TL;DR
- Never expire: Emailable and Mail Exchange. Expire after 12 months: NeverBounce pay-as-you-go (and reportedly BriteVerify).
- ZeroBounce lists credits as never expiring but says expiry rules may apply without a ZeroBounce ONE subscription.
- Instantly's monthly plan credits expire 2 months after purchase; that includes credits used for verification.
- Always read the terms for the pack you're buying.
Expiry by vendor
| Vendor | Credits expire? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mail Exchange | No | Credits never expire |
| Emailable | No | Subscription credits roll over |
| ZeroBounce | Not while ZeroBounce ONE is active; otherwise "may apply" | Check the terms for your purchase |
| NeverBounce | Pay-as-you-go: 12 months after purchase | Growth subscription works differently |
| Kickbox | Check terms | Not stated on the pricing page |
| BriteVerify | Reportedly 12 months | Third-party report; confirm in a quote |
| Instantly (verification credits) | Monthly plan credits: 2 months | From Instantly's credit system help page |
What expiry costs you
If you buy a 100,000-address pack and use 60,000 within a year, an expiring pack wastes 40% of what you paid. For lumpy volume (campaigns that come in waves) non-expiring credits are worth a premium. For steady volume a subscription can beat all of them.
How to avoid losing credits
- Buy the pack size you'll use inside the expiry window.
- Prefer non-expiring credits if your volume is irregular.
- Ask support before expiry whether credits can be extended; some vendors will.
- Use a subscription only if volume is steady. See pricing models explained.
Related terms to check
Expiry is one of three terms that change the real price. The other two are whether unknowns are charged and whether duplicates are billed.
Worked example
| Never-expire pack | 12-month pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Bought | 100,000 credits for $299 (Mail Exchange pack) | 100,000 credits for $400 (NeverBounce pack) |
| Used in year one | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| Credits left after 12 months | 40,000, still usable | 40,000, expired |
| Effective price per credit used in year one | $0.0050 and falling as you use the rest | $0.0067 |
A hypothetical, using published pack prices at 100,000. If you use the whole pack inside the expiry window, the gap shrinks to the list-price difference.
Negotiating expiry
If you're buying a very large pack from a vendor with expiring credits, ask for a longer window or a rollover; some vendors agree to extend when asked. Get it in writing.
FAQ
Do ZeroBounce credits expire?
They're listed as never expiring, with a caveat that without a ZeroBounce ONE subscription expiration rules may apply. Read the terms.
Do NeverBounce credits expire?
Pay-as-you-go credits expire 12 months after purchase.
Do Mail Exchange credits expire?
No. They never expire.
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