🔍 Overview
Search Atlas offers a free trial so you can explore the platform before committing to a paid plan. However, certain actions taken during the trial — such as upgrading your plan — can trigger an immediate charge. This article explains how trial billing works, when charges occur, and what to do if you believe you were charged in error.
💡 How Free Trial Billing Works
When you sign up for a free trial, your account is active for the duration of the trial period at no cost. Keep the following in mind:
- No charge at sign-up: Starting a free trial does not require a payment, but a valid payment method may be saved to your account.
- In-dashboard upgrades don't charge immediately: If you upgrade or switch plans from Billing → Plans during your free trial, the new plan's features apply right away, your trial keeps its original end date, and billing starts when the trial ends. Paying through a payment link during the trial, however, charges immediately and ends the trial.
- Trial expiry charge: If you do not cancel before your trial ends, your saved payment method will be billed automatically at the start of the next billing cycle.
📅 When to Cancel to Avoid Being Charged
To avoid any charge, you must cancel your account before your free trial period expires. We recommend cancelling with enough time before your trial end date to ensure the cancellation is fully processed.
To cancel, locate the subscription or billing settings within the platform. You will receive a confirmation once your cancellation is processed.
💳 I Was Charged During My Trial — What Happened?
If you see an unexpected charge on your statement during the trial, the most common reason is that a payment link was used to pay for a plan, which charges immediately and ends the trial. Upgrading or switching plans from the dashboard (Billing → Plans) does not trigger an immediate charge.
Other reasons a charge may appear include:
- Your free trial period expired before you cancelled.
- A plan change was made on your account without your intention.
🔄 How to Request a Refund
If you were charged unexpectedly and believe the charge was made in error, you may be eligible for a refund. To request one, please have the following ready:
- Your account email address
- The date of the charge
- A brief description of what happened
Our team will review your case and respond with next steps.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.