ChatGPT credits let you keep using eligible features, such as Codex, ChatGPT Work, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, after you've used up your plan's included limits. As of October 2026 they're a pay-as-you-go add-on on personal plans: your included usage goes first, then usage draws from your credit balance, and your plan itself doesn't change.
Which features you can pay for with credits, and whether you can buy them at all, depends on your plan and account. You'll find your balance under Settings, Usage in ChatGPT, or Usage & Billing in the Codex app.
Your credit balance and your wallet are two different things
This is the one that confuses people. Your usage-credit balance is separate from your ChatGPT wallet balance. Credits pay for supported feature usage. The wallet is a balance in US dollars that can include redeemed gift-card funds, and redeeming a gift card doesn't add any usage credits.
They do meet at checkout, sometimes. For eligible one-time credit purchases on the ChatGPT website, checkout may apply wallet funds, so check the wallet amount applied and anything left to pay before you confirm. A visible wallet balance doesn't mean it can be used for every credit purchase, and if checkout doesn't show wallet funds applied, don't assume it'll use them.
| Thing | What it does, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Plan allowance | The usage included with your plan, used first |
| Credits | Pay for supported feature usage beyond your plan limits |
| Wallet | A US dollar balance that can include gift-card funds |
| Automatic reload | Buys credits only, never wallet funds |
| Where to manage it | Settings, Usage in ChatGPT, or Usage & Billing in the Codex app |
How credits get used
Your plan's included usage always comes first. Once you hit a plan limit, usage draws from your credits. On Plus and Pro, Codex, ChatGPT Work, Excel and PowerPoint can share the same agentic usage allowance when they're on your plan, and Word uses that allowance too. So heavy use in one can bring you to the limit in another sooner.
One balance covers every supported feature. Credits bought through Codex, for example, can pay for another supported feature once your included usage has gone. If you hit a Codex limit on Plus or Pro, you'll see an option to add credits. For how the plans themselves compare, see ChatGPT Plus vs Pro.
Some things don't cost credits. When you're signed in with a ChatGPT account, auto-review safety checks in ChatGPT Work and Codex are free and don't count toward your plan limits. Word, Excel and PowerPoint charge by tokens at API model rates, so what a task uses depends on the model and how much text goes in and comes out.
Can you buy credits on Free or Go?
Only some people can. Credit purchases are available to a limited group of Free and Go users, as of October 2026. If they're open to you, you may see Add credits after reaching your ChatGPT Work or Codex limit. If you don't see Add credits, purchases aren't available on your account yet, though you may still be able to view and use an existing balance.
Buying credits doesn't change your Free or Go plan or raise its included limit. And these aren't API credits, so they don't carry over to developer use. If you're mainly here for coding, my guide to whether Codex is free explains what's included before you need credits.
Setting up automatic reload
- Open Settings, Usage in ChatGPT, or Usage & Billing in the Codex app.
- Check that automatic reload is available on your account.
- Choose a minimum balance and the target balance you want to return to.
- Set a maximum monthly spend if you want a ceiling on automatic reloads.
- Turn it on, knowing a purchase may happen straight away if you're already below the minimum.
When your balance drops below the minimum, ChatGPT buys only enough credits to bring it back to your target, using your default payment method. The monthly ceiling applies to automatic reloads, not to one-time purchases.
Negative balances
A balance can go below zero. If a task starts while you're in credit but other usage running at the same time drains the balance before it finishes, you can end up negative. Later purchases or reloads then go toward clearing that first, before your available credits rise again. It's worth checking recent usage on the same page if your balance looks lower than expected.
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Expiry, refunds and the rules on transfers
- Credits are valid for 12 months from purchase. Unused credits expire and don't roll over.
- They're non-refundable unless the law or a contract requires it, or an approved exception applies, such as a verified billing error, confirmed unauthorised activity, or a confirmed OpenAI service failure or wrong account restriction.
- If your account is compromised and credits are used, report it straight away through the Unauthorized Activity webform and contact Support. OpenAI says it will restore lost credits if misuse is confirmed.
- Credits can't be transferred, resold or gifted, and they have no cash value.
You can also share your subscription usage, including bought credits, with eligible partner tools by signing in with ChatGPT and turning on subscription sharing. It's off by default and has its own credit controls.
Are ChatGPT credits worth buying?
I'd buy credits if you regularly run out of Codex or ChatGPT Work allowance on Plus or Pro in the middle of a job, because topping up is less disruptive than waiting. I'd set a monthly ceiling before turning on automatic reload. I'd skip buying more than you'll use in a year, because they expire after 12 months. And don't redeem a gift card expecting credits: that goes to your wallet, not your credit balance.
Next on the same topic: my ChatGPT Characteristics and Personalities breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
What are ChatGPT credits?
A pay-as-you-go add-on that lets you keep using eligible features, such as Codex, ChatGPT Work, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, after you reach your plan's included limits.
Are credits the same as my wallet balance?
No. Credits pay for supported feature usage. The wallet is a US dollar balance that can include gift-card funds, and redeeming a gift card doesn't add credits.
Can my balance go negative?
Yes. If a task starts while your balance is positive but other usage drains it first, it can go negative, and later purchases or reloads clear that first.
How does automatic reload work?
When your balance drops below the minimum you set, ChatGPT buys just enough credits to return to your target balance, up to any monthly ceiling you choose.
Which features can credits pay for?
Codex, ChatGPT Work, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, depending on your plan and account, as of October 2026.
