Note: This is for users who are not on any unlimited plans.

This article includes these sections:

Credits

Minutes and Texts

What are Credits?

Credits allow you to perform various functions on our app. Use them however you like, whenever and however you want.

What are Credits used for?

1) Buy and renew Phoner numbers

The amount of Credits needed to buy and renew a Phoner number varies by the selected country, duration, and extras that come with the number.
See How to buy a Phoner number?
See How to renew a Phoner number?

2) Top up your account with local Minutes and Texts

For users residing in the US, UK, CA, local calls and texts will use Minutes and Texts respectively.
Credits are used to redeem Minutes and Texts packages.
See How to top up Minutes and Texts balance?

3) Make international calling and texting

To understand the actual credit costs for calling and texting, you can go to the 'Phone' tab -> Tap on flag icon to view the latest calling and texting rates. See What are the calling and texting rates on Phoner?

4) Perform reverse number lookup

See who is calling or texting you by searching for a person's phone number.
See How to use Lookup?

5) Record the calls that you make on Phoner

Record your calls on the go with your loved ones, or save important business information.
See How to record calls?

Do I get Credits from my subscription?

If you are a user not residing in the United States, Canada or United Kingdom, you will receive Credits from your subscription as long as the subscription is kept active.

How do I view my available Credits balance?

Launch the Phoner app
Go to the ‘Account’ tab
Under ‘Your balance’, view your Credits balance

Will my Credits expire?

No, your purchased Credits will not expire.

What are Minutes and Texts?

Minutes and Texts are only viewable on the app if you are a user residing in the United States, Canada or United Kingdom. Minutes and Texts are solely used for local calling and texting.

When will I use Credits versus Minutes and Texts?

If you are a user residing in US, UK, or Canada:

Local calls and texts will use Minutes and Texts.
International calls or texts will use Credits instead. The number of Credits needed per minute or SMS will depend on the country you're calling or texting.

To illustrate with an example,

Let's say you are a user residing in the United States.
If you use the Free Number or any US Phoner numbers to call and text domestically in the United States, Minutes and Texts will be deducted from your account.
If you use the Free Number, or a US Phoner number to call and text someone from Canada, Credits will be deducted from your account.
If you use any international Phoner numbers e.g. Australian Phoner numbers, then Credits will be deducted from your account for any communication.

If you are a user residing outside of US, UK, or Canada:

All calls and texts will use Credits.
The number of Credits needed per minute or SMS will depend on the country you're calling or texting.
To understand the calling and texting rates on Phoner, you can go to the 'Phone' tab -> Tap on flag icon to view calling and texting rates.

Do I get Minutes and Texts from my subscription?

If you are a user residing in the United States, Canada or United Kingdom, you will receive Minutes and Texts from your subscription as long as the subscription is kept active.

How will my Minutes be used?

1 minute of call duration (whether incoming or outgoing) will use 1 Minute from your account.

How will my Texts be used?

1 message with <160 characters (whether incoming or outgoing) will use 1 Text from your account.

Our text messages follow SMS conventions and take 160 characters per message.

If your message exceeds 160 alphanumeric characters, the message will be broken up into multiple segments, and therefore take multiple Texts.
If you have non-alphanumeric characters like emojis in your message, it can cause the message to be segmented, and therefore also require more Texts to send.
Lastly, MMS messages cost 3 Texts per message.

How do I view my available Minutes and Texts balance?

Launch the Phoner app
Go to the ‘Account’ tab
Under ‘Your balance’, view your Minutes and Texts balance

Will my Minutes and Texts expire?

Purchased Minutes and Texts can only be used with an active Phoner number, or if the Free Number is kept active. Once all Phoner numbers and the Free Number expires on your account, your Minutes and Texts will not be usable.

To use your Minutes and Texts again, you'll need to purchase a new Phoner number, or renew your Free Number.

See What is the 'Free Number'? and How to buy a Phoner number?

I see an infinity 'ꝏ' symbol next to my Minutes/Texts balance. What does that mean?

If you see an infinity 'ꝏ' symbol next to your Minutes/Texts balance, it means that you are currently on our unlimited plan which allows for an unlimited number of calls and texts per day.