---
title: "Choose Effort and understand credit use | Leama Help Center"
description: "Control the candidate-research budget while keeping the requested delivery target unchanged."
canonical_url: "https://leama.ai/help/effort-and-credits"
md_url: "https://leama.ai/help/effort-and-credits.md"
last_updated: "2026-08-21"
---

# Choose Effort and understand credit use
Control the candidate-research budget while keeping the requested delivery target unchanged.
## When to use this
Use higher Effort when Leama should research a larger candidate pool and select the strongest matches for the same target.
## Requirements and availability
- The Effort control can be locked by the current plan; a locked control stays at Low.
## How to do it
- Open a profile for creation or editing.
- Move Effort between Low, Medium, High, and Max.
- Read the maximum shown beside the selected level.
- Save the profile and start a run with enough available credits.
## Fields and controls
- **Control**
- **What it does**
  Low
  Pool up to the target; up to 1 credit per delivered prospect.
  Medium
  Pool up to twice the target; up to 2 credits per delivered prospect.
  High
  Pool up to three times the target; up to 3 credits per delivered prospect.
  Max
  Pool up to four times the target; up to 4 credits per delivered prospect.
## What happens next
The delivery target does not change. Leama ranks the funded pool and delivers the best qualifying matches found.
## States you may see
- **State**
- **Meaning**
  Available
  The slider can change the budget.
  Locked
  The plan fixes Effort at Low.
  Reserved
  Credits are held for active research.
  Released
  Unused reservations return when the run ends.
## Credits and usage
These values are maximums. Requiring Phone number adds 1 credit per delivered prospect on top of Effort.
## Common problems
- **Problem**
- **What to check**
  A run is blocked for credits
  Reduce run size or Effort, remove optional paid requirements, or add credits.
  Credits appear reserved
  Wait for the run to finish or stop; unused reservations are released.
## Related articles
## Related links
- [Buy credits and configure auto top-up Add prospect credits in supported increments and understand volume pricing, reservation, and payment states.](/help/credits-and-top-ups)
- [Compare plans and usage limits Compare Free, Grow, and Scale using the prices, credits, profiles, schedules, and Outreach limits shown in Leama.](/help/plans-and-usage)
- [Start, stop, and monitor a run Request a manual run, follow its live state, and understand what stopping preserves.](/help/start-stop-and-monitor-runs)
- [Set Extra requirements and exclusions Use plan-gated pass-or-fail requirements without confusing them with profile guidance.](/help/extra-requirements-and-exclusions)

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