List credits and refunds

See the cost before a list runs, how credits are reserved, what comes back when it finishes, and what to do if your balance is short.

Lists use the same credits as single checks: 1 credit for each real answer from a live check. You see the most a list can cost before it starts, and anything it doesn't use comes back when it finishes.

1. The estimate

After you upload a list, the summary shows Up to a number of credits, next to Your balance. That number is the most the list can cost: one credit per unique address. Duplicates are charged once, empty rows are skipped, and addresses with invalid syntax are free, so none of them add to it.

The real cost is usually lower, because some results are free. Addresses checked on BounceOwl this week are one example.

2. The reservation

When you click Start checking, the estimated credits are reserved from your balance, so they are set aside for the list before checking begins. In Billing, the Credit history table shows this as List reserved.

3. The refund

When the list finishes, you pay only for real answers. Credits come back for:

Unknown results.
Addresses with invalid syntax or on a domain with no mail server.
Addresses anyone on BounceOwl checked in the last 7 days.

The finished list shows how many credits were used and how many were returned. In Credit history, the refund appears as Returned. See Why a result was free for each free case.

If your balance is short

If the list needs more credits than you have, the summary says how many more you need. You have two choices:

Top up. Credit packs are shown right there, and the one that covers what you need is marked Covers what you need. You can also enter any amount. After paying, come back and start the list.
Check part of the list. Click Check the first N addresses, where N is how many your balance can cover. The rest of the rows are not checked.

In the results file, rows that were not checked show not_checked in the bo_verdict column.

Catch-all checks on a list

The optional catch-all check is charged separately, at 5 credits per clear answer. Before you run it on a list, the panel shows the most it can cost. Unclear answers, and checks with no answer within 30 minutes, are refunded. See Catch-all check.

Last updated November 6, 2026