# Spend limits and auto top-up

> Cap individual consumption and authorize automatic reserve purchases.

## Before you begin

Only the owner can set member limits or enable automatic top-ups. Automatic purchases use the subscription's default payment method.

## Set a member limit

1. Open **Team** and select **Members**.
2. Open the member's actions menu.
3. Select **Set spend limit**.
4. Choose **Set a cap**, **Unlimited** or **Inherit account default**.
5. Enter Sparks per cycle if you selected a cap.
6. Select **Save limit**.

To set the default for non-owner members, select **Default limit** on the Members tab. The owner does not inherit this default but can set their own individual cap.

| Mode | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| Set a cap | Overrides the default with this member's cycle allowance. |
| Unlimited | Removes the individual cap, even if a default exists. The account still needs available Sparks. |
| Inherit account default | Removes the override; non-owners use the default, if set. |

Limits reset with the billing cycle and count only the member's own consumption. They do not divide the shared pool or cap workflow runs and app subscriptions. Capped members see their own allowance in mobile. When it runs out, they cannot start personal-assistant or agent-chat turns, or agent runs over MCP; the dashboard Assistant is not capped per member.

## Enable automatic top-up

1. Open **Billing** and enable **Automatic top-up**.
2. Set **Top up when below (Sparks)** to a non-negative whole number.
3. Set **Add each time (Sparks)** within the displayed range and increment.
4. Enter **Monthly cap in Sparks (optional)** if you want a cycle cap.
5. Accept **Authorize automatic charges**.
6. Select **Save changes**.

The monthly cap follows your billing cycle and covers automatic Sparks purchases, excluding other spending and tax. It must cover at least one top-up; blank means unlimited. Review the separate base card charge and tax.

## Handle a paused top-up

| Issue | Next action |
| --- | --- |
| Pending or unpaid invoice | Check payment status in Billing; further automatic top-ups stay paused during Stripe recovery. |
| Cycle cap reached | Wait for the next cycle or change the cap. |
| Payment or billing address problem | Update details in **Billing portal**. |
| Disabled after 3 consecutive failed charges | Each failed charge pauses retries for 6 hours; the third in a row turns automatic top-up off and emails the owner. Fix the payment problem, then enable it again. |

Each automatic purchase creates a separate Stripe invoice. Sparks are credited only after payment succeeds.

> **Watch out** — Turning automatic top-up off stops future purchases. It does not cancel an invoice already issued.

When both included Sparks and reserve are empty, new Assistant turns, agent chat turns and dictation cannot start. Top up or wait for the next allowance.

## Related

- [Sparks](/en/docs/concepts/sparks)
- [Review usage](/en/docs/usage)
- [Manage billing and plans](/en/docs/billing)