Lookups & credits

The lookup ladder — fewest credits first

Every new place walks the same ladder and stops at the first confident answer. Most places resolve early; only genuinely hard ones reach the higher tiers.

1. Your location library — free. Every place SnapAtlas™ has ever identified for you is saved in your personal library. Photos taken near a known place inherit its name instantly — no lookup, no credits, ever again.
2. Fast map services — a single credit. Broad-coverage mapping data answers most ordinary places — towns, streets, parks — for one lookup credit each.
3. Premium place data — only when it's worth it. For places that deserve a real name — landmarks, venues, national parks — SnapAtlas™ consults richer place databases. This tier uses more credits per lookup, so it only runs when the lower tiers can't name the place confidently.
4. Named — and saved. Whatever the tier, the answer lands in your location library for good.

How many credits does a lookup take?

It depends on how hard the place is to name — a farmhouse with a street address takes a single credit; a trailhead deep in Yellowstone is worth spending more on. The ladder guarantees SnapAtlas™ never spends premium-tier credits on a place the lower tiers could have named. Credit packs never expire — you only ever pay for places that were genuinely resolved.

Your own places are free

The most personal locations are often the ones no map service knows — Grandma's house, the cabin, your street. Define them yourself and apply the name to every relevant photo group. Custom places work without spending a single credit.

Settings worth knowing

• Location lookups can be turned off entirely — everything else in SnapAtlas™ works the same.
• Prefer landmarks (Settings → Organizing) favors names like "Old Faithful" over "Teton County" when both exist.
• Small groups (Settings → Location) names 1–2-photo groups by street address only — a cheaper answer when a detailed place name wouldn't change much.

Common questions

Do lookups happen for every photo?

No — only for new places. Photos taken near a place already in your library reuse its name for free. Organizing ten thousand vacation photos near one resort uses the credits for that area once.

What do my photos send to the cloud?

Only GPS coordinates, and only when you use managed lookups. Photos themselves never leave your PC.

Do credits expire?

No. Purchased lookup credits stay in your account until you use them.

What happens when I run out of credits?

SnapAtlas™ keeps working — photos just get date-based folders without place names until you add credits. Your saved locations still apply for free.

Can I avoid lookups entirely?

Yes. Turn off location lookups, or define your own places — everything else in SnapAtlas™ works the same.

A starter bundle of lookups comes with purchase. Top up credits →