Automatic payments (auto-payments) are vital to ensuring uninterrupted access to Runpod’s services. Properly configuring auto-payments enhances reliability, reduces billing overhead, and prevents service disruption. This article outlines the importance of setting up auto-payments correctly and provides a step-by-step guide to help you configure them effectively.
Why Proper Auto-Payment Settings Matter
1. Transaction Limits
Stripe, our payment processor, enforces a limit of one transaction per hour per customer. If your auto-payment threshold is too low, and your usage is high, you might hit the threshold multiple times within a short period. Because of the hourly transaction cap, subsequent charges could be delayed, potentially resulting in insufficient funds and interrupted service. Setting a higher auto-payment amount helps avoid this bottleneck.
2. Buffer Period for Payment Failures
By configuring a higher auto-payment threshold, you ensure a buffer period of at least 72 hours in case a payment attempt fails. This grace period gives you enough time to respond, update your payment method, or resolve any issues before services are affected.
3. Fewer Invoices to Manage
Higher auto-payment amounts mean fewer payment events, which in turn results in fewer invoices. This simplifies your financial tracking and reduces the administrative burden associated with managing multiple transactions and receipts.
Recommended Settings for High-Spend Customers
If your monthly spending is substantial—for example, $30,000/month (around $1,000/day)—use the following guidelines to optimize your auto-payment setup:
1. Auto-Payment Threshold
Choose a threshold that will allow your account balance to sustain 1 to 2 weeks of usage. In this scenario:
Recommended Range: $5,000 – $10,000
Why: This balance level minimizes invoice volume and gives you a cushion against sudden spikes in usage or failed transactions.
For further reduction in invoice frequency, set a threshold that covers 3 to 4 weeks of usage, as per your operational comfort.
2. Auto-Payment Amount
Set the amount of each auto-payment to be equal to or slightly above your threshold:
Recommended Range: $5,000 – $10,000
Why: This ensures your balance is quickly replenished and remains sufficient to cover ongoing compute usage, reducing the likelihood of service interruptions.
3. Low Balance Notifications
Enable alerts to monitor your balance effectively:
Notification Range: $3,000 – $4,000
Why: These alerts serve as an early warning system, giving you about 72 hours to respond before the system runs out of funds due to failed or delayed auto-payments.
How to Set Up Automatic Payments
To configure automatic payments, follow these steps:
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Access Billing Settings
Navigate to the Billing section of your Runpod dashboard.
Click on Automatic Payments.
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Add a Payment Method
Select Add Card.
Enter your card details securely.
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Configure Auto-Payment Settings
Choose an auto-payment threshold based on your daily/weekly usage.
Set the auto-payment amount equal to or slightly above the threshold to ensure continuity.
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Enable Notifications
To stay informed in real time, set low balance notifications(under the Settings Page -> Notification Settings) slightly below your threshold.
Please attach screenshots of your Billing -> Automatic Payments section when contacting support, if you face issues during setup.
Additional Support Options
Runpod also offers the following features for added reliability:
Invoice Arrangements: Customized billing terms for enterprises or consistent high-usage clients.
These features ensure that your workloads remain active and your team stays productive, even during temporary payment delays.
For any questions, setup help, or to request advanced billing options, please contact help@runpod.io or raise a ticket through the Runpod contact form.