Claude Code "Credit balance is too low": causes and fixes (balance / subscription auth)
Is there an outage right now?
Claude Code official status is operational. If this error persists, it is likely an implementation or environment issue on your side.
Updated: Jun 6, 2026, 4:48 AM UTC
View Claude Code status →What this error means
"Credit balance is too low" means your pay-as-you-go API credit balance is insufficient. Confusingly, even if you intend to use a Pro/Max subscription, authenticating with an API key (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) makes Claude Code bill as API usage—so a zero balance triggers this. It can mean either you are genuinely out of credit, or you should switch to subscription auth.
Common causes
- •Pay-as-you-go API prepaid balance is zero or too low
- •You meant to use a subscription (Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise) but are authenticated with an API key
- •No payment method on file, or it expired
- •Auto-reload not set, so the balance ran out
- •Organization/workspace balance or limit issue
How to fix
- 1.To use a subscription, remove the API key and run /login for subscription auth (check that ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is not set in your environment)
- 2.To use the API, add credits at platform.claude.com → Billing
- 3.Enable auto-reload to prevent recurrence
- 4.Add or update your payment method
- 5.Run /status or /doctor to confirm your current auth method (subscription vs API key)
- 6.Confirm at the top of this page it is not an Anthropic-side outage
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
This is a balance/auth issue and will not clear by waiting. Use /login for a subscription, or add credits for API usage. If it appears "even though I have a subscription," check whether ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is overriding your login.
Alternatives when Claude Code is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is Credit balance is too low?
"Credit balance is too low" means your pay-as-you-go API credit balance is insufficient. Confusingly, even if you intend to use a Pro/Max subscription, authenticating with an API key (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) makes Claude Code bill as API usage—so a zero balance triggers this. It can mean either you are genuinely out of credit, or you should switch to subscription auth.
How do I fix Credit balance is too low?
To use a subscription, remove the API key and run /login for subscription auth (check that ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is not set in your environment) / To use the API, add credits at platform.claude.com → Billing / Enable auto-reload to prevent recurrence / Add or update your payment method / Run /status or /doctor to confirm your current auth method (subscription vs API key) / Confirm at the top of this page it is not an Anthropic-side outage