Token System

Tokens are the usage currency of PDF Ghost. Every fingerprinting operation consumes tokens based on the size and complexity of the job. This guide explains how the token system works, how to check your balance, and how to purchase additional tokens.

Overview

When you run a fingerprinting job, the platform deducts tokens from your account. The number of tokens consumed depends on the file size, page count, and number of recipients. Every subscription plan includes a monthly token allocation, and you can purchase additional token packs if you need more.

Subscription Tokens

Each subscription plan comes with a monthly token allocation that resets at the beginning of every billing cycle:

• Starter — a base allocation for light usage
• Pro — a larger allocation for regular use
• Team — the highest allocation for heavy workloads

When changing plans, PDF Ghost applies upgrades immediately and schedules downgrades for the next cycle. On an upgrade, your current-cycle subscription balance is recalculated by preserving what you've already used and topping up the remaining subscription tokens to the new monthly allowance (without a full cycle reset). Downgrades affect limits starting next cycle.

Unused subscription tokens do not roll over. When your billing cycle renews, your subscription balance resets to the full monthly amount regardless of how many tokens remained.

Purchased Token Packs

If your monthly allocation runs out, you can buy token packs for immediate top-up. Purchased tokens are available to active subscribers only and never expire — they remain in your account until used, even across billing cycles.

Four pack sizes are available:

Token packs are processed through the same payment provider as your subscription. Once payment completes, the tokens are credited to your account instantly.

Token Consumption Priority

When a job consumes tokens, the system always draws from your subscription balance first. Only after your subscription tokens are fully consumed will purchased tokens be used. This ensures your purchased tokens are preserved as long as possible.

For example, if you have 50 subscription tokens and 200 purchased tokens remaining and run a job costing 80 tokens:

1. 50 subscription tokens are consumed (subscription balance → 0)
2. 30 purchased tokens are consumed (purchased balance → 170)

Token Usage

Token cost for a job is calculated from three factors:

• File size — larger PDFs require more processing power
• Page count — more pages means more fingerprinting work
• Number of recipients — each recipient generates a unique artifact

The exact cost is shown in the job creation wizard at the Review step before you confirm. You will always see the token cost before any tokens are deducted.

Checking Your Balance

You can see your current token balance in two places:

• Sidebar — the navigation sidebar displays your remaining subscription and purchased tokens at a glance
• Dashboard — the dashboard stats section shows a detailed breakdown of subscription tokens, purchased tokens, and usage for the current billing period

Buying Token Packs

To purchase additional tokens:

1. Open the Settings → Billing page for your organization
2. Scroll to the Buy Token Packs section
3. Select the pack size you need
4. Complete the checkout

You can also access the purchase option from the token balance indicator in the sidebar. After a successful purchase, the tokens appear in your account immediately.

Next Steps

• Learn about Job Management
• Learn about Leak Detection