What are credits?
Credits, previously known as messages, are the fundamental units used to access data and make API calls on IEX Cloud. Each API endpoint has a certain “data weight,” or a given number of credits that are used every time you make an API call with that endpoint.
For example, the Earnings endpoint has a data weight of 1,000 credits per symbol per period. This means you would use 1,000 credits to see a company’s earnings for one specific quarter.
Credits can be used for any Core Data endpoint. They make your subscription with IEX Cloud flexible and adjustable to your use case. You may use a higher volume of lower-weighted endpoints, fewer higher-weighted endpoints, or a combination.
Learn more about credits in our full help article here.
What are Premium Data credits?
Premium Data credits are a payment method on IEX Cloud that allows you to purchase Premium Data usage upfront in bulk.
They differ from credits in being used solely to prepay for Premium Data, rather than Core Data or add-ons.
If you have an Individual or Business plan, any Premium Data usage is purchased using Premium Data credits. If you have a legacy Launch, Grow, or Scale plan, you have the option of using Premium Data credits, or alternatively, you can purchase certain amounts of Premium Data using pay-as-you-go credits instead.
Learn more about pay-as-you-go credits versus Premium Data credits here.