Set up credits auto-recharge

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Overview

This guide explains how to set up credits auto-recharge for prepaid, usage-based billing in Stigg. In a prepaid credits model, customers purchase credits upfront and consume them as they use your product. Auto-recharge extends this model by automatically replenishing credits when a customer’s balance drops below a defined threshold, ensuring uninterrupted usage while enforcing strict spending limits. Auto-recharge is one of several ways to manage credit replenishment and is best suited for customers who want continuous access without manual top-ups. By the end of this guide, you’ll have:

• A credit-based pricing model
• An initial prepaid credit balance
• Auto-recharge configured to maintain a rolling balance over time

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When to use auto-recharge

Auto-recharge is ideal for:

• Usage-based products with continuous consumption
• API-driven or automation-heavy workloads
• AI or compute-based services
• Customers who want predictable spend without service interruptions

If you want usage to hard-stop when credits reach zero, consider using prepaid credits without auto-recharge and rely on manual top-ups instead.

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Credit lifecycle overview

Before diving into setup, it’s helpful to understand how credits and auto-recharge behave over time:

1. Customers are granted an initial prepaid credit balance.
2. Credits are consumed as usage is reported.
3. When the balance drops below a threshold, Stigg triggers an automatic recharge.
4. Credits are granted up to a target balance and billed using the selected payment method.
5. Auto-recharge pauses automatically when the monthly spend limit is reached or if a payment fails.

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Example credit model

This guide uses the following example:

• Credits are consumed per API call
• Customers start with an initial prepaid credit balance
• When the balance drops below 20 credits, it is automatically recharged back up to 50 credits
• Auto-recharge spending is capped at $500 per month

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Prerequisites

Before enabling auto-recharge, ensure that:

• A credit type is configured
• Usage is metered through meter-based features
• Customers have an active payment method on file
• An initial credit balance has been granted

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Step 1: Create a product

The product represents the commercial offering that will contain your credit-based usage.

1. Go to Product catalog → Products.
2. Click + New product.
3. Select Single active subscription.
4. Give the product a name.
5. Click Create.

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Step 2: Create meter-based features

Credits are consumed by meter-based features.

1. Go to Product catalog → Features.
2. Click + New feature.
3. Configure the feature:
   • Name – Display name shown in the UI
   • Description (optional) – What the feature enables
   • Feature type – Select Meter
   • Meter type – Select Calculated usage
   • Unit names – For example, request / requests
4. (Optional) Enable Feature is sold in different units if required.

This feature will later be linked to credit consumption.

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Step 3: Create a prepaid credit plan

This plan is used to grant customers an initial credit balance.

1. Go to Product catalog → Plans.
2. Click + New plan.
3. Select the product you created.
4. Give the plan a name (for example, Prepaid credits).
5. Click Create.

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Step 4: Configure pricing

1. Go to Product catalog → Plans.
2. Select the plan.
3. In the Price section, click + Set.
4. Select Paid.
5. Choose One-time as the billing model.
6. Click Continue.

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Step 5: Configure credits

This step defines how many credits are granted to the customer upfront. Under Charges:

1. Select Credits.
2. In Credit type, select Credits (Credits).
3. Choose a pricing model (for example, Flat or Stairstep).
4. Define the number of credits granted (for example, 50 credits).
5. Set the price for the credit grant.
6. Click Add to save the charge.

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Step 6: Grant credits to a customer

1. Go to Customers → Customer accounts.
2. Select a customer.
3. In the Subscriptions section, click + Add.
4. Select the product.
5. Select the prepaid credit plan.
6. Add a billing method.
7. Click Create.

The customer now has an initial credit balance.

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Step 7: Enable auto-recharge

Once a customer has a credit balance, you can configure auto-recharge.

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Credit usage per customer

1. Go to Customers.
2. Select a customer.
3. Go to the Credits tab.

The Auto-recharge section shows the current credit spend and the configured monthly spending limit.

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Auto-recharge settings

1. Click Manage in the Auto-recharge widget.
2. In When credit balance goes below, enter the credit balance that triggers auto-recharge, such as 30.
3. In Then bring credit balance back up to, enter the target balance after recharge.
4. In Limit total monthly spend to, enter the maximum amount that can be charged per month.
5. Select a reset interval in Spend limit resets every.
6. Select a duration in Grant expiration.
7. Select a payment method under Payment method.
8. Click Save settings.

Once saved, credits will be automatically recharged according to the configured rules.

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Step 8: Monitor credit usage

You can monitor how customers consume and recharge credits over time.

1. Go to Customers → Customer accounts.
2. Select a customer.
3. Open the Credits tab.

This view shows:

• Current credit balance
• Credit consumption
• Auto-recharge spend for the current month