---
title: "subscription_required error"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/subscription_required.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/subscription_required"
last_updated: "2026-10-22"
type: "reference"
summary: "HTTP 402 subscription_required: This needs an active subscription. Cause, fix and a curl example."
related: ["https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md", "https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md"]
---

# subscription_required error

HTTP 402 subscription_required: This needs an active subscription. Cause, fix and a curl example.

`subscription_required` is returned with HTTP **402**. Retryable: no. Sending the same request again returns the same error. Nothing is charged for this error.

## What it means

This needs an active subscription.

## Most likely cause

The request needs an active plan and the account has none. The usual case is buying a top-up: top-ups are for subscribers, and a trial does not count.

## How to fix it

Subscribe from the billing page of the dashboard, then retry.

## Example

Checkout uses the signed-in dashboard session token, not an API key. A top-up for an account with no active plan returns HTTP 402. Start a plan first.

```sh
curl -i -X POST https://YOUR_API_HOST/v1/me/billing/checkout -H "Authorization: Bearer $FIREBASE_ID_TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"offer":"topup"}'
```

An error response is one JSON envelope. Branch on `code`, never on the message text. The `message` and `fix` of a real response can be more specific than the defaults shown here.

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "subscription_required",
    "message": "This needs an active subscription.",
    "fix": "Subscribe from the billing page of the dashboard, then retry.",
    "docs_url": "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/subscription_required",
    "retryable": false,
    "request_id": "req_3fK9pQ2xVb7LmN4sTz8WcA"
  }
}
```

## See also

- [All error codes](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md) with the response envelope.
- [Credits and billing](https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md).
- Quote the `request_id` when you write to [hello@lookvalid.com](mailto:hello@lookvalid.com).

## Related

- [Errors](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md)
- [Credits and billing](https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md)