Help & FAQ
Common questions about Cardboard.
What are credits?
Credits are prepaid balance you use to run boxes. $1 buys 100,000 millicents of credit. Credits only drain while a box is actively running — the moment you stop it, spending pauses. Credits never expire.
How do I launch a box?
Go to the Catalog, choose a box type, give it a name, fill in any required inputs (like a Discord bot token), then click Launch. Your box will be ready within about 60 seconds.
How do I stop a box?
Open your Dashboard, find the running box, and click Stop. The box shuts down and billing stops immediately. Your data is preserved — you can restart the box any time.
What happens if my credits run out?
If your balance hits zero while a box is running, the box is automatically stopped to prevent surprise charges. Your data is preserved. Top up your credits and restart the box to continue.
How is pricing calculated?
Standard boxes cost $0.12/hr (200 millicents/minute). Large boxes cost $0.24/hr (400 millicents/minute). Billing is per minute and only applies while a box is in the Running state — not while it's starting or stopped.
Can I restart a stopped box?
Yes. On your Dashboard, stopped boxes appear in the Stopped section. Click Restart → and a new instance of the same box type launches with a fresh container. Your stored data (in S3, if the box uses it) is kept between restarts.
What is the difference between Standard and Large tiers?
Standard boxes get 1 vCPU and 2 GB RAM — suitable for personal tools, file storage, and bots. Large boxes get 2 vCPU and 4 GB RAM — better for media servers, databases, and heavier workloads.
Can I access my box from anywhere?
Yes. Running boxes are available at a unique URL (e.g. https://your-box-id.box.cardboard.datacats.io). Only you can access your box — every request goes through authentication before reaching the container.
What data is kept when I stop a box?
Box metadata (name, type, launch history) is always kept. For boxes that use encrypted storage or other persistent volumes, data is kept in S3 between restarts. The container itself is ephemeral — it starts fresh each time from the box image.
How do I rename a box?
On your Dashboard, click the pencil icon next to a box's name. Type the new name and press Enter (or click away to save). The name updates immediately.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Profile → Delete account. All running boxes are stopped, your data is deleted, and your account is permanently removed. This cannot be undone.
I have a question not listed here.
Email us at ian.gifford@datacats.io. We typically respond within one business day.
Still stuck? Contact support →