Scan Credits

What is a scan credit?

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

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

For example:

• 1 keyword checked from 1 pin uses 1 scan credit.
• 1 keyword checked from 25 pins uses 25 scan credits.
• 2 keywords checked from 25 pins use 50 scan credits.

Scan credits are only used for local ranking scans. Google Posts, review replies, AI Insights, and other writing features use AI credits instead.

How scan costs are calculated

The number of credits needed depends on:

• The number of pins in your grid
• The number of keywords included in the scan

Use this calculation:

Number of pins × number of keywords = scan credits

Tracking more than one keyword multiplies the cost. Two keywords cost twice as much, and so on. You always see the exact cost before you press start, so there are no surprises.

Scan credits included with each plan

Your scan credit allowance is added at the beginning of each billing period:

\*Based on a 5×5 grid with one keyword (25 credits per scan). The actual number of scans you can run depends on the number of pins and keywords included in each scan.

Allocate scan credits to locations

Scan credits are shared across the workspace, but each location needs its own allocation before it can run a scan.

Workspace Owners and Admins can manage allocations from:

Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits → Manage Allocation

From here, you can see:

• Credits allocated to each location
• Credits already used
• Credits remaining
• Credits that have not yet been allocated

Your first location receives the available workspace credits automatically. Any locations added afterwards start with zero credits, so you will need to allocate credits before running their first scan.

You can change an allocation at any time. However, you cannot reduce it below the number of credits the location has already used during the current billing period.

Buy additional scan credits

Paid plans can purchase more scan credits from:

Settings → Billing → Add-ons

Additional scan credits cost $25 for every 5,000 credits. You can purchase between 1,000 and 1,000,000 credits at a time.

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

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

Credit expiry and rollover

Purchased scan credits are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. This 30-day period is separate from your usual billing cycle.

For purchased credits:

• Growth and Agency plans carry over 50% of the unused balance into the next 30-day period.
• Starter plans do not carry over unused purchased credits.

For the credits included with your plan:

• Growth and Agency plans carry over 50% of unused credits into the next billing period.
• Free trial and Starter credits do not carry over.

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

Scan credit permissions

Workspace Owners and Admins can:

• View scan credit usage
• Allocate credits to locations
• Run local ranking scans
• Purchase additional credits (Admins need billing access, which the Owner turns on in Settings → Permissions)

Members can run scans for locations shared with them, provided the location has enough allocated credits. Members cannot change allocations or purchase more credits.

Guests have view-only access and cannot run scans.

If a location does not have enough allocated credits, the scan will not begin and no credits will be deducted.

Run a local ranking scan

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

The exact scan cost is always shown before the scan begins.

Check your remaining credits

Go to:

Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits

Here you can check:

• Your monthly allowance
• Credits already used
• Credits remaining
• Purchased credits
• Credits allocated to each location

Change a location’s allocation

Go to:

Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits → Manage Allocation

Find the location, enter the number of credits you want to allocate, and save your changes.

The new allocation will be available immediately.

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?

Check that:

• The location has enough credits allocated.
• The workspace still has credits available.
• The location is active and has not been paused.
• Your workspace role allows you to run scans.

Workspace Owners and Admins can review allocations from:

Settings → Credit Usage → Scan Credits → Manage Allocation

Will I lose credits if a scan fails?

No. If the scan cannot be completed, you will not be charged.

If credits were deducted before the scan failed, they will be returned automatically.

Do unused scan credits carry over?

Growth and Agency plans carry over 50% of unused credits.

Unused credits do not carry over on the Free trial or Starter plan.

When are my monthly credits renewed?

Your monthly 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 date of purchase.

Growth and Agency plans carry over 50% of the unused balance into the next 30-day period. Unused purchased credits expire after 30 days on the Starter plan.

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.

Related: AI Credits · Local Rank Tracking · Billing, Plans & Add-ons