🔍 Overview
If you were recently charged for a plan renewal and decided to downgrade shortly after, you may be wondering whether a partial refund is possible, which lower-tier plan still gives you access to reporting and heatmaps, and how to make the change correctly. This article answers all three questions clearly.
💳 Refund Policy: What You Need to Know
Search Atlas charges subscriptions at the start of each billing cycle. Our standard policy is that subscription charges are non-refundable once a billing cycle has begun. This applies to both new charges and automatic renewals.
However, we understand that timing can be tricky — especially when a renewal processes before you have the chance to act. Here is what to keep in mind:
- Partial refunds (e.g. a $400 refund on a $500 charge) are not guaranteed under our standard policy.
- Refund requests are reviewed case by case by our billing team, particularly when a downgrade request is made within a very short window after renewal.
- The sooner you contact support after the charge, the better your chances of a favourable review.
- Downgrades alone do not automatically trigger a refund for the current billing period.
If you believe your situation warrants a refund review, contact our team as soon as possible using the chat widget described at the end of this article.
⬇️ How to Downgrade Your Plan
You can initiate a plan change directly from your account settings. Follow these steps:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Click your avatar (profile icon/account name) in the top-right corner to open the Account Menu.
- Select Billing.
- Open the Plans & Top-ups tab and select Change Plan, then choose the lower-tier plan you want.
- Confirm the change. Your new plan will take effect at the start of your next billing cycle unless the support team applies an immediate change.
If you need a plan change applied immediately — for example, to limit further charges — use the live chat widget to request urgent assistance from a human teammate.
📊 Reporting and Heatmaps Without OTTO AI: Which Plan Do You Need?
OTTO AI is Search Atlas's automated SEO implementation engine. It is a premium add-on and is not required to access reporting or heatmap features. You can use these tools on lower-cost plans.
Here is a general guide to what is available without OTTO AI:
- Reports: Available on most base plans. Access the report builder by going to Reports in the left sidebar (URL: /report-builder/projects-list). You can create, customise, and schedule reports for clients without needing an active OTTO AI subscription.
- Heatmaps: Heatmap access is included in select plans. When comparing plans during a downgrade, look for heatmap inclusion listed in the plan feature breakdown on the billing page.
- OTTO AI features (automated SEO fixes, AI-driven on-page implementation) are only available on plans that include OTTO or as a paid add-on. Removing OTTO from your plan will not affect your ability to view data, run reports, or use heatmaps if those features are included in your chosen base plan.
If you are unsure which specific plan tier includes the reporting and heatmap features you need without OTTO AI, our team can walk you through the current plan comparison during a live chat session.
🛠️ Step-by-Step: Accessing Reports on Your Current Plan
- Log in to Search Atlas.
- In the left sidebar, click Reports.
- You will land on the Projects List page (/report-builder/projects-list).
- Select an existing project or create a new one to start building a report.
- Customise sections, add your branding, and schedule automated delivery as needed.
If the Reports option is not visible in your sidebar, your current plan may not include it. A plan upgrade or adjustment may be required — contact our team via chat for guidance.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Will I lose my data if I downgrade? Your historical data is generally preserved. However, access to certain data points or features may be restricted depending on the plan you move to.
- Can I remove OTTO AI without downgrading my full plan? In some cases, OTTO AI can be removed as an add-on separately from your base plan. Removing an add-on stops its future charges immediately, but its quota stays available until the end of the current billing period. Ask a human teammate to confirm what is available for your account.
- When does my downgrade take effect? By default, plan changes take effect at the next renewal date. Immediate changes must be requested through live chat.
- I was charged today — is it too late to request a refund review? No. Submit your request as soon as possible. The billing team reviews requests in order of submission, and same-day requests are taken into account.
💬 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.