on:

* **Complexity** - More complex operations cost more credits
* **Processing time** - Longer-running tasks may cost more
* **Data volume** - Larger documents or more policies may increase costs
* **Carrier** - Some carriers require more complex form filling

<Tip>
  To see exact credit costs for your current plan, click the UsageTrackingBar at the top of any page.
</Tip>

## Best Practices for Managing Credits

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="chart-line" title="Monitor your balance regularly">
    Check the UsageTrackingBar frequently to avoid surprises. Enable the refresh button for real-time updates.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="calendar-days" title="Plan ahead">
    If you have a busy month coming up (renewals, new business push), purchase extra credits in advance or upgrade your plan.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="scale-balanced" title="Consider your usage patterns">
    * **Occasional spikes?** Buy extra credits as needed
    * **Consistently high usage?** Upgrade to a higher plan for better value
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="bell" title="Set reminders">
    Note when your billing period resets so you don't waste unused monthly credits.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="magnifying-glass-chart" title="Track what costs the most">
    Review the Activity Timeline on the Dashboard to see which actions consume the most credits.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="infinity" title="Enterprise for unlimited">
    If you're constantly buying credits, Enterprise may be more cost-effective with unlimited usage.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Quick Reference

### Credit Types at a Glance

| Credit Type      | Amount         | Expiration            | Rollover | Priority         |
| ---------------- | -------------- | --------------------- | -------- | ---------------- |
| **Monthly Free** | 10/month       | End of billing period | No       | 1st (used first) |
| **Monthly Plan** | 30-2,000/month | End of billing period | No       | 2nd              |
| **Purchased**    | \$1 each       | 1 year from purchase  | Yes      | 3rd (used last)  |

### Plans at a Glance

| Plan              | Total Monthly Credits        | Price       | Users     |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------- | --------- |
| **Pay as you Go** | 10 free                      | Free        | 1         |
| **Plus**          | 40 (10 free + 30 paid)       | \$20/month  | 1         |
| **Pro**           | 360 (10 free + 350 paid)     | \$200/month | 1         |
| **Team**          | 2,010 (10 free + 2,000 paid) | \$999/month | Multiple  |
| **Enterprise**    | Unlimited                    | Custom      | Unlimited |

<Card title="View Detailed Plans" icon="credit-card" href="/billing/plans" horizontal>
  See full plan comparison and features
</Card>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Understand Credit Types" icon="layer-group" href="/billing/credit-types">
    Learn about the 3 types of credits in detail
  </Card>

  <Card title="View Plans" icon="list" href="/billing/plans">
    Compare subscription plans
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase Credits" icon="cart-shopping" href="/billing/purchasing">
    Buy additional credits or upgrade
  </Card>

  <Card title="Billing FAQ" icon="circle-question" href="/billing/faq">
    Get answers to common billing questions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>