Frequently Asked Questions
How do I earn credits?
Click "Start Surfing" and the surfbar runs continuously — each site owner picks their own viewing time, in 15-second steps, and once the timer finishes you're credited automatically and the next site loads, no clicking required at any point. The reward is shown on the toolbar for each site and varies: site owners bid credits per 15 seconds (at least 1 credit), and the site owner is charged that rate times how many 15-second steps their viewing time runs. You receive 80% of that amount — Cortaly keeps the difference as its platform fee.
How do I get visitors to my own site?
Add your site from My Sites → Add Site and set your viewing time and your bid — credits per 15 seconds. Once approved, it enters the surfbar rotation: among sites competing for the same viewer, the highest bid per 15 seconds wins and is shown — not a random draw — and the full per-visit amount (bid × viewing time in 15-second steps) is debited directly from your personal balance on every visit. The surfer receives 80% of that amount; Cortaly keeps the rest as its platform fee. Sites don't hold a separate funded balance of their own — a site simply stops showing whenever your personal balance can't cover a visit, and starts again automatically the moment it can.
Why was my surf attempt rejected?
Confirmations are rejected if the timer completes too quickly, the browser tab isn't actually active while viewing, or an ad blocker is detected (see below). If this keeps happening and you believe it's a mistake, contact an admin — repeated rejections may also flag your account for manual review.
Why do I need to disable my ad blocker?
Cortaly checks for an active ad blocker before surfing starts and again at random points during each view — surfing can't be confirmed while one's detected, since site owners are paying for a genuine view. Disable it for this site (or pause it) and use the "check again" button that appears.
Can I use a bot or script to surf automatically?
No — this violates our Terms of Service and is exactly what our verification system is designed to catch. Accounts found doing this may be banned and have credits reversed.
Can I buy credits?
Yes — buy credits securely via Stripe if you'd rather not wait to earn them by surfing. New accounts often get a first-purchase bonus, and we occasionally run time-limited bonus promotions — both are shown automatically on the purchase page when active, no code needed.
Why wasn't my site approved instantly?
New sites go through a quick admin review before entering rotation, to keep the surf experience safe and on-topic for everyone.
What does "Boost" do?
Boosting spends credits from your personal balance to put a site or banner at the very top of the rotation for a set number of hours, guaranteed — regardless of what anyone else is bidding. It stacks with (doesn't replace) normal bidding. Find it on My Sites or My Banners.
What's my personal surf link, and how is it different from surfing myself?
Every member has a shareable link (see Referrals) that lets anyone view sites through it with no account needed — every genuine visit credits you, not the visitor. It's a good way to earn credits by sharing outside Cortaly itself, e.g. on social media. The same page also has your account-registration referral link, for bringing in new members directly.