August 19, 2026
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This article explains how billing works for the Claude API, the playground, and Claude Code when you use them through a Claude Console account. Most organizations pay with prepaid usage credits. Organizations with an invoicing arrangement are billed monthly instead.
Prepaid usage credits
Claude API and playground usage is billed through prepaid usage credits. Buy credits before you use the API, and they're applied to your usage according to our current
pricing
. Credits cover API access, playground usage, and Claude Code.
You're billed only for successful API calls and completed tasks. Failed requests aren't charged.
Note:
If your client disconnects or times out in the middle of a request that was on track to succeed, that request is still charged.

If you run out of credits, you can no longer call the API or use the playground until you add more.
Buy credits
Log in to the Console with an Admin or Billing role.
Navigate to
Settings > Billing
.
Click "Buy credits."
Enter the amount of credits you want to purchase and confirm.
Purchased credits are available immediately. Your organization's available credit balance and credit usage are shown on the same
Billing
page.
Set up auto-reload
Auto-reload purchases additional credits automatically when your balance falls below a threshold you set.
On the
Billing
page, click "Edit" in the
Auto-reload
section.
Toggle auto-reload on or off.
If auto-reload is on, set the minimum balance that triggers a purchase and the amount to reload to.
