Hey Textline users! We’re happy you’re here to learn all about credits on our platform. Let’s dive right in.
Message Credit Types
Textline has three types of credits: Included Message Credits, Add-On Message Credits, and Backup Message Credits.
Included Message Credits (Included Credits). These are the credits included in your base subscription plan. They come with your monthly or annual subscription. Any unused Included Credits expire at the end of your billing cycle.
Add-On Message Credits (Add-On Credits). These are additional credits purchased in advance (once per billing cycle) to use when you exhaust all Included Message Credits. Add-On Credits never expire, and any unused credits roll over.
Backup Message Credits (Backup Credits). These credits are Textline’s fallback method to ensure you can message without interruption. Backup Credits are automatically purchased only if your account dips below your minimum credit threshold. These credits get used AFTER Included Credits and Add-On Credits are exhausted. If Backup Credits are purchased, they never expire, and unused credits roll over.
Now, we’ll dive into more specifics about each credit type.
Included Message Credits
The number of Included Message Credits is determined by your subscription plan, billing schedule, and number of Additional Agents. Any unused Included Message Credits expire at the end of your billing cycle (month or year, depending on your plan selection).
See the chart below for your Included Message Credit allotment.
| Essentials & HIPAA Essentials | Pro & HIPAA Pro | Enterprise & HIPAA Enterprise |
Month-to-Month | 600 credits/month | 2,000 credits/month | Custom |
Annual, Billed Monthly | 660 credits/month (10% more) | 2,200 credits/month (10% more) | Custom |
Annual, Paid Upfront* | 8,630 credits/year (20% more) | 28,800 credits/year (20% more) | Custom |
*Annual, Paid Upfront plans receive all Included Credits at the time of renewal.
Add-On Message Credits
Textline now allows complete flexibility with Add-On Message Credits. You can purchase any number of Add-On Credits in your account. Here’s what you need to know about Add-On Credits:
Add-On Credits cost $0.03 each.
Buy as many Add-On Credits as you need for your business.
Purchase Add-On Credits once per billing cycle (monthly or annually).
One credit equals a 160-character SMS message.
Unused Add-On Credits never expire.
Unused Add-On Credits roll over.
To adjust Add-On Credits:
1. Navigate to Credit Settings.
2. Type in how many Add-On Message Credits you want to buy at the beginning of each billing cycle.
Backup Message Credits
Backup Credits are what we refer to as “just in case” credits. These credits are only purchased when you dip below your minimum message credit threshold. Textline requires a minimum Backup Credits auto-purchase amount of 250 credits, but this amount can be increased as desired to ensure your team has what they need each and every billing cycle. The purpose of Backup Credits is to ensure you can message without interruption and always stay above your threshold.
Here’s what to know about Backup Credits:
Backup Credits cost $0.04 each.
You must have an auto-purchase amount of 250 credits set, but you can increase this amount as desired.
Backup Credits are purchased if your account dips below your minimum credit threshold.
Purchased Backup Credits are not used until all Included Credits and Add-On Credits are exhausted.
If Backup Credits are purchased, they never expire.
If Backup Credits are purchased, they always roll over.
How to configure your message credit threshold & Backup Credit purchases.
To set up Textline to purchase Backup Credits, do the following:
Head to Credit Settings.
Set your minimum credit threshold (in the “If my account gets low and reaches” section).
Enter the number of Backup Credits Textline will automatically purchase if you dip below the minimum threshold. (Reminder: Textline requires you to automatically buy a minimum of 250 Backup Credits, but you can increase this amount as desired. Plus, if you select the right Add-On Credit amount, you may never need to purchase Backup Credits.)
Frequently asked questions about message credits
What is a message credit threshold?
A message credit threshold is the number of total credits that you want to keep in your account at all times. If you dip below your designated threshold, Texline will auto-buy Backup Credits for you. The threshold amount is designated in the “If my account gets low and reaches” section.
Why do I need Backup Credits?
Backup Credits are Textline’s fallback method to ensure you can message without disruption. Backup Credits are only purchased when your account falls below your designated message credit threshold. If you have enough Included Credits and Add-On Credits in your account, you may never need to purchase any Backup Credits. These credits are only purchased and used in “just in case” scenarios.
How many Add-On Credits can I purchase?
Any number your heart desires! Whether you need 5, 10, 17, 89, or 10,000+, you can purchase any number of Add-On Credits. To ensure you’re getting the right number of Add-On Credits, you should proactively set the number of Add-On Credits in your credit settings before your next billing date.
What is one message credit worth?
One message credit is defined as a standard SMS message up to 160 characters in length. Messages containing multimedia require three credits to send and receive. View more details in this article.
Do message credits roll over or expire?
The answer is: It depends on the message credit type!
Included Message Credits expire at the end of your billing cycle and don’t roll over.
Add-On Message Credits don’t expire at the end of your billing cycle and always roll over.
Purchased Backup Message Credits don’t expire and always roll over.
What does a low credit warning notification mean?
This means that less than 20% of your message credit balance remains. Admins can manage credit settings here.
Why should I buy more Add-On Credits?
Add-On Credits are a great way to supplement the number of Included Message Credits on your subscription plan. Add-On Credits are purchased in advance and are priced at a discounted rate of $0.03 each. They are more cost-effective than Backup Credits and always roll over, so there’s no downfall in buying more of these Add-On Credits.
Have additional questions? Send us a message by clicking the Textline icon in the bottom left of your screen, or contact us at [email protected].