Scan Credits

Scan Credits in Ranksphere

What are scan credits?

Scan credits are used when you check where a business ranks on Google Maps using Ranksphere's Local Rank Tracker.

One scan credit checks one keyword from one pin on the map.

Each pin represents a different search location within the area you've selected. The ranking shown on that pin tells you where your business appears when someone searches from that location.

For example:

The more pins or keywords you include, the more scan credits you'll use.

Scan credits are only used for local ranking scans. Other features, such as Google Posts, AI review replies, and AI Insights, use a separate type of credit called AI credits.

For more information, see AI Credits.

How are scan credits calculated?

The number of credits needed for a ranking scan depends on two things:

• Number of pins: How many points on the map you want to check.
• Number of keywords: How many search terms you want to track.

Ranksphere calculates the cost using this formula:

Number of pins × Number of keywords = Scan credits required

Example: Scanning a 5 × 5 grid

A 5 × 5 grid contains 25 pins.

If you check one keyword across all 25 pins, the scan will use 25 credits.

If you check two keywords using the same grid, it will use 50 credits.

You can adjust or remove pins before starting a scan.

Ranksphere always shows the exact number of credits required before you start, so you can review the cost before running it.

For more information about grids, keywords, and ranking results, see Local Rank Tracking.

How many scan credits are included in each plan?

Each Ranksphere plan includes a scan credit allowance.

Your allowance is added at the beginning of each billing period.

The estimated number of scans is based on one keyword using a 5 × 5 grid (25 pins). Each scan would use 25 credits.

The actual number of scans you can run depends on how many pins and keywords you choose.

For example, a scan with three keywords will use more credits than a scan with one keyword using the same grid.

You can compare plans and their included allowances on the Ranksphere Pricing page.

How to allocate scan credits to locations

Scan credits are shared across your Ranksphere workspace.

However, each location needs its own credit allocation before it can run ranking scans.

Workspace Owners and Admins can decide how many credits each location is allowed to use.

How are credits assigned to new locations?

When you add your first location, Ranksphere automatically assigns all available workspace scan credits to it.

Additional locations start with zero scan credits.

If you've added another location and can't run a scan, check its credit allocation first.

How to allocate scan credits

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Credit Usage.
3. Select Scan Credits.
4. Click Manage Allocation.
5. Find the location you want to update.
6. Enter the number of credits you want to allocate.
7. Save your changes.

The new allocation becomes available immediately.

What can I see in Manage Allocation?

The allocation page shows:

You can change a location's credit allocation whenever needed.

However, you cannot reduce a location's allocation below the number of credits it has already used during the current billing period.

For more information about managing locations, see Locations in Ranksphere.

How to buy additional scan credits

If you need more credits than your plan includes, you can purchase additional scan credits.

Extra scan credits are available on paid plans.

Only the Workspace Owner can purchase additional credits because Billing is restricted to the Owner.

How much do extra scan credits cost?

For example, buying 10,000 additional scan credits would cost $50.

How to purchase scan credits

1. Go to Settings → Billing → Add-ons.
2. Find the available credit packs.
3. Select the scan credit option.
4. Choose how many credits you want to purchase.

The payment is charged to the card saved for your workspace.

Purchased credits are added to your workspace and are used after the credits included with your plan have run out.

To learn more about credit purchases and other add-ons, see Billing, Plans & Add-ons.

Do unused scan credits expire?

Yes. Whether your unused credits carry over depends on your plan and whether the credits came with your subscription or were purchased separately.

Scan credits included in your plan

Your plan's scan credit allowance is renewed at the beginning of each billing period.

For example, if you're on Growth and have 2,000 unused scan credits at the end of your billing period, 1,000 credits will carry over into the next period.

Your new plan allowance is added at the beginning of the billing period.

Purchased scan credits

Credits purchased through Add-ons are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.

This 30-day period is separate from your regular subscription billing cycle.

For example, if you purchase 5,000 scan credits on Growth and have 2,000 left at the end of the first 30 days, 1,000 of those unused credits will carry into the next 30-day period.

On Single Business and Starter, unused purchased credits expire after 30 days.

Important: The expiry period for purchased credits starts on the purchase date, not your normal billing date.

For more information, see Billing, Plans & Add-ons.

Who can use and manage scan credits?

Your workspace role determines whether you can run scans, manage credit allocations, or buy additional credits.

Owners and Admins

Workspace Owners and Admins can:

• View scan credit usage.
• Assign credits to locations.
• Change existing credit allocations.
• Run local ranking scans.

Only the Workspace Owner can purchase additional scan credits.

Billing access cannot be granted to Admins.

Members

Members can run ranking scans for the locations shared with them, as long as those locations have enough allocated credits.

Members cannot change credit allocations or purchase additional credits.

Guests

Guests have view-only access and cannot run ranking scans.

What happens if a location doesn't have enough credits?

If a location doesn't have enough allocated scan credits, the scan will not begin.

No credits will be deducted for a scan that cannot start.

An Owner or Admin can review the location's allocation and assign more credits if they're available.

For more information about workspace access, see Users, Roles & Permissions.

How to run a local ranking scan

To run a scan for a location:

1. Open the location you want to scan.
2. Go to Rankings.
3. Select Run scan.
4. Add the keywords you want to check.
5. Choose your grid size.
6. Adjust or remove pins if needed.
7. Review the number of credits required.
8. Select Start scan.

Ranksphere shows the exact cost before the scan begins.

Can I run a scan without adding a location?

Yes. If you only want to check how a business ranks on Google Maps, you can use New Scan from the sidebar.

This lets you check rankings without adding the business as a managed location.

For more information about running scans and understanding heatmaps, see Local Rank Tracking.

How to check your remaining scan credits

You can view your scan credit usage at any time.

Go to Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits.

Here, you'll find:

How to change a location's credit allocation

1. Go to Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits.
2. Click Manage Allocation.
3. Find the location you want to update.
4. Enter the new credit allocation.
5. Save your changes.

The updated allocation becomes available immediately.

Remember that you cannot reduce a location's allocation below the number of credits it has already used during the current billing period.

Frequently asked questions

What does one scan credit cover?

One scan credit checks one keyword from one pin on the map.

For example, checking one keyword across a 5 × 5 grid uses 25 credits because the grid contains 25 pins.

How do I know how many credits a scan will use?

Multiply the number of pins by the number of keywords.

For example:

25 pins × 3 keywords = 75 scan credits

Ranksphere also shows the exact cost before you start the scan.

Why can't I run a scan?

There are a few things to check:

• Location credits: Make sure the location has enough allocated scan credits.
• Workspace credits: Check that your workspace still has available scan credits.
• Location status: Make sure the location is active. If it's paused, you'll need to reactivate it first.
• Permissions: Check that your workspace role allows you to run scans.

Workspace Owners and Admins can review allocations under Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits → Manage Allocation.

Will I lose credits if a scan fails?

No. If a scan cannot be completed, you won't be charged.

If credits were deducted before the scan failed, Ranksphere automatically returns them.

Do unused scan credits carry over?

It depends on your plan.

Growth and Agency plans carry over 50% of unused scan credits into the next billing period.

Unused plan credits do not carry over on the Free trial, Single Business, or Starter plans.

Purchased credits have separate 30-day expiry and rollover rules.

When are my scan credits renewed?

Your plan's scan credit allowance is added at the beginning of each billing period.

Do purchased scan credits expire?

Yes. Purchased scan credits are valid for 30 days from the purchase date.

On Growth and Agency, 50% of the unused purchased credits carry into the next 30-day period.

On Single Business and Starter, unused purchased credits expire after 30 days.

Can I allocate credits to different locations?

Yes. Scan credits are shared across your workspace.

Workspace Owners and Admins can assign credits to individual locations through Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits → Manage Allocation.

Why does my new location have zero scan credits?

Your first location automatically receives all available workspace scan credits.

Locations added afterward start with zero credits.

You'll need to allocate credits to the new location before running its first scan.

Can Members run ranking scans?

Yes. Members can run scans for locations shared with them, provided those locations have enough allocated scan credits.

Members cannot manage allocations or purchase credits.

Guests cannot run scans.

Does anything else use scan credits?

No. Scan credits are only used for local ranking scans.

Google Posts, review replies, Google Business Profile descriptions, and AI Insights use AI credits instead.

See AI Credits for more information.