# Prepaid credits

Source: https://joinsimplesms.com/changelog/2026-10-05-prepaid-credits
Index: https://joinsimplesms.com/llms.txt

October 5, 2026

Billing is now prepaid. See [Credits](/docs/credits).

- **Add credits** in Console → Billing: $10, $20, $50, $100, or any amount
  from $5 to $1,000. Your first purchase lifts the free-tier caps.
- **`402 insufficient_credits`**: a billable live call your balance cannot
  cover is refused and not charged. The body carries `balance_micro_usd`,
  `required_micro_usd` and `top_up_url`. Applies to sending, verification,
  lookups and buying numbers. Sandbox and the free tier are unaffected.
- **`GET /v1/balance`** returns your balance and auto-recharge setting
  (`balance.get()` in the Node and Python SDKs, 2.3.0).
- **`GET /v1/usage`** returns the account's counters by month and for
  today, with your plan limits. See [Usage](/docs/usage).
- **Auto-recharge**, off by default: when the balance falls below an amount
  you choose, add an amount you choose from your saved card.
- **Events**: `credits.low`, `credits.depleted`, `credits.topped_up`
  and `credits.auto_recharge_failed`, each once per episode. Low,
  depleted and declined-card notices are also emailed to the account's owner
  and admins, and so is a confirmation each time funds are added.
- **Phone numbers** are charged when you buy them and monthly after that,
  not prorated. A number whose fee cannot be covered is kept, and outbound
  is paused until you add credits.
- **Credit history** in Billing, and as CSV (`GET /v1/exports/credit_history`).
- Monthly statements itemise usage and are paid from your credits.