Automatic payments

Automatic payments is a payment setting in Google Ads where you first accrue advertising costs, then have those costs automatically charged to your primary payment method.

How automatic payments work

When you use automatic payments, you’ll be charged for your advertising costs:

• When your account reaches a predetermined amount known as your payment threshold
• On the first day of the month

Change your payment setting

You may be able to switch between automatic and manual payments in your account's Billing settings.

To change your payment setting:

1. In your Google Ads account, click the Billing icon .
2. Click Settings.
3. Open the 'How you pay' section, then click to open Alternative payment options to view other options available to you.
4. Click Switch to manual and follow the steps in the pop-up window to confirm the change.

Note that the Manual payment option is only available in certain countries. If you are currently on manual payments and this option is no longer available in your country, you will only be able to switch to automatic payments.

Payment threshold

Your payment threshold is the amount at which your payment method will be automatically charged for your advertising costs. Your threshold can be automatically raised if your costs reach this amount before the end of the monthly billing cycle.

• The amount that you're charged may be slightly more than the threshold if your account accrues costs very quickly.
• You can be charged multiple times a month if your account reaches your billing threshold repeatedly. You can find your current threshold in your Billing summary page.

Adjust your payment threshold

Some advertisers may be able to increase their payment threshold to a higher amount. When you increase your payment threshold, you’ll be charged less often throughout the month, but the amount of the charges will be higher.

Additionally, some advertisers in the United States may have their thresholds adjusted automatically to allow for fewer monthly charges. These customers can also follow the steps below to adjust their threshold or opt out of automatic threshold increases.

To change your threshold value:

1. In your Google Ads account, click the Billing icon .
2. Click Settings.
3. Open the 'How you pay' section, then click Edit threshold.
4. Set your payment threshold at the recommended amount or any other amount up to the recommended value.
   • Check Opt out of automatic threshold increases to manually adjust your threshold.

Related links

• Understanding why you've been charged
• About payment settings in Google Ads
• Issues with charges