> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.alternativepayments.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.alternativepayments.io/automations/using-auto-charge/auto-charge-vs.-auto-pay.md).

# Auto-Charge Vs. Auto-Pay

**Auto-Charge & Auto-Pay are important features that will help improve collections on Alternative Payments. Here's what differentiates these two features.**

***

While Auto-Charge and Auto-Pay do similar things, there are some differences that you should be aware of.

[**Auto-Charge** ](/automations/using-auto-charge.md)is an action you take to charge a customer invoice as long as payment information has been put into the system.

[**Auto-Pay**](/automations/setting-up-auto-pay.md) is a set of rules you define to charge invoices, to all your customers or to specific customers, as long as the invoice meets the criteria of the rule set. You can set rules based on the amount, the past due date, or the customer.

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