🔍 Overview
When you upgrade your Search Atlas plan and receive a promotional trial (such as a 30-day Growth trial), your billing date is calculated based on when each trial period begins and ends. This can sometimes result in a billing date that looks earlier or later than expected. This article explains exactly how trial stacking works and how to confirm your correct ongoing billing date.
📋 What Is Trial Stacking?
Trial stacking occurs when a promotional trial is added to your account at or around the time of a plan upgrade. Instead of billing you immediately for the new plan, Search Atlas defers the charge until the promotional trial period ends. The key points to understand are:
- Your trial starts on the date your upgrade is processed, not on your original monthly renewal date.
- Your first charge falls on the day after your trial ends, which becomes your new ongoing billing date.
- Your previous billing date is replaced by this new date going forward.
📅 Example: How the New Billing Date Is Calculated
Here is a common scenario that explains how a billing date shift occurs after a promotional trial:
- The customer is on an existing plan with a billing date part-way through the month.
- The customer upgrades and receives a promotional trial (for example, 30 days) starting on the date the upgrade is processed.
- Because the upgrade triggers the trial immediately, the trial period runs for its full length from the upgrade date.
- On the day the trial ends, the first charge for the new plan is processed.
- That charge date becomes the new monthly billing date going forward.
This means the billing date can shift from its original position — not because of an error, but because the trial start date determines when the first charge occurs.
⚙️ How Your New Billing Date Is Set
Your ongoing billing date is always anchored to the day your promotional trial ended and your first successful charge was processed. To calculate it:
- Find the date your promotional trial was activated on your account.
- Add the length of the trial (for example, 30 days).
- The resulting date is your first charge date and your new recurring billing date.
🧾 Where to Check Your Billing Date
You can confirm your current billing date and next scheduled charge by logging in to your Search Atlas account and reviewing your billing or subscription information. If you are unsure where to locate this, our support team can confirm the exact date on your account.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my billing date change after my upgrade? Your billing date changed because your promotional trial started on the day your upgrade was processed. The trial ran for its full length, and the day it ended became your new recurring billing date.
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.