API Pricing & Data Credits

Learn how Similarweb API data credits work. Calculate usage with our simple formula, track consumption in real-time, and optimize your API spend with transparent pricing.

What Are Data Credits?

Data Credits​ are Similarweb's standard unit for API consumption. Each data point (or result) returned in an API response costs a specific number of credits, depending on the endpoint and data type you're requesting.

This model replaces the previous "hits-based" pricing with a more transparent approach:

• You pay for what you receive​ — you can pay as little as 1 credit or pull 1M credits worth of data. it all depends on how much data you need
• Pricing is transparent​ — every endpoint lists its credit cost upfront

How Data Credits Are Calculated

The Core Formula

For most Similarweb API endpoints, data credit consumption follows this calculation:

Real World Examples:

Example #1:

• Request: ​visits​ for ​amazon.com​ in ​US​ for ​6 months​ (monthly granularity)
• Calculation: ​1 domain x 6 months × 1 country × 1 result = 6 credits

Example #2:

• Request: ​traffic sources​ for ​walmart.com​ in ​US,CA​ for ​3 months​ (weekly granularity)
• Calculation: ​8 results x 1 domain x 2 countries x 3 months × 12 weeks = 576 credits

Let's break down each variable:

Credit Consumption by Endpoint Type

Standard Endpoints (1:1 Ratio)

Most endpoints charge ​1 credit per data point (result)​.

Examples:

• Traffic & Engagement metrics (visits, bounce rate, pages per visit)
• Traffic Sources (search, social, referrals)
• Conversion Analysis
• App Analytics (installs, DAU, retention)
• Audience Demographics
• Gen AI Prompt Tracking

Calculation:​ ​1 data point = 1 credit

Keywords Endpoints (1:100 Ratio)

Keyword-related endpoints offer a ​discounted rate​ due to the large volume of results they return.

Ratio:​ ​100 data points = 1 credit

Examples:

• Organic Keywords
• Paid Keywords
• Landing Pages (with keywords)

Calculation:​ ​100 keyword results = 1 credit​ ​1,000 keyword results = 10 credits

This makes keyword analysis highly cost-efficient, even when pulling thousands of terms.

FAQ

When am I not charged credits?

You are ​not charged​ in the following scenarios:

• Error responses​ (401, 403, 429, or any 4xx/5xx error)
• No data available​ (e.g., domain has insufficient traffic)
• Free endpoints​ (e.g., ​/capabilities​, ​/describe​, webhooks)

This "no data, no charge" policy ensures you only pay for valid, successful data transactions.

How do I estimate credits before making a request?

1. Review endpoint documentation​ for base cost and any special rates (like 1:100 for keywords)
2. Count your variables:​
3. How many domains?
4. How many countries?
5. What time range?
6. How many results per request?
7. Apply the formula​ outlined above
8. For Batch API:​ Use the ​/request-validate​ endpoint to get exact credit estimates before submitting a report

What happens if I exceed my credit limit?

If you exceed your monthly allowance, additional API requests will be throttled or blocked with a ​429 Too Many Requests​ error. Contact your Account Manager to increase your allocation.

Do credits roll over to the next month?

No. Unused credits expire at the end of each billing cycle. Plan your usage accordingly and consider spreading large queries across multiple months if needed.

Can I see a breakdown of my credit usage?

Yes. you can see usage by user in the ​Data​ ​Credits Management dashboard in the Similarweb platform. ​Go to the ‘Check Credit Balance’ article to learn more.