All these rule types recharge your SIMs automatically. The difference is what triggers the recharge: a balance level, or a date.
Quota Rule
A Quota Rule is only used for SIMs using Pooled Data on a Private APN. A data quota amount is allocated to each SIM on the 1st of every month. This is the amount of data from the central pooled data bundle that the SIM is allowed to use during the calendar month. If the quota is reached, the SIM will not connect. The quota is monitored every 60 seconds.
Note: Only the data actually used by the device is deducted from the pooled data bundle.
Example: SIM Quota = 1GB. Actual Usage = 400MB. SIM quota resets to 1GB on the 1st of every month.
You configure three things:
Quota amount (in MB) — the amount of data SIMs on this rule are allowed to use during a calendar month.
Optional: Quota recharges - Additional recharges allowed if the initial quota has been consumed and reaches a set threshold. Also select how many additional quota recharges are allowed.
It is suggested to set up a only 1 simple monthly quota - because you will be alerted on 80% and 100% usage, you can action any additional manual recharges as needed.
Usage Rule
A Usage Rule watches each SIM's balance (Airtime, Data or SMS) and recharges when it drops below the minimum you set. We check balances several times a day (between 2 and 4 times) on supported networks.
You configure three things:
Threshold — the balance below which we recharge. The recharge triggers when the balance is below this number, not when it reaches it.
Recharge amount or bundle — a fixed amount, or a specific bundle. We do not top up to the threshold; we add the whole amount you chose.
Maximum recharges per month — a safety cap. Once a SIM reaches this many successful recharges in a calendar month, the rule stops recharging that SIM until the next month. Further attempts are recorded as failures with the reason "recharge rule count exceeded".
Each Usage Rule applies to one balance type. An airtime Usage Rule looks only at the airtime balance; a data Usage Rule looks only at the data balance.
Usage Rules are only available where we can read the SIM's balance from the network. If your network is not listed when you create the rule, we cannot read balances on it — use a Scheduled Rule instead.
Scheduled Rule
A Scheduled Rule recharges on a fixed timetable — daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or every N days — with no reference to the SIM's balance. This is the option for networks where the platform cannot display airtime or data balances, or where you want to allocate airtime or data on a scheduled basis.
The schedule belongs to the rule, not to the SIM. This is the most common point of confusion. The recharge dates are fixed when you create the rule, calculated from the rule's start date. Every SIM on the rule recharges on those same dates.
When you add a SIM to a rule that already exists, it joins the cycle already in progress. It does not start its own 30-day countdown.
Example. You create a rule on 1 March that recharges every 30 days. The recharge dates are 1 March, 31 March, 30 April, and so on. If you add a SIM on 11 March, that SIM recharges on 31 March — 20 days later, not 30. A SIM added on 30 March recharges the next day.
Two consequences worth planning around:
Adding a SIM does not recharge it immediately. It waits for the next date on the schedule.
Editing a rule does not restart the cycle. The original start date still sets the dates. If you need a different cycle for some SIMs, create a second rule with the start date you want.
Timing on the day
Recharges are processed in batches throughout the day, not at a fixed hour. On a rule with many SIMs, expect the recharges to spread out over a few hours.
End date
Leave the end date blank and the rule runs indefinitely. If you set one, the rule still recharges on that date if it falls on the schedule, then stops.
Which should I choose?
Balances visible on your network, usage varies between SIMs → Usage Rule. You pay only when a SIM actually runs low.
Balances not visible on your network → Scheduled Rule. This is your only option.
Predictable monthly allowance per SIM, fixed cost → Scheduled Rule, even where Usage Rules are available.
Combining rules
You can put a SIM on several rules at once, within these limits:
Any number of Scheduled Rules.
One Usage Rule per product type. A SIM can have one airtime Usage Rule and one data Usage Rule, but not two data Usage Rules. Airtime and airtime bundle count as the same type.
All rules on a SIM must belong to the same network and the same organisation.
If you see "SIM already has a rule of this type", remove the existing rule of that type first.
If a recharge fails
The most common cause is insufficient funds on the account. The failed recharge appears on the SIM and on the rule, with a reason.
Usage Rules re-attempt on the next balance check, so once you have funded the account the recharge goes through on its own.
Scheduled Rules re-attempt only on the same day the recharge was due. If you fund the account the next day, that recharge will not happen by itself — contact support and we will run it for you. Otherwise the SIM waits for the rule's next scheduled date.
Go here for help on how to set up recharge rules.
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