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How does Auto Top-Up work, and how do I turn it on or off?

Overview

Auto Top-Up adds credits to your account automatically when your balance drops below a threshold you set, so your API calls don't stop mid-project. It's optional and off until you turn it on. On the Credits page it's the setting labeled "Enable auto top up" (you may also see it called Auto Recharge).

How it works

Auto Top-Up watches your credit balance. When it falls below your threshold, OpenRouter charges your saved card and adds the amount you chose. You control two numbers:

  • When credits are below — the threshold that triggers a top-up. Minimum $2; the default is $25.
  • Purchase this amount — how much to buy each time it triggers. Minimum $2, maximum $50,000.

A few things to know:

  • The charge happens without a confirmation prompt, and it can happen when you're not actively at your computer — if an API key is still in use by an app, agent, or integration, that usage can drain your balance and trigger a top-up on its own.
  • It charges a saved card that supports automatic (off-session) charges. You can set backup payment methods; if the primary card fails, OpenRouter tries the backups in order.
  • There's no separate spending cap on Auto Top-Up — the threshold and purchase amount are the only controls. To hard-limit spend, use credit limits on your API keys (see Credits and our guide on setting spending limits).

Turning it on or off, and changing the amounts

  1. Go to your Credits page.
  2. Find the Enable auto top up toggle. Turn it on to enable, off to disable.
  3. While it's on, set "When credits are below" and "Purchase this amount," pick the card to charge (and any backups), and save.

Turning the toggle off stops all future automatic charges. Your balance then simply runs down as you use it and is never topped up on its own.

If a top-up charge fails

If a top-up charge is declined, OpenRouter turns Auto Top-Up off automatically and emails you (the message includes the decline reason from the card issuer). Your balance won't be topped up again until you fix the payment method and turn the toggle back on.

Refunds

Disabling Auto Top-Up stops future charges but doesn't refund credits you've already bought. If you want a recent purchase back, you can refund an unused credit purchase within 24 hours using the refund button on your Credits page. After that window credits are non-refundable, and crypto payments are never refundable.

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