How Credits Work
Credits are MessageFuture’s in-app currency. They are used to finalise messages – covering the storage, processing, and delivery costs associated with each message you send.
The Core Principle: Drafts Are Always Free
You can write, edit, save, and revise messages for as long as you like without spending a single credit. Credits are only deducted at the moment you finalise a message – that is, when you confirm it as:
- A scheduled message (with a set delivery date), or
- A timeless message (awaiting Guardian-triggered delivery)
This means there is no cost to experimenting with the composer, starting a message and coming back to it later, or maintaining a library of drafts.
Where Credits Come From
Your credit balance is built from two sources:
1. Subscription Allocation
Each paid subscription plan comes with a monthly or yearly credit allocation. These credits are added to your balance automatically when your subscription renews.
| Plan | Monthly credits | Yearly credits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 | – |
| Standard | 50 / month | 600 / year |
| Pro | 150 / month | 1,800 / year |
| Pro Max | 600 / month | 7,200 / year |
2. One-Time Credit Packs
You can top up your balance at any time by purchasing a credit pack – a one-time purchase with no recurring charge. See Buying Credit Packs →.
How Credits Are Spent
When you finalise a message, the system calculates the total credit cost based on:
- The content types in the message (text, image, audio, video)
- The number of recipients (first recipient is included; each additional recipient costs 1 credit)
- Whether the message is Timeless (a ×3 multiplier applies to the entire cost)
The exact credit cost is shown on the Review & Confirm screen before you commit. You will never be charged without seeing the cost first.
See the full pricing breakdown in Credit Costs Reference →.
Minimum Cost
Every finalised message costs a minimum of 1 credit, even if the calculated subtotal rounds to zero.
Free Plan Exception: Timeless Messages
Free plan users receive 3 lifetime Timeless messages at no credit cost, with the restriction that these messages must be text-only (no image, audio, or video attachments).
Once all 3 free Timeless messages have been used, any additional Timeless messages require credits (and a paid plan to include media).
Editing a Message: Pro-Rata Credit Adjustment
If you edit a finalised message and it now costs more credits than when it was originally sent, you only pay the difference – not the full cost again.
For example:
– You originally sent a text-only message (cost: 2 credits)
– You edit it to add an image (new cost: 5 credits)
– You are charged only the 3-credit difference
If the new cost is the same or less than what you originally paid, no additional credits are deducted.
Checking Your Balance
Your current credit balance is always visible:
- Web: In the top navigation bar, and on the Dashboard → Credits page
- Mobile: In the Profile / Settings tab
[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Credits / Wallet page]