# How to Configure Auto-Pay?

**Never run out of API credits with automatic wallet top-ups**

***

### 💡 What is Auto-Pay?

Auto-Pay is a feature that **automatically adds funds to your wallet** when your balance falls below a threshold you set.

**How it works in simple terms:**

```
You set: "When my balance goes below $10, add $20"

→ Balance drops to $9
→ Auto-Pay charges your card $20
→ New balance: $29 ✅
```

This ensures your API calls **never get interrupted** due to insufficient balance.

{% hint style="info" %}
💡 **Think of it like:** Auto-refill for your phone data plan — but for API credits!
{% endhint %}

***

### 📋 Before You Start

To enable Auto-Pay, you need:

* ✅ **A saved payment method** (credit/debit card) — Learn [how to add payment details](https://docs.api.market/how-do-i-add-payment-details)
* ✅ **A minimum top-up amount of $5**

{% hint style="warning" %}
⚠️ **No Card?** Add a payment method first at **Account → Billing & Payments → Add New**
{% endhint %}

***

### 🔧 How to Configure Auto-Pay

#### Step 1: Go to Billing & Payments

Navigate to your **Account → Billing & Payments** page.

<figure><img src="https://979396929-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJpzXHBiEL3zWqYljGVxS%2Fuploads%2FOfYsSgK7UurpLH9QW07j%2FScreenshot%202026-01-12%20at%204.33.11%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=23e021b6-6542-4024-a556-cd1612aa3c0a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Step 2: Find the Auto-Pay Section

Scroll down to find the **"Configure Auto-Pay"** section.<br>

<figure><img src="https://979396929-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJpzXHBiEL3zWqYljGVxS%2Fuploads%2FZMeVdO5IyEgqSuP7UGdq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=01389dde-a427-47ed-bfbc-30bb9fbb6370" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Step 3: Enable Auto-Pay

Click the **toggle switch** to enable Auto-Pay.

<figure><img src="https://979396929-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJpzXHBiEL3zWqYljGVxS%2Fuploads%2FiRRPgWlEx8m2HjSEt782%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2ad8fe00-e357-44f8-95e8-3cff5d60117b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
💡 If you haven't added a payment method yet, you'll see an error: **"Please add a card before enabling AutoPay."** — Add one here
{% endhint %}

***

#### Step 4: Set Your Threshold

Configure **"When my balance falls below"** — this is your trigger point.

| Example | Meaning                                        |
| ------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| $10     | Auto-Pay triggers when balance drops below $10 |
| $20     | Auto-Pay triggers when balance drops below $20 |
| $50     | Auto-Pay triggers when balance drops below $50 |

**Quick-fill options:** $5, $10, $20, $30, $40, $50

#### Step 5: Set the Top-Up Amount

Configure **"Automatically add"** — this is how much will be charged to your card.

| Example | Meaning                                         |
| ------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| $10     | Wallet gets $10 added when threshold is crossed |
| $20     | Wallet gets $20 added when threshold is crossed |
| $50     | Wallet gets $50 added when threshold is crossed |

{% hint style="warning" %}
⚠️ **Minimum Amount:** The minimum Auto-Pay amount is **$5**.
{% endhint %}

#### Step 6: Save Settings

Click **"Save Autopay Settings"** to activate.

***

### 📊 Example Configuration

Here's a typical Auto-Pay setup:

```
Threshold: $10 (trigger when balance falls below)
Amount: $20 (automatically add this much)
```

**How it works:**

1. Your wallet balance is $15
2. You use $6 worth of API calls
3. Balance drops to $9 (below $10 threshold)
4. Auto-Pay automatically charges $20 to your card
5. New balance: $29 ✅

***

### ⚙️ How Auto-Pay Works Behind the Scenes

<table><thead><tr><th width="132.796875">Step</th><th>What Happens</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>System checks wallets hourly</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>If balance &#x3C; threshold, payment is initiated</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Your default card is charged</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Credits are added to your wallet instantly</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>If payment fails, system retries (up to 3 times)</td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" %}
💡 **Rate Limit:** Auto-Pay runs **maximum once per hour** to prevent excessive charges.
{% endhint %}

***

### 🔄 Managing Auto-Pay

#### To Disable Auto-Pay

Simply toggle the switch **OFF** and click **"Save Autopay Settings"**.

#### To Change Settings

1. Update threshold and/or amount values
2. Click **"Save Autopay Settings"**

#### To Change Payment Method

1. Go to **Payment Methods** section
2. Set a different card as **Default**
3. Auto-Pay will use the new default card

***

### 🎯 Why Use Auto-Pay?

| Benefit                   | Description                                           |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Uninterrupted Service** | Your APIs keep working even when you forget to top up |
| **Set It & Forget It**    | Configure once, never worry about balance again       |
| **Automatic Retries**     | If payment fails, system retries up to 3 times        |
| **Email Notifications**   | Get notified if Auto-Pay fails or gets disabled       |
| **Full Control**          | You set the threshold and top-up amount               |

***

### 💡 Tips for Best Results

✅ **Set a comfortable threshold** — Give yourself buffer for high-usage periods

✅ **Match threshold to usage** — If you spend \~$15/week, set threshold around $15-20

✅ **Top-up in larger amounts** — Reduces transaction frequency and potential fees

✅ **Keep card updated** — Update before expiry to avoid service interruption

✅ **Monitor email** — Watch for Auto-Pay failure notifications

***

### 📖 Related Documentation

* [**How do I add Payment details?**](https://docs.api.market/how-do-i-add-payment-details) - Adding cards
* [**How does API.market charge me?**](https://docs.api.market/how-does-api.market-charges-me) - Billing explained
* [**How to use Wallet?**](https://docs.api.market/how-to-use-wallet) - Wallet features

***

### 🆘 Need Help?

* **💬 Live Chat:** Bottom right corner of any page
* **📧 Email:** <hello@api.market>
* **📅 Book a Call:** [Schedule a demo](https://calendly.com/magicapi)

***