PeekShot uses a credit-based system to manage usage. Understanding how credits work helps you optimize costs and avoid wasting credits on failed or unnecessary captures.
What Are Credits?
Credits are the currency used in PeekShot. Each screenshot request consumes credits based on the options you select. Your plan determines how many credits you receive per billing period (monthly, annual, or lifetime for LTD plans).
Credits are consumed when:
A screenshot request is processed (even if it fails after processing starts)
The capture completes successfully
Resources are used to render and capture the screenshot
How Plans and Credits Work Together
Your PeekShot plan determines:
Monthly credits: How many credits you receive per billing period
Storage: How much storage space you have for screenshots
Features: Which features are available (like scheduling, API access, etc.)
You can view your plan details, credits per period, and current billing cycle on the Dashboard → Billing page.
Factors Affecting Credit Cost
Not all screenshots cost the same. Credit consumption depends on several factors:
Capture Type
Viewport screenshot: Base credit cost (most economical)
Full-page screenshot: Additional credits (costs more due to multiple captures and stitching)
Quality Settings
Standard quality: Base credit cost
4K quality: Additional credits for higher resolution
How to Check Your Credit Balance
On the Overview Page
The Overview page displays your Credits Remaining prominently at the top. This shows how many credits you have available for new captures.
On the Billing Page
The Dashboard → Billing page shows:
Your current plan
Credits per period (how many credits your plan provides)
Current billing cycle information
In File Manager
Individual screenshot rows in the File Manager show how many credits were consumed for each capture. This helps you understand the cost of different capture options.
What Happens When Credits Run Out?
When you run out of credits:
New screenshot requests will fail
Scheduled jobs will pause until credits are available
You'll see notifications about low or zero credits
Solutions:
Upgrade your plan: Get more credits by upgrading to a higher tier
Wait for renewal: Credits reset at the start of your next billing period
Purchase additional credits: If your plan supports it, you may be able to purchase extra credits
Redeem a coupon: Check if you have any coupon codes that add credits
Tips to Avoid Wasting Credits
1. Test with Viewport First
Before using full-page capture or 4K quality, test with a standard viewport screenshot. This uses fewer credits and helps you verify the URL works correctly.
2. Verify URLs Before Scheduling
Before setting up scheduled jobs:
Test the URL manually in the Playground
Verify the screenshot captures correctly
Check that the page is publicly accessible
Ensure you're not hitting bot protection or CAPTCHAs
Failed scheduled jobs still consume credits, so testing first saves credits.
3. Check URL Accessibility
Make sure URLs are:
Publicly accessible (not behind authentication without credentials)
Valid and reachable
Not blocked by bot protection (test first)
See: What Websites PeekShot Can and Cannot Capture for more details.
4. Use Appropriate Quality Settings
Don't use 4K quality unless necessary:
Standard quality is sufficient for most use cases
4K quality costs more credits
Use 4K only when you need the extra resolution
5. Monitor Failed Captures
Regularly check your File Manager for failed captures:
Identify patterns (same URL failing repeatedly)
Fix issues before they waste more credits
Remove or fix problematic scheduled jobs
6. Use HTML Mode When Possible
If you control the content, HTML mode can be more reliable:
No risk of bot protection blocking
More predictable results
Better for dynamic content generation
Credits and Failed Screenshots
Important: Credits are typically deducted when processing starts, even if the screenshot later fails. This is because:
Resources are used to attempt the capture
The page is loaded and rendered
Processing time is consumed
When credits might be refunded:
System errors on PeekShot's side
Infrastructure issues
Service outages
When credits are not refunded:
User errors (invalid URL, wrong settings)
Bot protection blocking (site policy, not PeekShot error)
Network issues on the target site
Page timeouts due to slow loading
See: Credits Deducted but Screenshot Failed for more details on requesting credit reviews.
Best Practices for Credit Management
Monitor your usage: Regularly check credits remaining and usage patterns
Start with viewport: Use viewport mode for testing and development
Test before automating: Always test URLs before setting up scheduled jobs
Optimize settings: Use the minimum quality and format needed for your use case
Review failed captures: Identify and fix issues that cause repeated failures
Plan for scale: Consider your usage patterns when choosing a plan
Upgrading Your Plan
If you're consistently running out of credits:
Go to Dashboard → Billing
Review available plans and their credit allocations
Click Upgrade to [Plan] for the plan that fits your needs
Complete the secure checkout process
Upgrades apply immediately, and you'll receive the new credit allocation right away.