You can move up or down between plans whenever your needs change, right from the Subscription page. Upgrades take effect straight away, so you get the extra capacity at once, while downgrades wait until the end of the period you have already paid for. This article shows you where to make a change, what each option means, and the few things that can hold a change up.
Before you start
Open the Subscription page from the billing area. It shows your current plan, your billing cycle (Monthly or Annual), how many domains you are using against your limit, and your payment method. To change the plan itself you need the Change subscription permission. If you do not have it, you will see a short note asking you to contact your tenant administrator, in place of the change button.
- Changing your own plan from this page is available on standard plans only. If your subscription is looked after by your Account Manager or covered by a contract, the page shows "Your plan is managed by your Account Manager rather than via this page", and you should get in touch with them to make a change.
- Custom plans cannot be changed here either: the page will point you to your Account Manager.
- You will need a payment method on file before any paid plan change can go through. You can add one from the Payment method card on the same page. Your card details are stored securely with Stripe, and the full card number never reaches DMARCER.
Choosing a new plan
Select Change subscription to open the plan wizard. Step one lets you pick a billing cycle (Monthly or Annual) and then a plan. Each plan card shows its domain limit, the features included, and the price in your billing currency. Your current plan is clearly marked (it carries a "Your tier" badge and its button reads "Current plan"), so you always know where you are moving from. Cards are labelled Upgrade or Downgrade so the effect is clear before you commit, and the wizard then shows a confirmation step with the full breakdown: any pro-rata credit, the new charge, and VAT where it applies.
Upgrading your plan
An upgrade is any move to a higher domain limit, or to a more expensive plan at the same limit. Upgrades apply straight away. From the moment you confirm, your new limits and features are live, and your renewal date is reset to that day.
- You receive a pro-rata credit for the unused part of your current period, worked out from your existing plan price.
- You are then charged the full price of the new plan for the new period, with the credit taken off it.
- Because payment is taken right away, the final step is Confirm and charge. This raises the invoice and takes payment from your card on file in the same step.
- If the card is declined, the change is undone for you automatically: your plan stays exactly as it was and the invoice is cancelled, so you are never left on the new plan with an unpaid bill. You can then add a different card and try again.
Downgrading your plan
A downgrade is any move to a lower domain limit, or to a cheaper plan at the same limit. Downgrades do not take effect straight away, and no payment is taken at the time. Instead the change is scheduled and applies at the end of your current period, so you keep your present plan and its features until the term you have paid for runs out.
- Once scheduled, the Subscription page shows a banner naming the new plan and the date it will take effect (the last day of your current period).
- If the smaller plan would not cover all your validated domains, those extra domains move into overage at the new plan's per-domain rate. The wizard shows you how many domains this affects and the monthly cost before you confirm, and a payment method is needed so any overage can be billed.
Switching between monthly and annual billing
You can change your billing cycle on its own using the Monthly and Annual toggle in the wizard, with or without changing plan. Annual billing comes at a discount to twelve months of the monthly price (shown as a "save" badge on the Annual option).
- Switching to Annual works like an upgrade: it applies straight away and the new annual amount is charged up front. As with any upgrade, there are no refunds for the part of the period you have already paid for.
- Switching from Annual back to Monthly works like a downgrade: it is scheduled for the end of the annual period you have already paid for, and takes effect then.
- On annual plans, the base price is taken up front. Any overage is still billed monthly, after the fact.
Common pitfalls
- An outstanding balance will block changes. If you have an unpaid or overdue invoice, neither upgrades nor downgrades are allowed until it is cleared. Use the Pay now or settle option on the Payment method card first, then come back to change your plan.
- No card on file. Any plan with a price above zero, or any change that would put you into overage, needs a payment method first. Add one from the Payment method card before you confirm.
- "I confirmed, but my new plan has not appeared." That is normal for a downgrade or a switch back to monthly billing: those are scheduled for your next renewal rather than applied straight away. Look for the scheduled-change banner on the Subscription page.
- Same price, different plan. Moving between two plans at the same limit and the same price is treated as a side move: it simply resets your renewal date, and is neither charged nor scheduled.
- No other plans shown. If the wizard has nothing to offer, you may already be on the only plan available for your account type, or your subscription is managed elsewhere. In that case, please speak to your Account Manager.