How to Use Prepaid Funds on Instagram

Thinking about running ads on Instagram but don't want to link a credit card? You absolutely can by using prepaid funds. This article is your complete guide to setting up, managing, and succeeding with Instagram ads using a prepaid balance, giving you total control over your budget.

What Exactly Are Prepaid Funds on Instagram?

Think of it like a pre-loaded gift card or a debit account specifically for your Meta ads. Instead of running ads and having Meta bill you later (known as automatic payments or post-paid), you add money to your ad account first. As your ads run, Meta deducts the cost directly from this pre-loaded balance. When the money runs out, your ads automatically stop until you add more.

This method differs significantly from the default post-paid system, where Meta automatically charges a linked credit card, PayPal, or bank account after your ads have accrued a certain amount of cost or on a set monthly billing date. The prepaid system puts you in the driver's seat of your spending.

Who is this for?

• Budget-Conscious Entrepreneurs: If you want to guarantee you will never, ever overspend, this is the perfect solution. You can only spend what you've already loaded.
• Business Owners Without a Credit Card: Many freelancers, new business owners, or creators may not use or have a business credit card. Prepaid funds open the door to advertising without one.
• Marketers in Specific Regions: In some countries and currencies, manual payment methods are the standard, making prepaid a necessity rather than an option.

How to Check if Prepaid Funds are Available for Your Ad Account

The ability to use prepaid funds, often labeled as "manual payments," isn't available everywhere. It mainly depends on your country and the currency you use for your ad account. Some countries offer a wide array of manual payment options, while others are limited to automatic payments only.

The quickest way to check is to look directly in your payment settings. Here's how:

1. Log into Meta Ads Manager on a desktop computer. While you can manage ads from your phone, setting up the core billing information is easiest on a desktop.
2. In the all-tools menu (the three horizontal lines), find and click on "Billing."
3. From the Billing page, click on "Payment Settings" in the top right.
4. Click the "Add Payment Method" button.

Once you click that button, you will see a list of payment methods that are right for the ad account in your region of residence. If you see local payment options like bank transfers, Boleto Bancario (Brazil), UPI or PayTM (India), or other manual payment methods, then congratulations - you can use prepaid funds! If you only see options for credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal, then your account is likely limited to automatic payments.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Prepaid Funds to Your Instagram Ad Account

Ready to load up your account? The process is straightforward and is managed entirely within your Meta billing settings. Forget searching around the Instagram app, this is all handled through the central hub of Ads Manager.

1. Navigate to Your Ad Account Settings

Head over to Meta Ads Manager at business.facebook.com/adsmanager. Select the correct ad account if you manage more than one. Find the all-tools menu (sometimes called the "hamburger menu") and navigate to the "Billing" section. This is your mission control center for everything money-related for your ads.

2. Access Your Payment Settings

Once you're in the Billing hub, click on the "Payment Settings" tab. This page shows your current payment methods, your billing threshold (for automatic payments), and your prepaid balance (if you have one). If this is your first time setting this up, it might look a little empty.

3. Add a Manual Payment Method

Click the prominent "Add Payment Method" button. Ensure your location and country of residence are all matching. Meta will display a list of payment methods based on your residence region. Look for the manual options. They won't always be labeled as such, but it will be a method that can only be found in the add payment method when paying for an ad campaign with payment in full.

Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your chosen method. This might involve logging into your banking interface, scanning a QR code with a payment app, or receiving a special payment code. Once completed, this payment method is linked and your account is officially set to a manual payment system.

4. Add Funds to Your Balance

With your manual payment method active, your Payment Settings page will now show a "Prepaid balance" and a shiny "Add Funds" button. This is your new best friend.

• Click "Add Funds."
• Enter the amount you wish to add to your balance.
• Select the manual payment method you just set up.
• Finalize the payment by following the instructions. You might be redirected to your payment provider's website or app to authorize the transaction.

Keep in mind that while many digital payment methods are instant, some options like bank transfers can take a few business days to process. Always add funds a few days before you plan to launch a major campaign to avoid delays.

Best Practices for Managing Your Prepaid Balance

Working with a prepaid balance is a game-changer for budget control, but it requires a bit more hands-on management to keep your campaigns running smoothly.

Stay on Top of Your Balance

The single most important rule of prepaid advertising is this: when the balance hits zero, your ads shut off. There's no grace period. This is fantastic for preventing surprise bills, but it can be disastrous if a high-performing campaign suddenly stops during peak hours. Get in the habit of checking your balance daily in the "Billing" section of Ads Manager, especially when you have active campaigns.

Set Up Low-Balance Notifications

You don't have to rely on your memory alone. Meta allows you to set up email notifications to alert you when your prepaid balance is running low. To do this, go to Billing > Payment Settings, and look for a notification management section or an option related to your balance. Turning these on can give you the heads-up you need to reload your account before your campaigns come to a halt.

Create a Budgeting Rhythm

The prepaid system is practically built for disciplined budgeting. Instead of adding funds randomly, create a system that works for you. Here are a few ideas:

• Weekly Top-Ups: Have a marketing meeting every Monday? Make adding funds to your Instagram ad account part of that weekly routine. If your budget is $200 a month, topping up with $50 every week keeps things consistent.
• Campaign-Based Funding: Launching a two-week promotion for a new product with a $150 budget? Add the full $150 at the start. Once the campaign is over, you won't have any leftover funds to worry about or lingering billing cycles to track.
• The "Runway" Method: Calculate your average daily ad spend. If you spend about $10 a day, adding $70 gives you a seven-day runway. This buys you time to monitor results before deciding whether to add more funds.

What About Refunds?

Getting a refund on a remaining prepaid balance is possible, but it can be a slow process and isn't available in all regions. A general rule of thumb is to only add funds that you are confident you'll spend. The prepaid system works best as a "going forward" funding tool, not as a temporary holding account.

Using Prepaid Funds for Boosted Posts vs. Ads Manager Campaigns

You might be wondering, "Does this prepaid balance work if I just tap the 'Boost Post' button on Instagram, or is it only for complex campaigns in Ads Manager?" The great news is: it works for both.

Your prepaid balance lives at the ad account level. This means any advertising action you take with that specific ad account - whether it's a simple boost or a multi-layered conversion campaign - will draw from the same pot of money. There aren't separate wallets for different types of ads.

Here's a practical example:

1. You add $100 to your prepaid balance.
2. You notice a Reel on your Instagram profile is getting great organic engagement, so you tap "Boost Reel" right inside the app and set a budget of $20.
3. That $20 is deducted from your balance, leaving you with $80.
4. Later, you head into Ads Manager to build a more targeted Traffic campaign to your website, setting a campaign budget of $50.
5. This campaign will also draw from the same balance, leaving you with $30 for any future boosts or campaigns.

This seamless integration makes managing your total ad spend incredibly simple. It doesn't matter how you run the ad, as long as it's through your designated ad account, it will use your prepaid funds first.

Final Thoughts

Using prepaid funds on Instagram is an empowering way to manage your advertising budget with precision and confidence. It gives you complete control over your ad spend, ensuring you never go over budget. By mastering manual payments, you can advertise effectively without linking a credit card or worrying about unexpected bills.

Once your budget is set, your focus should turn to planning and creating high-performing ad content. Consistently managing a content calendar on top of your other tasks can be a challenge. It's why we built Postbase, a social media management platform designed to help you organize your content strategy. With a visual content calendar, you can plan, schedule, and collaborate on posts, ensuring your brand grows and your ad spend delivers the best possible return.