> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Billing FAQs

> Get answers to the most common questions about billing including pricing plans, payment methods, upgrades, autoscaling, and enterprise solutions

## Purchasing Plans

> [accordion] What are the limitations of Helius's Free Plan?
>
> The free plan includes limited credits and request rates suitable for development and testing. For production applications, consider a paid plan for higher limits, staked connections, and enhanced APIs. See our [pricing page](https://www.helius.dev/pricing) for detailed comparisons.

> [accordion] How can I pay for my subscription?
>
> We accept both traditional payment methods (credit cards) and cryptocurrency (USDC on Solana). You can set up payment during plan selection or change payment methods in your [billing dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing).

> [accordion] Why hasn't my paid plan appeared in my dashboard yet?
>
> Your plan activates once your payment is confirmed (for crypto, once the transaction is confirmed on-chain). If it doesn't appear shortly after, reach out to our [support](https://dashboard.helius.dev/support) team.

> [accordion] What if I'm subscribed to a plan, but my payment method fails?
>
> Payment is due when the invoice is issued. If a card charge fails, you get an email with a link to pay or update your card, and a reminder 24 hours before suspension. If the invoice is still unpaid after 3 days, your project is suspended until it's paid; once your open invoices are paid, service is restored within seconds. After 14 days unpaid, the subscription is cancelled and the project moves to the Free plan. See [Unpaid Invoices](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/unpaid-invoices.md) for the full timeline.

> [accordion] How do I purchase Helius Shred Delivery?
>
> Raw shreds are sold as seats in your Helius dashboard. These seats are separate from your plan's monthly credits.
>
> To subscribe to raw shreds, open the [Shreds tab](https://dashboard.helius.dev/shred-delivery-seats) in your dashboard, click **+ Add Seat**, choose a payment method, and enter your server's IP address.
>
> Each seat is **\$1,000 USD/month per IP** on all plans (**\$800 USD/month per IP** on Pro plans).
>
> Raw shreds do not consume credits. See our [plans and pricing](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/plans.md) and [How to Subscribe to Raw Shreds](https://www.helius.dev/docs/shred-delivery/raw-shreds.md) for full details.

> [accordion] How do I remove a shred seat or change its IP?
>
> You can remove a seat or change the IP bound to a seat self-serve from the [Shreds tab](https://dashboard.helius.dev/shred-delivery-seats) in your Helius Dashboard.
>
> Seat removals are not refunded. The seat remains billed through the end of the current billing cycle, then is not renewed.
>
> Changing the IP address issues a new token for that seat. Use it to activate the new feed. The old feed is then canceled.

## Paying with Crypto

> [accordion] How do crypto payments work?
>
> When a payment is due, you'll receive a payment link by email and in your [dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing). Open the link, connect your wallet or scan the QR code, and complete the payment in USDC. Once the transaction is confirmed on-chain, your payment is applied and your subscription continues.

> [accordion] What currency are crypto payments made in?
>
> All crypto payments are made in **USDC** on Solana.

> [accordion] How can I change my payment method from credit card to crypto (or the other way around)?
>
> You can change your payment method yourself on your [Billing](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing) page. If you run into any issues, reach out to our [support](https://dashboard.helius.dev/support) team.

## Upgrades

> [accordion] How do I upgrade my plan?
>
> You can upgrade your plan anytime from the [**Helius Dashboard**](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing).

> [accordion] Do you offer custom solutions?
>
> Yes! We offer custom enterprise solutions with dedicated infrastructure, custom rate limits, and specialized support. [Contact our sales team](https://www.helius.dev/contact) for personalized options.

> [accordion] How do I upgrade to an Enterprise plan?
>
> Enterprise plans are custom-built for your needs. [Contact our sales team](https://www.helius.dev/contact) to discuss your requirements and get a personalized quote.

> [accordion] What does an Enterprise plan include?
>
> Enterprise plans include custom request limits, dedicated infrastructure, priority support, custom billing terms, SLAs, and specialized features tailored to your organization's needs.

## Downgrades

> [accordion] How do I downgrade my plan?
>
> You can downgrade your plan from the [billing dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing).

> [accordion] If I downgrade my crypto subscription, when will it go into effect?
>
> Crypto downgrades happen immediately. You'll receive a prorated credit as a discount on your next subscription billing cycle for the unused portion of your current plan.

> [accordion] How can I cancel my subscription?
>
> You can cancel your subscription from the [billing dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/billing). Your service will continue until the end of your current billing period, then revert to free tier limits.

## Credits

> [accordion] What happens if I run out of credits?
>
> If you have consumed all of your credits, you won't be able to make new API requests until you have added more credits to your account through autoscaling or prepaid credits. Otherwise, a request will result in a 429 max usage reached error.

> [accordion] How do I buy more credits?
>
> The method depends on your payment type:
>
> * **Fiat payments**: Credits are purchased through [autoscaling](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md), which automatically adds credits as needed, up to a cap
> * **Crypto payments**: You'll need to [purchase prepaid credits](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md#prepaid-credits-crypto-plans) manually

> [accordion] What is autoscaling?
>
> Autoscaling is a credit management system that automatically purchases additional credits when you have used up your monthly allocation. This happens on-demand, meaning that credits are only purchased if they are needed to complete your requests. This ensures that your application continues running without interruption. Autoscaling is only available to fiat users. If you pay with crypto, you must purchase prepaid credits. See our [autoscaling guide](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md) or guide on [buying prepaid credits](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md#prepaid-credits-crypto-plans) for details.

> [accordion] How do I turn on autoscaling?
>
> Enable autoscaling on your [Usage](https://dashboard.helius.dev/usage) page: open the **Autoscaling spend** card and click **Enable**. Autoscaling is only available to fiat users.

> [accordion] Why did I get an extra invoice when I enabled autoscaling?
>
> Autoscaling purchases additional credits when you exceed your plan’s limits, which appear as autoscaling charges on your invoice. This is expected behavior — autoscaling prevents service interruption by automatically buying the credits you need.
>
> Autoscaling charges may be billed **at any time during your billing cycle**, not only at the end. Amounts billed during the cycle are deducted from the end-of-cycle bill, so you're never charged twice for the same usage. See [when you're billed](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md#when-youre-billed) for details.

> [accordion] What are prepaid credits?
>
> Unlike autoscaling, prepaid credits are credits you purchase in advance of their usage. You manually purchase a specific amount whenever you need to add credits to your account. This is only available to crypto users. Read this [guide on prepaid credits](https://www.helius.dev/docs/billing/additional-credits.md#prepaid-credits-crypto-plans) for more details.

> [accordion] How do I buy prepaid credits?
>
> Go to your [Usage](https://dashboard.helius.dev/usage) page and click **Add credits** on the **Prepaid credits** card. Choose the amount you want to buy and complete the purchase in USDC. Prepaid credits are only available to crypto users. If you pay with fiat, please set up autoscaling.

## Unexpected Usage

> [accordion] Why is my project consuming credits even though I'm not using any Helius endpoints?
>
> Check for active webhooks, automated scripts, or background processes that might be making API calls. Review your [usage dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/usage) to identify the source of credit consumption.

> [accordion] Why is my usage increasing when I haven't changed anything?
>
> Your API key may have been compromised, or a webhook might be running in the background. To resolve this:
>
> 1. Delete the current API key and create a new one.
> 2. Check your webhooks from the dashboard and disable any that shouldn't be active.
> 3. If the issue persists, contact support for assistance.
>
> To help prevent key leaks in the future, consider setting up a proxy as described in [this guide](https://www.helius.dev/docs/rpc/protect-your-keys.md).

## Refunds

> [accordion] Can I get a refund if my plan was accidently auto-renewed?
>
> We're unable to offer refunds on automated subscription renewals if you've already used the service. This follows the standard practice on most platforms.

***

## Need More Help?

> [card] [Contact Support](https://www.helius.dev/docs/support/contact-support)
>
> Get help from our team through Discord, chat, or email support.

> [card] [Status Page](https://www.helius.dev/docs/support/status-page)
>
> Check real-time service availability and performance information.


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