> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.boundlessfi.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Earn and spend Credits

> How Credits work on Boundless: what they cost on bounties, monthly refills by tier, and how to earn more.

> **TL;DR:** Credits are used only for bounties, to apply and to submit. You start with a welcome grant, refill each month based on your tier, and can earn extra Credits from a few one-time tasks. You can hold up to 12 at a time.

## What you'll learn

* What you spend Credits on
* How your balance is topped up each month
* How to earn extra Credits

***

## What you spend Credits on

Credits are spent **only on bounties**: to apply to a bounty that requires an application, and to submit your work. The base cost is **1 Credit**, though an organizer can set a higher cost on their own bounty. The exact cost is always shown before you confirm.

Hackathons, grants, and crowdfunding don't use Credits.

## Your balance and monthly refill

* You can hold at most **12 Credits**.
* New users get a **6-Credit welcome grant** to start.
* On the **1st of each month**, your balance resets to your tier's refill amount. This is a reset, not a top-up, it doesn't stack on Credits you already have. Your Credits page shows the next refill date.

| Tier     | Reputation needed | Monthly refill |
| -------- | ----------------- | -------------- |
| Bronze   | 0+                | 3              |
| Silver   | 100+              | 5              |
| Gold     | 400+              | 8              |
| Platinum | 1,000+            | 12             |

Your tier is set by your [reputation](/concepts/reputation) score, so building reputation raises how many Credits you get each month.

## Earn extra Credits

These one-time tasks add Credits to your balance (still capped at 12):

| Task                                                                              | Credits |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| Complete your profile (name, bio, and at least one skill)                         | +2      |
| Connect your GitHub account                                                       | +3      |
| Complete your first opportunity (a won bounty or hackathon, or an approved grant) | +5      |

<Note>
  Running low? Build reputation to raise your tier, complete any earn tasks you haven't done, or wait for your monthly refill. Your live balance and next refill date are always on your Credits page.
</Note>

## Next steps

* [Credits, explained](/concepts/credits)
* [Apply to a bounty](/contributors/bounties/apply)
* [Build your reputation](/contributors/get-paid/build-your-reputation)