> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.evalingo.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How credits work

> One credit per assessment, used when the candidate starts.

Evalingo runs on credits. **One credit covers one assessment.**

## When a credit is used

A credit is deducted when the candidate **starts** the assessment, not when you create it. So:

* Creating an assessment costs nothing
* If a candidate never opens their link, you are not charged
* If they refresh or lose connection partway through, you are not charged twice

## Two kinds of credits

| Type | Where it comes from | Expiry |
| - | - | - |
| Plan credits | Included with your plan | Reset at the start of each billing cycle |
| Credit packs | Bought as a one-off top-up | Never expire |

We always spend your plan credits first, since those are the ones that expire. Purchased packs stay untouched until the plan allowance runs out.

## Running low

On Starter and above you can buy a credit pack at any time from **Billing** without changing your plan. If you are consistently running out before the month ends, moving up a plan is usually cheaper per assessment than buying packs.

> [!TIP]
>
> Unused plan credits do not roll over. If your volume is uneven month to month, a smaller plan topped up with packs may cost less than a larger plan you only fully use occasionally.

Credits belong to the organization, not to individual team members. Everyone on the account draws from the same pool.


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