Introduction to Censys Credits

Censys Credits provide a scalable, flexible, and structured way for users to access and interact with Internet Intelligence Platform (IIP) capabilities. For example, each of the following actions consumes credits:

• Searching across hosts, certificates, and web properties.
• Exporting data.
• Viewing raw data output for records.
• Acquiring access to additional datasets.

The list above is not exhaustive and there are several other actions that consume credits.

This document provides more information about Censys Credits and how free and paid plans differ.

How Censys Credits work

Credit allocation

• Free users receive a limited number of credits each month, allowing access to basic platform features such as the ability to perform searches.
• Paid users are allocated more credits, enabling access to advanced platform features to perform a greater volume of search queries, access to the API, raw data output, and more.  

Credit consumption

• Search queries: Each search query executed through the IIP web interface or API consumes a specific number of credits. 
  • Standard queries consume 5 credits each.
  • Advanced queries consume 8 credits each.
    • Advanced queries are queries that incorporate regex.
  • Actions like paging through results, filtering results, viewing a host summary page in the web interface, and accessing the raw data output for a record consume credits.
• Datasets: Activating datasets deducts credits from a user's balance.

Monitoring credit usage

Users can monitor their credit usage and remaining balance through their account dashboard, ensuring they stay within their allocation.

Exceeding Credit Limits

• Free users: Once the monthly credit limit is reached, access to certain features may be restricted until the next billing cycle or until additional credits are purchased.
• Paid users: Depending on the purchased plan, users may have the option to purchase additional credits or upgrade to a higher tier to accommodate increased usage.

Differences between Censys Credits and legacy licensing options

There are three main differences between Censys Credits and the legacy licensing model that is used with previous versions of Censys Search.

• Credits-based licensing: The credit-based licensing model allows users to purchase and consume credits for various platform features, ensuring scalability and cost predictability.
• Dynamic scaling and tiered pricing: As a user's or organization's needs grow, they can easily purchase additional credits, with tiered pricing. 
• Quota expiry and management: Purchased credits can be consumed over 12 months with no monthly quota expiry. Credit quota can be allocated for specific features and users. 

Available plans

Censys Credits are allocated differently between free and paid plans. 

Free users

Free users are given a baseline of credits each month that they can use to explore Censys IIP features and functionalities. Details of the credit structure and feature set for free users are provided below:

• Monthly credit allocation: Free users receive a set number of credits each month. Unused credits expire at the end of the month.
• Page limitations on results: Free users can view one page of results per query, allowing a surface-level exploration of the data.
• API access: Free users are restricted to the web interface only, with no access to the IIP API.
• Raw data: Free users do not have access to raw data on search results.
• Community support: Free users have access to Censys community resources, including the Community Forum, to help navigate Censys capabilities.

Paid users

For organizations and individuals requiring more substantial and consistent access to Censys data, the paid plans provide a larger array of capabilities:

• Credit validity: All purchased credits have a 12-month validity (TTL) from purchase date.
• Unlimited query results: Paid users can view unlimited pages of results, making it easier to perform deep dives into internet data for security intelligence and compliance.
• Extended API access: Paid users benefit from API access, which allows for programmatic queries, integration into workflows, and automation at a higher rate limit.
• Raw data: Paid users can view raw data for search results.
• Advanced support and capabilities: Some paid plans include email support, SSO and SAML integration, and access to the Censys Marketplace.

Managing and using credits in the IIP

Both free and paid users can monitor their credit consumption in the Censys IIP Credit Management interface and Account Management interface. Paid users can also enable auto-replenishment, automatically recharging their credits when they have a low balance. Additionally, users can manually purchase more credits.

The credit system also enables usage tracking notifications, with alerts provided at key consumption thresholds. This ensures that users can adjust usage before reaching limits, reducing the likelihood of unexpected cutoffs.