TikTok ad credit is applied to campaigns automatically in most cases. You do not need to manually activate or attach credit to each campaign. Once credit is active in your account, TikTok deducts it from your ad spend based on your billing setup. However, assignable coupons work differently and do require a manual step before they take effect.
Two Types of Ad Credit and How Each Applies
Understanding the two credit types TikTok uses will clarify exactly what action, if any, you need to take:
- Account-level credits: Applied automatically across all campaigns in your account. No setup required on your end. The credit deducts as spending accumulates.
- Assignable coupons: Must be manually assigned to specific campaigns before they take effect. These coupons target particular campaigns rather than the whole account.
To understand which ad formats and campaign types are covered by credit, see Can TikTok Ad Credit Be Used on Any Ad Format or Only Specific Ones?
How Account-Level Credits Are Deducted
The order in which TikTok applies your credit depends on your billing method:
- Manual payment accounts: Credit is deducted before your account’s cash balance is used. Your credit is spent first, then your balance.
- Automatic payment accounts: Your cash balance is charged first. After that, any remaining credit is applied before the next billing cycle charge.
In both cases, the credit deduction is automatic. TikTok applies a percentage of each ad charge against your credit until the maximum credit amount is reached. Once the credit is exhausted, full charges resume against your payment method.
To confirm how much credit you have available before launching a campaign, see how to check your TikTok ad credit balance.
How to Assign a Coupon to a Specific Campaign
Assignable coupons require a manual step. Here is how to attach one to your campaign:
- Log in to TikTok Ads Manager
- Go to Tools at the top of the screen
- Under Settings, click Payments
- Click the Redeem Coupon button in the upper-right corner if you have a code to enter, or find the coupon in your Available coupons list
- Select the coupon and choose which campaigns to assign it to
- Confirm the assignment
One coupon can be assigned to a maximum of 10 campaigns. For coupons issued after July 31, 2024, the limit increases to 30 campaigns. Once assigned, the coupon credit deducts automatically from qualifying spend on those campaigns.
For a step-by-step guide on using your credit strategically once it is active, see how to use TikTok ad credit effectively for your first campaign.
Checking Credit Expiration Before You Start
Ad credit must be used before its expiration date. If your credit expires while a campaign is running, TikTok switches to billing your cash balance automatically. The campaign does not pause.
To check when your credit expires, see how to check the expiration date of my TikTok ad credit. Expiration dates are visible in the Coupon Progress section of Ads Manager.
What Ad Credit Cannot Be Used For
TikTok ad credit can only be applied to new advertising spend. It cannot be used to pay off outstanding debts, existing invoices, or fees outside of campaign spend.
For a full list of formats where credit does not apply, see which TikTok ad formats are excluded from ad credit usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything to activate account-level credit on a new campaign?
No. Account-level credits apply automatically to all eligible campaigns in your account. When you launch a new campaign, the credit is deducted against that spend without any extra steps.
Can I assign one coupon to multiple campaigns at the same time?
Yes. One assignable coupon can cover up to 10 campaigns, or up to 30 campaigns for coupons issued after July 31, 2024. You select which campaigns to assign it to during the coupon setup process.
What happens if I launch a campaign after my credit expires?
Expired credits are not applied to any spend, including campaigns that started before the expiration. Only active, non-expired credits are deducted. New campaigns launched after expiration are billed entirely against your payment method.
Can I see exactly how much credit was deducted from a specific campaign?
Yes. The Transactions page in TikTok Ads Manager shows a detailed breakdown of charges and credit deductions. You can filter by date and campaign to see exactly how credit was applied.
Does TikTok apply credit to paused campaigns?
Paused campaigns do not generate spend, so no credit is deducted while a campaign is paused. Credit only applies when a campaign is actively delivering ads and generating spend.
Sources: How to allocate assignable coupons to campaigns| Advertising Credit Terms and Conditions| About ad credit types
