--- title: How do credits work? description: Let's dive into the basics of credit-based billing. --- [Skip to content](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Can't find what you need?](https://help.taponit.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![TOI\_New\_Logo\_Horizontal (1)](https://help.taponit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TOI_New_Logo_Horizontal%20(1).png?width=200&height=48&name=TOI_New_Logo_Horizontal%20(1).png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Can't find what you need?](https://help.taponit.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Client Resources](https://taponit.com/client-resources) [Client Resources](https://taponit.com/client-resources) Hi! How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://help.taponit.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Settings](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en) 3. [Billing](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#billing) January 15, 2026 # How do credits work? ## Let's dive into the basics of credit-based billing. Instead of paying for messages after you use them, TapOnIt charges you upfront for a set amount of messages for the month. ### Table of Contents [Why does TapOnIt use credit-based billing?](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#why-credit-based) [How does TapOnIt charge for SMS vs. MMS?](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#sms-vs-mms) [Do credits roll over from month-to-month?](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#roll-over) [What counts as a credit?](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#what-counts) [Example of credit usage](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-credit-based-billing#example) ### Why does TapOnIt use credit-based billing? TapOnIt uses a credit system instead of monthly pricing to make it easier for you to budget. Paying a fixed amount at the start of your contract month helps you plan consistent campaigns. This credit-based system also enables TapOnIt to provide discounts like volume pricing and bulk-prepay discounts. Learn more about your options here. ### How does TapOnIt charge for SMS vs. MMS? SMS and MMS messages are charged differently. See the chart below for how many credits SMS and MMS each cost. | | **Toll-Free Number** | **Short Code** | | --- | --- | --- | | **SMS** | 1 | 1 | | **MMS** | 3 | 3 | MMS is more credits because it costs more to send than an SMS. [While an SMS is a plain-text message, MMS includes multi-media content that takes a lot more data to send](https://help.taponit.com/what-is-the-difference-between-sms-and-mms?hsLang=en).  ### Do credits roll over from month to month? Credits in your base month-to-month package do not roll over. They must be used by the end of your contractual month. Additional credits purchased will roll over monthly **for up to three months**. If you consistently purchase extra credits, it might be time to consider upgrading your credit package and unlocking a better rate per credit. ### What counts as a credit? Any message that is sent from or received by your Toll-Free Number or Short Code counts as a credit and will be deducted from your credit balance, with the following exceptions: - Any messages that are part of a “STOP” flow - Any messages that are rejected by the aggregator ### Example of credit usage #### Toll-Free Number Alpha Corp. sends an MMS campaign to 2,500 subscribers with their Toll-Free Number. → *This will account for 5,000 credits.* 100 subscribers reply "STOP." → *This will account for 100 credits.* The system sends back the STOP message to the 100 users. → *This will account for 0 credits as it is part of a STOP flow.* #### Short Code Beta Corp. sends an MMS campaign to 100,000 subscribers with their Short Code. → *This will account for 300,000 credits.* 1,000 subscribers reply "STOP." → *This will account for 1,000 credits.* The system sends back the STOP message to the 1,000 users. → *This will account for 0 credits as it is part of a STOP flow.* - [General](https://help.taponit.com/general?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Plans](https://help.taponit.com/general?hsLang=en#plans) - [Education](https://help.taponit.com/general?hsLang=en#education) - [Compliance](https://help.taponit.com/general?hsLang=en#compliance) - [Features](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#main-content) - [API](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#api) - [Campaigns](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#campaigns) - [Contact Card](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#contact-card) - [Content](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#content) - [Content Hub](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#content-hub) - [Coupons](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#coupons) - [Growth Tools](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#growth-tools) - [Flows & Keywords](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#flows-keywords) - [Media](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#media) - [Opt-In Widget](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#opt-in-widget) - [Targeting](https://help.taponit.com/features?hsLang=en#targeting) - [Analytics](https://help.taponit.com/analytics?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Subscribers](https://help.taponit.com/analytics?hsLang=en#subscribers) - [Metrics](https://help.taponit.com/analytics?hsLang=en#metrics) - [Settings](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Set-Up](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#set-up) - [Tenant Name](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#tenant-name) - [Users](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#users) - [Billing](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#billing) - [Account](https://help.taponit.com/settings?hsLang=en#account) - [Integrations](https://help.taponit.com/integrations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Shopify](https://help.taponit.com/integrations?hsLang=en#shopify) - [Punchh](https://help.taponit.com/integrations?hsLang=en#punchh) - [TapOnIt Releases](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#main-content) - [February 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#february-2024) - [May 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#may-2024) - [April 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#april-2024) - [June 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#june-2024) - [September 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#september-2024) - [October 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#october-2024) - [December 2024](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#december-2024) - [January 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#january-2025) - [April 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#april-2025) - [May 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#may-2025) - [July 1, 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#july-1-2025) - [September 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#september-2025) - [October 2025](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#october-2025) - [January 2026](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#january-2026) - [May 2026](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#may-2026) - [August 2026](https://help.taponit.com/taponit-releases?hsLang=en#august-2026) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.taponit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TOI_New_Logo_Horizontal%20(1).png?width=99&height=24&name=TOI_New_Logo_Horizontal%20(1).png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.taponit.com?hsLang=en) TapOnIt Help Center Copyright © 2026, TapOnIt