---
title: "Points and usage | Data Tactical Group"
route: "/docs/billing/points-and-usage"
updated: "2026-10-23"
---

# Points and usage

File exports and API requests are metered in points against the organization's monthly allowance. Browsing in the app is never metered.

## The short answer

A point is one data value delivered: one measure, for one series, at one period. Points are counted on file exports (Excel and CSV) and on requests made with an API key. Looking at data in the app costs nothing. The allowance belongs to the organization, resets at the start of each calendar month in UTC, and does not carry over. The allowance for each plan, with and without the API add-on, is on the [pricing](/pricing) page.

## What counts

- **Exports and API data count.** Each value in the file or the response that is not zero counts once.
- **Labels are free.** Only data values are metered: each non-zero value of a measure costs one point, and the labels that come with it (disclosure, reliability and the other flags) cost nothing.
- **Zeros never count.** A value that is empty, zero, or shows as zero at its display precision is not a point. An employment estimate of 0.27, which shows as 0, costs nothing; one of 0.5, which shows as 1, counts.
- **Browsing never counts.** Tables, charts and maps in the app are not metered.
- **The trial county is free to export.** During a county trial, exporting that county uses no points.
- **The sandbox is counted apart.** Sandbox keys spend an allowance of their own, never the organization’s.

A point is not a cell. A cell is one series at one period, and cells limit how large a single API request may be (400,000 cells). Points are the monthly meter.

## When the allowance runs out

Exports and API requests are refused until the month turns, with the HTTP status 429, the code `points_exhausted` and a `Retry-After` value giving the seconds left in the month. The app keeps working for browsing. The key holder and the organization’s admins are notified, at most once a day.

## Where usage is shown

Your account → Usage shows the month to date for the organization: points used of the allowance, API calls against the rate limits, file exports, and how many people were active, with an **Activity by person** table (queries, exports, API calls and points). The API keys list shows calls and points for each key. The Usage screen is shown to the owner and admins.

## Related

Prices and allowances are on the [pricing](/pricing) page. API keys and rate limits are on [API keys](/docs/account/api-keys). The two export formats are on [exporting data](/docs/platform/csv-export).

Still stuck? A person can help.

[Get support](/support)