# Credits (https://terac.com/docs/researchers/finance/credits)

Purchase, manage, and track your credit balance for funding opportunities.

Credits are the currency you use to pay participants on Terac. You buy credits in advance and they are deducted when you approve participant submissions.

## Adding Credits [#adding-credits]

1. **Go to Finance**

   Navigate to your organization Settings and select **Finance**.

2. **Click Top Up**

   Enter the amount of credits you want to add. Payment is processed via Stripe.

3. **Credits are available immediately**

   Once payment is confirmed, credits appear in your balance and can be used to launch opportunities.

## Keeping a Buffer [#keeping-a-buffer]

Credits do not top up on their own, so keep a buffer above what your live studies need. Check the balance on the Finance page before you launch, and top up manually when it runs low. If you want a standing arrangement so live studies never stall on funds, talk to your Terac contact.

## How Credits Are Used [#how-credits-are-used]

Credits are deducted when you **approve** a participant's submission:

| Event                    | Credit Impact                                  |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Participant approved     | Per-participant payout + platform fee deducted |
| Participant rejected     | No credits deducted                            |
| Participant screened out | No credits deducted                            |
| Opportunity cancelled    | Unused credits remain in your balance          |

You are never charged for participants who do not complete or are not approved.

## Checking Your Balance [#checking-your-balance]

Your current credit balance is shown on the **Finance** page in organization settings, alongside your transaction history and usage over time. The cost breakdown in the builder tells you whether your balance covers a launch before you commit to it.

## Credit Transactions [#credit-transactions]

The Finance page shows a full transaction history:

* Top-up purchases
* Per-opportunity deductions
* Refunds (if applicable)

Each transaction shows the date, amount, opportunity name, and remaining balance.

## Opportunity Budget Estimates [#opportunity-budget-estimates]

Before launching an opportunity, Terac shows an estimated budget based on:

* Per-participant payout you set
* Platform fee
* Participant cap

This helps you ensure you have enough credits before going live.

> The estimate is a maximum. Your actual spend depends on how many participants
> are approved. If you cap at 50 participants but only approve 35, you are only
> charged for 35.

## What's Next? [#whats-next]

- [Pricing](https://terac.com/docs/researchers/finance/pricing): Understand how costs are calculated
- [Invoices](https://terac.com/docs/researchers/finance/invoices): View receipts and transaction history
- [Create an Opportunity](https://terac.com/docs/researchers/opportunities/creating-an-opportunity): Use your credits to launch research