VapiAI · stephenvapiai · Aug 6, 2026 · Aug 6, 2026
diff --git a/fern/billing/manage-billing-and-credits.mdx b/fern/billing/manage-billing-and-credits.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+---
+title: "Manage pay-as-you-go billing and credits"
+subtitle: "Add a payment method, buy credits, configure auto reload, and download billing records."
+description: "Manage pay-as-you-go billing in the Vapi Dashboard: add a payment method, buy credits, configure auto reload, and download PDF statements and invoices."
+slug: billing/manage-billing-and-credits
+---
+
+This guide shows you how to set up billing for a pay-as-you-go subscription. By the end, you can fund the subscription and configure automatic credit purchases.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- An **Admin** role in the organization.
+
+## Steps
+
+<Steps>
+  <Step title="Open the Billing page">
+    Sign in to the [Vapi Dashboard](https://dashboard.vapi.ai), select the organization you want to fund, open **Settings**, then select **Billing & Add-Ons**.
+
+    <Frame>
+      <img src="../static/images/billing/billing-navigation.jpg" alt="Billing & Add-Ons selected in the Dashboard Settings navigation" />
+    </Frame>
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Add a payment method">
+    In **Payment method**, enter the billing email and card details. Select the checkmark beside each field to save it.
+
+    To replace a saved card, select the pencil beside **Payment method**, enter the new card details, then select the checkmark.
+
+    <Frame caption="Billing email blurred for privacy.">
+      <img src="../static/images/billing/billing-payment-method.jpg" alt="Full Payment method block with the billing email blurred, card field, and auto reload controls" />
+    </Frame>
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Buy credits">
+    At the top of the Billing page, select **Buy credits**. In **Purchase Vapi credits**, enter at least `$10` in **Amount to purchase**, then select **Purchase**.
+
+    Complete any verification requested by the card issuer. A successful purchase increases the credit balance and appears as **Finalized** in **Credit purchase history**.
+
+    <Frame caption="Current balance redacted for privacy.">
+      <img src="../static/images/billing/billing-purchase-credits.jpg" alt="Purchase Vapi credits dialog with the amount to purchase field" />
+    </Frame>
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Optional: Configure auto reload">
+    In **Payment method**, turn on **Enable auto reload**. Enter at least `$10` in **Amount to reload**, then enter the balance that should trigger the purchase in **When threshold reaches**.
+
+    Select **Save changes**, review the confirmation, then select **Confirm**. If the current balance is at or below the threshold, saving the plan charges the payment method immediately.
+
+    <Frame>
+      <img src="../static/images/billing/billing-auto-reload.jpg" alt="Auto reload controls on the live Billing page" />
+    </Frame>
+  </Step>
+
+  <Step title="Verify the billing setup">
+    Confirm that the page shows the saved payment method, updated credit balance, and auto reload settings. Check **Credit purchase history** for a **Finalized** payment.
+  </Step>
+</Steps>
+
+## Download billing records
+
+Select **Download monthly statement** in **Credit purchase history** to create a statement for a selected month.
+
+To download an invoice for an eligible payment, select the payment, then select **Download invoice (PDF)**. Enter the requested invoice information and select **Confirm**.
+
+## Related
+
+<Card title="Troubleshoot call errors" href="/calls/troubleshoot-call-errors">
+  Resolve calls blocked by an insufficient credit balance or frozen subscription.
+</Card>
diff --git a/fern/chat/non-streaming.mdx b/fern/chat/non-streaming.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Non-streaming chat
 subtitle: Build reliable chat integrations with complete response patterns for batch processing and simple UIs
+description: Build a non-streaming Vapi chat integration that returns complete responses, maintains conversation context, and supports reliable request-response workflows.
 slug: chat/non-streaming
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/openai-compatibility.mdx b/fern/chat/openai-compatibility.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: OpenAI compatibility
 subtitle: Seamlessly migrate existing OpenAI integrations to Vapi with zero code changes
+description: Use Vapi through OpenAI-compatible chat interfaces, migrate existing integrations, and support streaming, non-streaming, and common JavaScript frameworks.
 slug: chat/openai-compatibility
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/quickstart.mdx b/fern/chat/quickstart.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Chat quickstart
 subtitle: Build your first text-based conversation with a Vapi assistant in 5 minutes
+description: "Create a text chat with a Vapi assistant, send messages through the Chat API, continue conversations, pass variables, and integrate with TypeScript apps."
 slug: chat/quickstart
 ---
 
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ Build a customer service chat bot that can handle text-based conversations throu
 * A [Vapi account](https://dashboard.vapi.ai/)
 * An existing assistant or willingness to create one
 * Basic knowledge of making API requests
+* For a pay-as-you-go subscription, the billing setup described in [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
 
 ## Scenario
 
@@ -304,6 +306,43 @@ We'll create a customer support chat for "TechFlow", a software company that wan
   </Step>
 </Steps>
 
+## Troubleshooting
+
+The Chat API returns HTTP `402` when the pay-as-you-go organization does not meet a billing requirement. Use the message to identify the required action.
+
+| Message | What it means | What to do |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `Add a payment method to use chat. Pay-as-you-go orgs require a card on file.` | The organization does not have a saved payment method. | [Add a payment method](/billing/manage-billing-and-credits). |
+| `Purchase credits to use chat. New pay-as-you-go orgs require a completed payment.` | The pay-as-you-go subscription is less than 30 days old and the organization has no completed payment. | [Buy credits](/billing/manage-billing-and-credits) or complete another purchase. Adding a card does not count as a payment. |
+
+## Frequently asked questions
+
+<AccordionGroup>
+  <Accordion title="What billing setup is required to use chat?">
+    Every pay-as-you-go organization needs a saved payment method. During the subscription's first 30 days, the organization must also have completed a payment. Enterprise and agency plans do not have these requirements.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Does this requirement affect voice calls?">
+    No. The purchase requirement applies only to chat.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Does adding a card count as a completed purchase?">
+    No. Adding a card authorizes future charges but does not complete a payment. To unblock chat during the first 30 days, [buy credits](/billing/manage-billing-and-credits) or complete another purchase.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="Does the completed payment expire?">
+    No. One completed payment permanently satisfies the requirement for the organization. The payment does not need to be recent or recurring.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="What happens after the first 30 days?">
+    The completed-payment requirement ends when the pay-as-you-go subscription reaches 30 days old. The organization still needs a saved payment method to use chat.
+  </Accordion>
+
+  <Accordion title="How quickly does access return after payment?">
+    Chat access usually returns within one minute after the payment settles. If chat remains blocked, wait one minute, refresh the Dashboard, and try again.
+  </Accordion>
+</AccordionGroup>
+
 ## Limitations
 
 <Note>

diff --git a/fern/chat/session-management.mdx b/fern/chat/session-management.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Session management
 subtitle: Maintain conversation context using previousChatId vs sessionId
+description: Manage Vapi chat context with previousChatId or sessionId, understand when to use each method, and build persistent multi-turn conversations safely at scale.
 slug: chat/session-management
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/sms-chat.mdx b/fern/chat/sms-chat.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: SMS chat
 subtitle: Enable text-based conversations with assistants via SMS messaging
+description: Connect a 10DLC-approved Twilio number to a Vapi assistant, receive customer-initiated SMS messages, and maintain context through managed chat sessions.
 slug: chat/sms-chat
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/streaming.mdx b/fern/chat/streaming.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Streaming chat
 subtitle: Build real-time chat experiences with token-by-token responses like ChatGPT
+description: Build a streaming Vapi chat integration with server-sent events, display tokens as they arrive, and maintain context across real-time app conversations.
 slug: chat/streaming
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/variable-substitution.mdx b/fern/chat/variable-substitution.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Variable substitution in sessions
 subtitle: Learn how template variables behave with sessions and chats
+description: Use variable substitution in Vapi chat sessions, understand when values are resolved, and choose safe patterns for updating personalized conversation context.
 slug: chat/variable-substitution
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/chat/web-widget.mdx b/fern/chat/web-widget.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Web widget
 subtitle: Add AI chat and voice capabilities to any website with a simple embeddable widget
+description: "Add Vapi's web widget to a website for voice and text conversations, configure its appearance and behavior, and meet pay-as-you-go chat access requirements."
 slug: chat/web-widget
 ---
 

diff --git a/fern/docs.yml b/fern/docs.yml
@@ -618,6 +618,12 @@ navigation:
           - page: FAQ
             path: faq.mdx
             icon: fa-light fa-question
+          - section: Billing
+            icon: fa-light fa-credit-card
+            collapsed: true
+            contents:
+              - page: Manage billing and credits
+                path: billing/manage-billing-and-credits.mdx
           - section: How Vapi works
             icon: fa-light fa-diagram-project
             contents:

diff --git a/fern/static/images/billing/billing-auto-reload.jpg b/fern/static/images/billing/billing-auto-reload.jpg
diff --git a/fern/static/images/billing/billing-navigation.jpg b/fern/static/images/billing/billing-navigation.jpg
diff --git a/fern/static/images/billing/billing-payment-method.jpg b/fern/static/images/billing/billing-payment-method.jpg
diff --git a/fern/static/images/billing/billing-purchase-credits.jpg b/fern/static/images/billing/billing-purchase-credits.jpg