> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.instahyre.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Understanding Credit System - For hiring consultancies

This article walks you through how credits work, when they're used, how the rules apply if you're a hiring consultancy, and what to do when your balance runs low.

###### What are Credits?

Credits are what power your access to candidates on Instahyre now. They let you unlock profiles, take action, and email candidates in your hiring pipeline. Every employer account comes with a shared credit pool that your whole team can draw from to view profiles or act on candidates. Each candidate profile costs between **1 and 3 credits**, depending on factors like the candidate's seniority level and salary — so you spend more only where the candidate pool is more competitive.

**You'll always know the cost upfront:** the number of credits required is clearly shown right on the candidate card, so there's never any guesswork. Once you've viewed a profile or taken an action on it, the credit icon disappears — a simple visual cue that you're all set with that candidate.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/d/d/1/7/dd175b8bed9c2800/image_1eukgea.png =600x198)
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###### How credits work for hiring consultancies

The credits your organisation purchases are shared across your entire team — any team member can use them to view candidates or perform actions on their profiles, drawing from the same pool. You can check this shared balance anytime from the Jobs page sidebar, so you always know exactly where you stand before taking action on a candidate.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/d/d/1/7/dd175b8bed9c2800/image_1s59bsj.png =400x387)
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###### When are credits deducted?

* Credits are deducted for each candidate-job pair, **the first time** you (or anyone on your team) perform an action on a candidate for a specific job. If you consider the same candidate for a different job, that's treated as a fresh evaluation, so credits are deducted again.
* Once deducted, that candidate stays free for the same job **for the next 90 days** — no matter which team member views or acts on them.
* After 90 days, the next action on that same candidate-job pair will deduct credits again.

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###### Which actions use credits?

To make sure you're only ever charged for genuine engagement with a candidate, credits are deducted the first time you:

* View a candidate's profile
* Share a candidate's profile
* Download a candidate's resume
* Send an individual or bulk email
* Export a candidate to an integrated ATS
* Trigger an automated email when a candidate enters a pipeline stage

**Good to know:** Simply moving a candidate from one stage to another **never** costs credits. The only exception is if the stage you move them to has automated email enabled — in that case, the credit is for the email being sent, not the move itself.
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###### Credit rules at a glance:

| FAQ | Rule |
| ---- |
| **When are credits deducted?** | The first time an action is performed on a candidate for each specific job |
| **What stays free for 90 days?** | The same candidate and job — for your entire team |
| **What about different jobs?** | Considering the same candidate for a new job counts as a fresh action, so credits apply again |
| **What happens after 90 days?** | Credits are deducted again for the same candidate and job |

**NOTE:** If your organisation is on our **Starter plan**, credits work a little differently: each user gets **8 free credits that reset every week**, and can earn **12 bonus credits** for the week by sharing job(s) on LinkedIn. Across the whole team, though, recruiters together cannot consume more than **30 credits in a given week**. This gives you a great way to try out the platform and experience its value before moving to a paid subscription.
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###### What should you do when your credits run out?

Running low on credits doesn't mean your hiring has to slow down. Keep an eye on your credit balance anytime from the Jobs page sidebar, so you're never caught off guard.

When you're ready to top up, simply reach out to your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or the Instahyre sales team — or just click the **"Buy Now"** link right there in the sidebar — and your CSM will get in touch with you shortly so you can get right back to sourcing and engaging candidates.
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/d/d/1/7/dd175b8bed9c2800/image_4nq3vz.png =400x363)