This article explains how usage credits work on your paid Claude plan (Pro, Max 5x, or Max 20x), allowing you to continue working with Claude after reaching your plan's usage limits by switching to pay-as-you-go pricing.
What are usage credits?
Usage credits allow individuals subscribed to paid Claude plans (Pro, Max 5x, and Max 20x) to continue using Claude seamlessly after reaching their included usage limits. Instead of being blocked when you hit your session limits, you can switch to consumption-based pricing at standard API rates and continue your work without interruption.
Note: If you subscribed through one of the Claude mobile apps, you can only enable usage credits on the web version of Claude. You will need to add your payment method before enabling and purchasing usage credits on the web.
How usage credits work
When you reach your plan’s usage limit with usage credits enabled:
You’ll see a notification that you’ve reached your session usage limit.
If usage credits are enabled and you have funds available, you can choose to continue working.
Your subsequent usage will be billed at standard API pricing rates.
Your session limits reset every five hours as usual.
Note: Usage credits are charged separately from your paid Claude subscription and appear as additional charges on your bill.
Enabling usage credits
To enable usage credits on your paid Claude plan:
Navigate to Settings > Usage in your Claude account.
Locate the Usage credits section.
Click "Enable" to turn on usage credits.
Set up your payment method if not already configured.
Configure your spending preferences.
Click “Adjust limit” to control costs with a monthly spend limit. You can also select “Set to unlimited” if you prefer no spending restrictions.
You’ll then need to prepay to cover usage beyond your plan limits. Click “Add funds,” enter the amount you want to purchase in the modal, then click “Purchase.”
You can also enable auto-reload to automatically make a purchase when your balance falls below a threshold you set:
Note: There is a daily redemption limit of $2000.
Set spend limits
Control your usage credit spending with:
Monthly spending cap: Set a maximum amount you're willing to spend on usage credits each month.
Auto-reload settings: Automatically add funds when your balance drops below a threshold.
Usage alerts: Receive notifications when approaching your spend limits.
Usage credit pricing
Usage credits are billed at standard API rates; see our pricing page for details.
Price and plans are subject to change at Anthropic's discretion.
Managing your usage credits
Monitoring usage and costs
Track your usage credits through:
Usage dashboard: View real-time consumption in Settings > Usage.
Current spending: Monitor your month-to-date usage credit costs.
Usage history: Review past consumption patterns to optimize future usage.
Tips for cost-effective usage
To manage usage credit costs while maintaining productivity:
Choose efficient models: Use our most efficient Haiku model, or the most recent Sonnet model for most tasks. These provide excellent performance at lower token costs than Opus models.
Use your plan’s included usage first: Plan intensive work sessions around your five-hour usage windows.
Start new conversations: Begin fresh chats for new topics to minimize the size of your context window.
Use projects effectively: Store frequently referenced documents in project knowledge instead of re-uploading.
Set appropriate limits: Start with conservative spending caps and adjust based on your needs.
How usage credits work with other features
Claude Code
Usage credits apply to both Claude conversations and Claude Code terminal usage. Your combined usage across both interfaces counts toward your limits.
Research mode
When using Research mode, usage credits apply once you exceed your plan's included limits. Research sessions may consume tokens more quickly due to multiple searches and comprehensive analysis.
Projects and files
Documents stored in project files count toward your context when used in conversations. Usage credits apply to all tokens processed, including project content.
Frequently asked questions
Can I disable usage credits after enabling them?
Yes, you can disable usage credits at any time through Settings > Usage. Once disabled, you'll only have access to your plan's included usage.
How quickly do my regular usage limits reset?
Your plan’s included usage limit will reset every five hours once you reach it. Usage credits don’t affect this reset timing.
I subscribed to a paid Claude plan on the App or Play store; how can I access usage credits?
If you purchased your paid plan through one of the Claude mobile apps, usage credits are only available if you enable and purchase them on the Claude web app. You will not be able to set up usage credits on the mobile app.
Can I track usage credits separately from my included usage?
Yes, the usage dashboard clearly distinguishes between your included plan usage limits and any usage credit consumption.
Will I get a warning before switching to usage credits?
Yes, you’ll see a clear notification when approaching and reaching your included usage limits, with a confirmation that you’ll continue with usage credits.