How to Directly Fund your Connect Account

We let users fund their account via credit card, Google Pay, pre-authorized debit card, or bank account transfer with a click of a button! 

Simply sign into Connect and select your account balance from the top right.

Click the “Add Funds” button.

Input the amount and description (optional):

Select your payment method and input your your credit card, Google Pay, debit card, or bank account details:

If successful, your funds will be added to your Connect account balance. In the transaction history area, you can download a receipt associated with this. Follow this article here which explains how to do this. 

It is important to note, funding via bank account transfer will take up to 4 business days to process and be added to your account. 

All payment is processed through the third-party app, Stripe.

Credit Card Payments

Effective May 18, 2026, CloudResearch will implement a 3% processing fee on all credit card transactions.

This change is part of an update to the platform we use to accept payments and allows us to continue offering flexible funding options while maintaining transparent pricing.

• A 3% processing fee will be applied to all credit card transactions.
• The fee will be clearly displayed throughout the payment process before you complete your payment.
• The exact total charge will be shown prior to confirmation.

Want to Avoid the 3% Fee?

We encourage customers to use ACH (bank transfer) whenever possible to avoid the credit card processing fee.

Eligibility Criteria

Researchers may qualify for ACH pre-funding based on their affiliation type:

• Academic and Nonprofit researchers
  Automatically eligible — no minimum lifetime funding required.
• All other affiliation types (e.g., Corporations)
  Must have at least $500 in lifetime funding to qualify.

Pre-funding Limits

There is a cap on the amount a researcher can be prefunded. The maximum pre-fund amount is the lower of:

• $1,000, or
• The total amount the researcher has funded in the past 6 months

Failed Transactions & Clawbacks

• If a pre-funded transaction fails, the pre-funded amount will be clawed back.
• This may result in the researcher’s balance becoming negative.

Negative Balance Restriction

• Researchers with a negative balance are not eligible for ACH pre-funding.

Why This Change?

Processing fees for credit card payments have increased, and this update allows us to:

• Maintain flexible payment options
• Keep pricing transparent
• Avoid increasing overall platform or project costs

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this change take effect? 
May 18th, 2026.

Does this apply to all credit cards? 
Yes, the 3% fee applies to all credit card transactions.

Are ACH payments free? 
Yes. ACH payments have no additional processing fee.

How long does it take for the ACH funds to be added to my account? 
It will take 4 business days for the full amount to be added to your Connect account. The amount pre-funded is dependent on the conditions mentioned above. 

If I request a refund do I get back the 3% credit card fee? 
No. Refunds apply only to the amount added to the account balance; credit card processing fees (such as the 3%) are not refundable.

For any payment issues, please reach out to us at connect-support@cloudresearch.com.

Can I pay with an Invoice, Purchase Order, or mailed check?

If you would like to pay via check or PO (purchase order) or need a more detailed receipt/invoice, please reach out to our team at connect-support@cloudresearch.com and we’d be happy to help!

Can I Transfer Funds from my CloudResearch Lab Balance to Connect? 

Yes, funds can be transferred between accounts. Please reach out to us at connect-support@cloudresearch.com with your account email(s) and the amount you would like to move to Connect. 

How to Transfer Funds Between Connect Accounts

1. Click on the Transfer Funds option and then “Add Recipient”.

2. Input the amount you would like to transfer and the email of the account you would like to transfer these funds to. You can include a description of what the funds are for.

If you want to make multiple transfers simultaneously, select the “Add Recipient” button and input the details.

3. Hit “Transfer Funds” and you will receive a confirmation that the funds were transferred to the specified account(s).