How do credits work?

Understand how Translate Desk credits are calculated, used, and managed.

Credits are the currency used in Translate Desk. Understanding how they work helps you plan your translations and manage your budget effectively.

What Are Credits?

One credit equals one article translation to one target language. For example:

  • Translating 1 article into 3 languages uses 3 credits
  • Translating 5 articles into 2 languages uses 10 credits
  • Translating 10 articles into 1 language uses 10 credits

The calculation is simple: articles × languages = credits needed.

How Credits Are Used

Credits are consumed when you successfully translate an article. The system checks your credit balance before starting a translation job. If you have enough credits, the translation proceeds and credits are deducted after completion.

Credit Consumption

Credits are only consumed for successful translations. If a translation fails or is interrupted, no credits are deducted. This ensures you only pay for completed work.

Checking Your Balance

Your current credit balance is displayed in the dashboard header. You can also view your credit balance from the settings page or when purchasing additional credits.

Credit Calculation Examples

Here are some common scenarios:

Example 1: Single Article, Multiple Languages

  • Article: "Getting Started Guide"
  • Languages: Spanish, French, German
  • Credits used: 3 (1 article × 3 languages)

Example 2: Multiple Articles, Single Language

  • Articles: 5 help center articles
  • Language: Spanish
  • Credits used: 5 (5 articles × 1 language)

Example 3: Bulk Translation

  • Articles: 10 articles
  • Languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian
  • Credits used: 40 (10 articles × 4 languages)

What Happens When You Run Out

If you don't have enough credits for a translation, you'll see a message indicating insufficient credits. You can purchase additional credits at any time to continue translating.

The system checks your balance before starting each translation job, so you won't encounter unexpected charges or incomplete translations.

Purchasing More Credits

You can purchase additional credits whenever you need them:

  1. Navigate to the pricing page from the dashboard
  2. Select a credit pack that fits your needs
  3. Complete the checkout process

Your new credits are added immediately and are ready to use right away. Learn more about How much does Translate Desk cost? for pricing details.

Credits Never Expire

Unlike many subscription services, Translate Desk credits never expire. You can purchase a credit pack and use it over weeks, months, or years. There's no pressure to use credits within a specific timeframe.

This makes Translate Desk ideal for teams that translate content periodically or want to build up credits for larger translation projects.

Free Trial Credits

New accounts receive 5 free credits to get started. These credits work exactly like purchased credits and never expire. Use them to translate your first articles and see how Translate Desk works.

Learn more about Create Your Account to get started with your free trial.

Managing Your Credits

To make the most of your credits:

  • Plan ahead: Calculate how many credits you'll need for your translation projects
  • Use bulk translation: Translate multiple articles at once to streamline your workflow
  • Monitor your balance: Check your credit balance regularly to plan purchases
  • Buy larger packs: Larger credit packs offer better value per translation
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