📋 Overview
This article explains how to downgrade your Search Atlas subscription, what happens to your account when you do, and how refunds work. Whether you want to move to a lower-tier plan or request money back, the steps below will help you resolve the request quickly.
⬇️ How to Downgrade Your Subscription
You can change your plan at any time from within your account. Downgrading takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle, so you keep access to your current features until then.
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Billing or Subscription.
- Locate your current plan and click Manage Plan or Change Plan.
- Select the lower-tier plan you want to move to.
- Review the new price and effective date, then confirm your choice.
You will receive a confirmation email once the change is scheduled. After downgrading, return to the Billing section and confirm that your new plan and price are actually shown, as a success message on its own does not always guarantee the change was applied.
⚠️ If You Cannot Downgrade
Some accounts cannot self-serve a downgrade. This usually happens when:
- Your current usage exceeds the limits of the lower plan (for example, too many projects, keywords, or users).
- You are on a custom or annual contract that is managed by our team.
- There is a pending payment or billing issue on the account.
If you see an error or the option is unavailable, reduce your active usage to fit the lower plan, then try again. If the issue continues, contact our support team and we will adjust the plan for you.
If you manage child accounts (for example on an agency or white-label plan), apply the downgrade from the Customer tab and confirm the new plan appears for both the customer list and the child account itself. If the previous plan still displays after a confirmation message, contact support so the change can be applied correctly.
🚫 How to Cancel Your Subscription
- Click your avatar in the top-right corner and go to Billing → Plans & Top-ups.
- Use Manage Subscription or Change Plan, or contact support to cancel.
- Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
Your account will remain active until the end of the current billing period. After that, it moves to a free or limited state, depending on your plan.
💰 How Refunds Work
Refund eligibility depends on the type of charge and how recently it was made.
✅ When You May Be Eligible
- Recent charges: If you were billed within the last few days and have not used the service, you can request a full refund.
- Billing errors: Duplicate charges, charges made after a confirmed cancellation, or being charged your previous (higher) plan rate after a confirmed downgrade are always refunded.
- Plan downgrades: When you move to a lower plan mid-cycle, the change typically applies at your next renewal rather than as an immediate refund. Any credit is applied to your account going forward.
❌ When a Refund May Not Apply
- Charges for billing periods you have already used.
- Subscriptions cancelled after the renewal date has passed.
- Custom or annual agreements with specific terms, unless those terms allow a refund.
📨 How to Request a Refund
- Contact our support team through the in-app chat or by emailing support.
- Include the email address on your account and the date of the charge.
- Briefly describe the reason for your request (for example, accidental upgrade, duplicate charge, or being charged the old rate after a downgrade).
Our team will review your request and confirm next steps, usually within one to two business days.
⏳ When to Expect Your Refund
Once a refund is approved, it is processed to your original payment method. Please allow 5 to 10 business days for the amount to appear on your statement. The exact timing depends on your bank or card provider. You will receive an email confirmation when the refund is issued.
💡 Tips to Avoid Unwanted Charges
- Downgrade or cancel before your renewal date to avoid being billed for the next cycle.
- Check your renewal date in the Billing section so you know when changes need to be made.
- Watch for confirmation emails after any plan change to be sure it was saved.
- After downgrading, verify the Billing section shows your new plan and price before the renewal date. If it still shows the previous plan, the change may not have applied, and you could be billed at the old rate, so contact support right away.
🤝 Still Need Help?
If you cannot downgrade, your refund has not arrived within the expected window, or you have questions about a custom plan, reach out to our support team. Include your account email and any charge details so we can resolve your request as quickly as possible.