# Automatic payments

> Top up a prepaid balance automatically, or pay postpaid invoices automatically on their due date.

- URL: https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/automatic-payments/
- Section: Billing and account
- Type: guide
- Applies to: All countries
- Last reviewed: 2026-11-09

Automatic payments keep your service running without you having to remember to pay. How they work depends on your billing type:

- **Prepaid: auto top-up.** When your balance drops below a threshold you set, your saved payment method is charged to bring the balance back up to the amount you choose.
- **Postpaid: automatic payments.** When an invoice reaches its due date, your saved payment method is charged the invoice amount.

**On a free trial?** Direct debit isn't available during the free trial. You can top up by card or other prepaid methods. See [Your free trial](https://kb.voipcloud.online/getting-started/free-trial/).

## Before you start

- Check your billing type under **Type** on **Billing** › **Home**. See [Prepaid and postpaid accounts](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/prepaid-and-postpaid/).
- Add a card or PayPal as a payment method. See [Payment methods and top-ups](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/payment-methods/).

## Turn on auto top-up (prepaid)

1. Go to **Billing** › **Bills and payments** and open the **Automatic payments** tab.
2. Turn on **Enable automatic payments**.
3. In **When the account balance drops below**, enter the balance that triggers a top-up.
4. In **Top up the account balance to**, enter the balance to top up to.
5. Click **Apply**.

The balance is checked after every transaction. Auto top-up doesn't run while you have an open invoice for call credit.

## Turn on automatic payments (postpaid)

1. Go to **Billing** › **Bills and payments** and open the **Automatic payments** tab.
2. Turn on **Enable automatic payments**. It takes effect straight away.

Invoices are then paid automatically on their due date.

## Which payment method is charged

The **Payment methods** tab has a **Payment methods priority** list. The first method is charged first. If that payment fails, the next method is tried, and so on, so it's worth adding at least two payment methods.

If the **Automatic payments** tab is missing, contact the support team.

## Check it works

- **Prepaid:** when the balance falls below your threshold, a top-up appears under **Payments** in [Account balance](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/account-balance/).
- **Postpaid:** on the due date, the invoice changes to **Closed** in [Invoices](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/invoices/).

If a payment fails, check the decline code in [Card declined codes](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/card-declined-codes/) and update your payment method.

## For partners

With the customer's permission, you can turn on automatic payments for them. In the partner portal, open **Customers**, select the customer and, on the **Details** tab, find **Autorefill Details**. Set **Automatic payments**, and for a prepaid customer also **When balance drops below** and **Recover balance to**.


See [Customer billing](https://kb.voipcloud.online/partners/customer-billing/) for more.

## Next steps

- [Get low balance notifications](https://kb.voipcloud.online/billing/low-balance-notifications/) as an extra safety net.
- [What happens when an account is suspended or the balance is low](https://kb.voipcloud.online/troubleshooting/account-suspended-or-low-balance/)