What is the Bright Data free tier?
The free tier is a recurring monthly credit allowance that applies automatically to every new account. Credits renew on the first of each month and draw from a single shared pool, so you can spend them on any combination of the four eligible products. The Unlocker API, SERP API and Web Scraper API cost one credit per request or record. Scraper Studio draws from the same pool and costs one credit per page load. Bright Data operates on a pre-paid wallet model: you are only ever charged for funds you have explicitly deposited. A free tier account has a hard stop when credits are exhausted, never a surprise bill.What can I use the free credits on?
| Product | What it does |
|---|---|
| Unlocker API | Retrieve any web page, bypassing anti-bot protections automatically. |
| SERP API | Extract structured search results from Google, Bing and more. |
| Web Scraper API | Get structured data from popular websites using pre-built, maintained scrapers. |
| Scraper Studio | Build and run custom scrapers in a cloud IDE or with an AI agent. One credit per page load, not per record. |
Proxy products (Datacenter, ISP and Residential proxies) and the Browser API are not included in the monthly free credits. New accounts receive a separate one-time $2 trial credit (valid 7 days) to test these products, plus an additional $5 bonus upon adding a payment method (valid 30 days).
How are free credits consumed?
Free credits are drawn from a single shared pool of 5,000 credits per account. The Unlocker API, SERP API and Web Scraper API consume one credit per request or record. Scraper Studio draws from the same pool and consumes one credit per page load, so its consumption depends on how many pages each scraper loads. Usage is metered and deducted from the same pool, regardless of which product made the call. The Control Panel shows in real time whether you are drawing from free credits or your deposited balance.Bright Data MCP server requests also draw from this pool. The MCP free tier of 5,000 requests per month is the same shared allowance, because the MCP server runs on the Unlocker API.
Unused free credits do not roll over to the next month. Credits reset to 5,000 on the first of each month.
What happens when free credits run out?
There are two outcomes, depending on whether you have deposited funds:- With funds in your account: usage transitions automatically to your pre-paid balance at your plan’s PAYG rates. There is no interruption in service.
- Without funds: requests return an error and you are prompted to add funds to continue.
How do I keep service running after free credits?
Enable auto-recharge in your billing settings to ensure uninterrupted service. Auto-recharge triggers when your available balance drops below 85 percent of your configured amount and tops it back up automatically. You can set any denomination. Configure it in Billing Settings.Who is eligible for the free tier?
The free tier is available to all new accounts and is applied automatically at signup. The following account types are not eligible:- Accounts on custom PAYG pricing plans
- Accounts on pre-commit (subscription) plans
If you upgrade to a pre-commit plan, recurring monthly free credits will no longer be issued. Any remaining unused free credits at the time of upgrade remain available to use.
Adding a credit card is a verification step only. You will not be charged unless your free credits are exhausted and you have funds deposited in your account.
How do I monitor my free credit usage?
Track your free credit balance and consumption directly in the Control Panel:- Go to Billing Overview.
- The Free Tier Credits section displays your remaining credits and next renewal date.
- To set up balance threshold alerts, go to Billing Settings.