🔍 Overview
Billing surprises can happen when plan upgrades, addons, or pricing tiers are not clearly understood before checkout. This article explains how Search Atlas billing works, what to do if you were charged more than expected, how addon refunds are handled, and how to downgrade back to a previous plan.
💡 How Search Atlas Billing Works
Your total monthly charge is made up of two parts:
- Base subscription plan: The core plan you selected (for example, $99/month).
- Addons: Optional features or usage upgrades added on top of your base plan. These are charged separately and increase your total bill.
For example, if your base plan is $99/month and you add an addon priced at $251/month, your total charge becomes $350/month — not $250. Addons are always in addition to, not a replacement for, your base plan cost.
Before confirming any upgrade or addon, always review the order summary screen which displays your new total charge, not just the addon price.
📊 Why Your Charge May Be Higher Than Expected
The most common reason customers see a higher-than-expected charge is confusing the addon price with the new total. Here is a quick breakdown of what to check:
- Addon price vs. total price: An addon listed at $250 does not mean your plan costs $250 total. It means $250 is added to your existing plan cost.
- Prorated charges: If you upgraded mid-billing cycle, you may have been charged a prorated amount for the remainder of that cycle in addition to your next full cycle.
- Multiple addons: If more than one addon is active, each one contributes to the total charge.
You can review all active addons and your current total subscription cost at any time by clicking your Avatar (top-right) → Billing inside the platform.
🛠️ How to Request an Addon Refund
Search Atlas reviews refund requests on a case-by-case basis. Refunds are most commonly approved when:
- The addon was purchased recently and the request is submitted promptly.
- The addon has not been actively used or its features have not been accessed.
- The charge resulted from a genuine misunderstanding of the pricing structure.
To submit a refund request, follow these steps:
- Open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform.
- Type human teammate to be connected with a member of our support team.
- Provide your account email, the addon name, the amount charged, and the reason for your refund request.
- Our team will review your request and respond as quickly as possible, usually within one business day.
Please note that refunds are not guaranteed and are subject to our billing policy. The sooner you submit your request after the charge, the better.
⬇️ How to Downgrade to a Previous Plan
If you would like to return to your original plan (for example, going back to the $99/month plan), you can request a downgrade at any time. Here is what to expect:
- When the downgrade takes effect: Plan downgrades typically take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, not immediately.
- Feature access: Once downgraded, you will lose access to any features or limits included in the higher-tier plan or addon.
- No partial refund for current cycle: In most cases, you will retain access to the current plan until the cycle ends and will not receive a prorated refund for unused days unless a refund was separately approved.
To request a plan downgrade:
- Go to Avatar (top-right) → Billing and review your current plan details.
- If a self-serve downgrade option is available, follow the on-screen prompts to select your desired plan.
- If no self-serve option is shown, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform, type human teammate, and ask our team to process the downgrade for you.
✅ Tips to Avoid Unexpected Charges in the Future
- Always check the total due today field on the checkout or upgrade screen before confirming.
- Review your active addons regularly under Avatar (top-right) → Billing.
- If you are unsure what a plan or addon includes, ask our support team before purchasing.
- Set a calendar reminder before your next billing date to review your subscription.
🤝 Need Further Help?
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.