# How do credits work in InstantDM?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-credits-work  
Section: Plans and billing  
Works on: Web app, iPhone app, Android app  
Plan: All plans  
Last checked: 2026-10-24

_Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_

**Short answer:** One credit is one automated DM that Instagram or Facebook accepts. Public comment replies and failed DMs don't use credits. New accounts start on Free with 500 credits. Legend Pro, Trendsetter and Trendsetter Pro have unlimited DMs, paced per hour. At zero credits, nothing is sent until you upgrade or renew.

## What uses a credit

- **1 credit = 1 DM that Instagram or Facebook accepts.** This includes the first button message, follow-gate messages, each message in a DM sequence or flow, and file messages.
- Resending a missed DM from **Automation Recovery** uses a credit.
- DMs you send through the InstantDM API or the MCP connection (for example from Claude) also use 1 credit each.

**Free (no credit used):**

- Public replies under comments.
- DMs that Instagram or Facebook refuses.
- Comments that were skipped (no matching trigger word, for example).

## Credits on each plan

| Plan | Credits |
|---|---|
| Free | 500 credits to start |
| Legend Pro, Trendsetter, Trendsetter Pro | Unlimited DMs, paced per hour (see [How many DMs can InstantDM send per hour?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-many-dms-per-hour.md)) |
| Multi Starter | 30,000 automated DMs per account per month |
| Multi Pro | 300,000 automated DMs per account per month |

New accounts also get a first-week trial: paid features are unlocked in the web app for about a week, no card needed. During that week the Home banner shows how many days or credits are left. After that the account stays on Free.

## Steps

To check your usage:

1. Click **My Plan** in the sidebar.
2. Scroll to **Current Subscription**.
3. Read **Plan**, **Status**, **Monthly Usage** and **Renewal**.

The usage number updates in batches, so it can be a little behind your real sends.

## On the phone app

The Home screen shows a plan card with your plan name and plan credits.

## What happens when you run out

- Nothing is sent: no DM and no public reply. The person who commented sees nothing.
- The missed events show in **Automation Recovery** as **Out of credits** ("You had no credits left when this came in.") while your renewal date is recent or still ahead, so you can resend them after you upgrade or renew. Not every missed event may be listed. See [How do I resend DMs that failed or were missed?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/resend-missed-dms.md)
- You may also get an email.

## Good to know

- On Free, after the first week, automated DMs end with "|| Automation powered by InstantDM". Any paid plan removes it. Flow messages don't get this line.
- When a paid plan ends or is cancelled, you keep it until the end of the period. Then the account moves to Free with **0 credits**, so automations stop. Your automations and settings are kept.
- Instagram only lets you reply within 7 days of a comment or 24 hours of a DM. Older missed events can't be resent, even after you upgrade.

## If it doesn't work

- **Automations stopped and Automation Recovery shows "Out of credits"**: upgrade or renew from **My Plan**, then resend. See [How do I upgrade or change my plan?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/upgrade-or-change-plan.md)
- **You are on a paid plan but nothing is sent**: check that the plan **Status** is active in **My Plan**, then see [Why didn't my automation send a DM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/automation-not-sending.md)

## Questions people also ask

**Do the 500 free credits reset every month?**

New accounts start with 500 credits. Plan your free use around those 500, and move to a paid plan when you need more. Legend Pro and above have unlimited DMs.

**Do public comment replies use credits?**

No. Only DMs that Instagram or Facebook accepts use a credit. Public replies, failed DMs and skipped comments are free.

**Can I buy extra credits without changing my plan?**

Not at the moment. To keep sending, upgrade to a paid plan from My Plan.

**Why do my DMs end with 'Automation powered by InstantDM'?**

On Free, after the first week, automated DMs get this line at the end. Any paid plan removes it.

## Related guides

- [What InstantDM plan should I choose?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md)
- [Is InstantDM free? What does the free plan include?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-free.md)
- [How do I upgrade or change my InstantDM plan?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/upgrade-or-change-plan.md)
- [How do I resend DMs that failed or were missed?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/resend-missed-dms.md)