Plan Features & Limits

🔒 Resolving Stuck Plan Selection to Pause Projects

🚨 Understanding the Locked Account Issue When creating or upgrading an account, a plan selection screen may appear and hang on Please wait after choosing the Growth plan. This blocks access to project controls including pausing. ✅ Completing Plan Selection Refresh the page and try selecting a different plan first. If the hang persists, log out and log back in via the account menu in the top-right corner. Navigate to account settings to review your current plan status before retrying. ⏸️ Pausing Projects Once Unlocked After plan selection succeeds, open your project dashboard. Use the project menu to select the pause option. Confirm the action to stop activity immediately. 🛠️ Alternative Steps if Selection Fails Clear your browser cache and cookies then attempt plan selection again. Ensure you are using an updated browser version for best compatibility. 💬 Getting 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.

🔒 Fix Restricted Features on Active Starter Plan

🔍 What Is Happening? You may notice an 'Access restricted for trial users' message when trying to use features such as Local Citations or PR Distribution, even though your Billing page shows your Starter plan as active. This is a known mismatch that occurs when a payment is submitted but has not yet fully processed or been confirmed on our end. Until the payment clears and your account status updates, the platform continues to treat your account as a trial, blocking access to paid features. ⚙️ Why This Happens - Payment processing delay: Card payments, especially first-time charges, can take a short time to be verified by your bank or payment provider. - Account status not yet synced: Your billing page may reflect the plan upgrade before our system has finished confirming the payment and unlocking the corresponding features. - Incomplete checkout: If the payment window was closed before full confirmation, the transaction may be pending or failed even if the plan appears active. ✅ Steps to Resolve the Issue 1. Confirm your payment status. Go to your Billing page and check whether your most recent invoice shows as Paid. If it shows Pending or Failed, the payment has not completed. 2. Wait up to 15 minutes. If the payment status shows as Paid but features are still restricted, allow a short sync window. Refresh your browser after 10–15 minutes and try accessing the feature again. 3. Clear your browser cache and log back in. Sometimes a stale session causes the platform to display outdated access permissions. Log out, clear your cache, and log back in to force a fresh session. 4. Retry your payment if needed. If your invoice shows as Failed or unpaid, return to the Billing page, update your payment method if necessary, and complete the charge. 5. Try accessing the restricted feature again. Navigate to the feature — for example, Local Citations or PR Distribution — and confirm whether the restriction message has cleared. 🛠️ If the Problem Persists If your invoice clearly shows Paid, you have waited 15 minutes, and features are still restricted, this requires manual review by our team. Do not submit a second payment, as this may result in a duplicate charge. 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. When you reach out, please have the following ready to speed up the resolution: - A screenshot of your Billing page showing the plan and invoice status - The name of the specific feature(s) showing as restricted - The date and time you completed the payment 💡 Tips to Prevent This in Future - Always wait for an on-screen payment confirmation message before closing the checkout window. - Check your email for a receipt from Search Atlas — this confirms the charge was captured successfully. - If you upgrade near the end of a billing cycle, allow a few minutes for the plan change to propagate across all features.

💡 What's Included in the $99/Month Plan

🗺️ Overview The Search Atlas $99/month plan is designed to give growing businesses and freelancers access to a broad suite of SEO tools without requiring the purchase of large credit bundles upfront. This article explains exactly what is included, how usage works, and how link building is priced so you can plan your budget with confidence. ✅ What's Included in the $99/Month Plan Your monthly subscription gives you access to the following tools and features as part of the base plan: - Site Explorer (Site Explorer): Analyse backlink profiles, domain authority, organic traffic estimates, and more. Navigate via Left sidebar → Site Metrics (Site Explorer). - Keyword Magic: Generate keyword ideas and search volume data. Navigate via Left sidebar → Keywords → Keyword Magic. - Rank Tracker: Monitor your keyword rankings over time. Navigate via Left sidebar → Keywords → Rank Tracker. - Keyword Gap: Compare your keyword profile against competitors. Navigate via Left sidebar → Keywords → Keyword Gap. - Local SEO Tools: Manage Google Business Profile projects, posts, reviews, citations, and media. Navigate via Left sidebar → Local → GBP Projects and its sub-pages. - OTTO SEO: Access to the AI-powered on-page optimisation assistant (usage subject to your plan's monthly allocation). - Content tools, reporting dashboards, and project management features are also included within your subscription tier. Unlike some competing platforms, Search Atlas does not require you to purchase a large credit bundle just to use core research tools. Your subscription fee covers standard platform access and a defined monthly usage allocation. 📦 How Usage and Credits Work Some actions inside Search Atlas consume credits or data pulls from your monthly allocation. Here is how to think about it: - Included allocation: Your $99/month plan comes with a set number of monthly lookups and data pulls for tools like Site Explorer, Keyword Magic, and Rank Tracker. These reset each billing cycle. - No surprise bulk purchases required: You will not be forced to buy a large credit pack simply to run a keyword search or pull a backlink report, as is common on some other platforms. - OTTO SEO tasks and certain advanced automations may use task credits. Your plan includes a monthly task allowance; additional tasks can be purchased if needed. You can review your current usage and remaining allocation at any time inside your account settings. 🔗 How Link Building Is Priced This is the area that causes the most confusion, so here is a plain-language explanation: Link building services are separate from your monthly subscription. Your $99/month plan gives you access to the link building tools and marketplace inside Search Atlas, but the cost of actually acquiring backlinks is not bundled into the subscription fee. - Link prospecting and outreach tools are included — you can find link opportunities, analyse prospects, and manage campaigns within the platform. - Purchasing managed link placements (where Search Atlas sources and places a backlink on your behalf through the marketplace) is priced per link, and costs vary based on the domain authority, niche, and type of placement. - There is no mandatory minimum spend on link building. You can use the platform entirely for research and self-managed outreach without purchasing any placements. Think of it this way: your subscription is the toolset; link building placements are an optional, à-la-carte add-on. You only pay for the links you choose to buy. 📊 Quick Comparison: What Costs Extra vs. What's Included - Included in $99/month: Keyword research, rank tracking, site analysis, competitor gap analysis, local SEO management, content tools, OTTO SEO (within monthly task limit), reporting. - Optional add-ons (charged separately): Managed link placements purchased through the marketplace, additional OTTO SEO tasks beyond your monthly limit, and any agency-tier upgrades. 🛠️ Tips for Getting the Most from Your Plan 1. Start with Left sidebar → Site Metrics (Site Explorer) to audit your site and competitors before deciding whether link building spend makes sense. 2. Use Left sidebar → Keywords → Keyword Gap to identify quick-win keyword opportunities that may not require link investment. 3. Review your usage dashboard regularly so you never hit your allocation limit unexpectedly mid-month. 4. Before purchasing any link placements, use the built-in prospecting tools to evaluate domain quality and relevance to your niche. 💬 Need More 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.

🌐 Add More Projects and Sites to Search Atlas

🔍 Projects vs. Sites: What's the Difference? Before adding more capacity to your account, it helps to understand two key terms used in Search Atlas: - Sites — A site is any domain or URL you want to track and analyse. Sites are managed under Site Metrics (Site Explorer) in the left sidebar (navigate to Left sidebar → Site Metrics (Site Explorer)). Each site you add consumes one site slot from your plan's allowance. - Projects — A project is a workspace that groups local SEO and Google Business Profile (GBP) activity for a specific location or client. Projects are managed under Local in the left sidebar (navigate to Left sidebar → Local (lands on GBP Projects)). Each project you create consumes one project slot from your plan's allowance. In short: sites are for website-level SEO tracking, and projects are for local SEO management. They are separate resources with separate limits, so adding a new site does not use up a project slot, and vice versa. 📊 Check Your Current Usage and Limits Before purchasing additional capacity, check how many sites and projects you are currently using: 1. Navigate to Left sidebar → Site Metrics (Site Explorer) to see your list of tracked sites and the number of slots used. 2. Navigate to Left sidebar → Local (lands on GBP Projects) to see your active projects and usage. 3. Review your plan limits in your account billing or settings area to confirm how many slots remain. If you have available slots, you can add a new site or project right away at no extra cost. If all slots are used, you will need to upgrade your plan or purchase additional capacity. ➕ How to Add a New Site 1. Go to Left sidebar → Site Metrics (Site Explorer). 2. Click the Add Site button (usually displayed at the top-right of the site list). 3. Enter the domain or URL you want to track. 4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup. Once added, the site will appear in your Site Explorer list and you can begin using tools such as Rank Tracker, Keyword Magic, and Keyword Gap for that domain. ➕ How to Add a New Project 1. Go to Left sidebar → Local (lands on GBP Projects). 2. Click the Add Project or New Project button. 3. Enter the business name, location details, and connect your Google Business Profile if required. 4. Complete the setup steps and your new project will appear in your Local dashboard. From within the project you can access Overview, Posts, Reviews, Local Citations, Media Library, and My Tasks for that location. 🛒 How to Purchase Additional Capacity If you have used all available site or project slots on your current plan, you have two options: - Upgrade your plan — Move to a higher-tier plan that includes more site and project slots. Visit your account billing settings to compare plan options and upgrade. - Purchase add-ons — Some plans allow you to purchase extra site or project slots individually without changing your base plan. Check your billing settings to see if add-ons are available for your account. Changes to your plan or add-ons take effect immediately, so you can start adding new sites or projects right after completing your purchase. 💡 Tips and Common Questions - Can I reuse a slot? Yes. If you remove an existing site or project, that slot becomes available and you can use it for a new one. Keep in mind that removing a site or project will delete its associated data and history. - Do sites and projects share the same slots? No. Site slots and project slots are counted separately. Using up your site slots does not affect your project slots, and the other way around. - Can one domain have both a site and a project? Yes. You may want to track a domain under Site Explorer for keyword and ranking data while also managing its local presence under a Local project. These are independent of each other. 🆘 Need More 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.

💰 Search Atlas $99/mo Plan: What's Included

🎯 The Short Answer The Search Atlas $99/mo plan includes access to Search Atlas's core SEO tools. Some services — such as Wildfire link building — involve separate, optional credit-based purchases and are not covered under the base subscription price. ✅ What's Included in Your $99/mo Plan The $99/mo subscription gives you access to Search Atlas's main SEO toolset, which typically includes the core platform features such as keyword research, site auditing, content tools, and rank tracking. These tools are available as part of your base subscription without any additional per-use cost. If you are trying to confirm whether a specific tool or feature is included in your plan — for example, because you saw it referenced in a sales conversation, onboarding email, or inside the platform — check the following first: - Log in to your Search Atlas account and navigate to Avatar (top-right) → Billing → Plans & Top-ups to see a list of features active on your account. - Review any onboarding or welcome email you received at sign-up, which typically outlines the features included in your tier. - Compare your plan against the current pricing page on the Search Atlas website for an up-to-date feature breakdown by tier. 🔗 Credits and Optional Add-Ons Certain on-demand services within Search Atlas require credits or separate purchases beyond your base subscription. Credits are used for services that are billed per use rather than included at a flat rate. Key things to know: - Credits are separate from your subscription — purchasing the $99/mo plan does not automatically include a credit balance for add-on services. - Wildfire link building is one example of a credit-based service. It is an optional add-on with its own pricing, independent of your base plan cost. - Credit pricing can vary by account, promotion, or package. If you have received a specific quote, verify it against your account dashboard or with our team before purchasing. 🔥 Questions About Wildfire or Plan Features If you need to confirm the exact features active on your account, check your subscription settings inside the platform. For questions about current credit pricing for Wildfire or other add-ons specific to your account, have the following ready when you reach out: - The email address associated with your Search Atlas account - The specific tool, feature, or add-on you are asking about - Any quote or pricing you have already been given, so our team can confirm whether it is still current 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.

🔧 Troubleshooting Subscription Features Breaking Your Site

🧭 Overview If your site started experiencing issues after activating a Search Atlas subscription feature — such as tracking snippets, automation scripts, or plugin integrations — this guide will help you isolate and resolve the cause. In most cases, the issue is a configuration conflict, not the subscription itself, and can be fixed in minutes without cancelling your account. ⚠️ Before You Begin Identify what changed on your site around the time the issue started. Ask yourself: - Did the issue begin immediately after installing a Search Atlas snippet or plugin? - Did it start after a WordPress, CMS, or theme update? - Is the problem visible on every page, or only specific ones? - Are you seeing a blank screen, broken layout, redirect loop, or console errors? Your answers will point you to the most relevant section below. 🧩 Step 1 — Check for Script or Snippet Conflicts Search Atlas tracking or automation snippets can occasionally conflict with other scripts on your page. 1. Open your browser's developer tools (press F12 or right-click → Inspect) and go to the Console tab. 2. Reload the affected page and look for red error messages. Note any file names or script URLs mentioned. 3. If errors reference a Search Atlas script, temporarily remove the snippet from your site's <head> or tag manager. 4. Reload the page. If the issue disappears, the snippet placement or a conflicting third-party script is the cause. 5. Re-add the Search Atlas snippet as the last script in your <head> section to reduce load-order conflicts. 🌐 Step 2 — Rule Out DNS or Domain Configuration Issues Some subscription features require verified domain connections. Misconfigured DNS records can cause redirects or broken page loads. 1. Go to OTTO SEO → SEO Automation in the left sidebar (URL: /seo-automation-v3) and open your project settings. 2. Confirm your domain is verified and that no DNS warnings are shown on the dashboard. 3. If you recently changed hosting providers or updated nameservers, allow up to 48 hours for full propagation before troubleshooting further. 4. Use a free tool such as dnschecker.org to confirm your A records and CNAME records match what Search Atlas expects. 5. If DNS records appear incorrect, update them through your domain registrar and re-verify the domain inside the platform. 🔌 Step 3 — Test for Plugin or Theme Compatibility If your site runs on WordPress or another CMS, a plugin or theme update may have created a conflict. 1. Temporarily switch to a default theme (such as Twenty Twenty-Four in WordPress). If the site recovers, your active theme is conflicting with the Search Atlas integration. 2. Deactivate all plugins except the Search Atlas plugin. Reload the affected page. 3. If the site recovers, reactivate plugins one by one, reloading after each, until the conflict reappears. That plugin is the source. 4. Check that the Search Atlas plugin is on its latest version. Go to your CMS plugin manager and update if a newer version is available. 5. If a specific plugin conflict is confirmed, contact its developer or reach out to Search Atlas support (see below) for a compatibility fix. ⚡ Step 4 — Check Automation Script Placement Incorrectly placed automation scripts are a common cause of layout breaks or JavaScript errors. 1. Search Atlas snippets should be placed inside the <head> tag, not inside <body> or injected via footer scripts unless explicitly instructed otherwise. 2. If you are using Google Tag Manager, confirm the tag is firing on All Pages and that no blocking triggers are preventing it from loading. 3. Avoid placing multiple copies of the same snippet on a single page. Duplicate snippet injections can cause infinite loops or duplicate tracking events that stress page rendering. 4. After correcting placement, clear your site cache and CDN cache entirely before testing again. 🗂️ Step 5 — Isolate with a Staging Environment If you cannot identify the conflict on a live site, use a staging or test environment to diagnose safely. 1. Clone your live site to a staging URL using your hosting panel or a migration plugin. 2. Remove the Search Atlas snippet or plugin from staging and confirm the site loads normally. 3. Re-add each Search Atlas component one at a time, testing after each addition, until the issue reappears. 4. Document exactly which component triggers the issue. This information will help our technical team resolve it faster. ✅ Quick Checklist Before Escalating - Browser console checked for script errors - Search Atlas snippet temporarily removed and site tested - Snippet placement confirmed inside <head> - DNS records verified and domain confirmed in the platform - Plugins and theme tested for conflicts - Site and CDN cache fully cleared after each change - No duplicate snippets present on the page 🙋 Still Experiencing Issues? If you have worked through all the steps above and your site is still affected, our Tier 2 technical support team can perform a deeper investigation, including reviewing your snippet configuration, domain verification status, and integration setup. 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. When you reach out, please share the following to speed up resolution: your site URL, a description of the exact issue you see, any browser console errors you noted, and which troubleshooting steps you have already completed. This allows our team to skip straight to advanced diagnostics and resolve your issue as quickly as possible.

🔍 Is Brand Monitor Included in My Plan?

Brand Monitor is included on every Search Atlas plan. It is not a paid add-on and there is no separate charge to unlock it. ✅ What's Included Brand Monitor tracks mentions of your brand across the web and gives you visibility into how your brand is being discussed, without requiring an upgrade or top-up. 📍 Where to Find It Brand Monitor is available directly from your dashboard navigation, under your existing plan — no purchase or plan change is required to access it. 💬 Still Have Questions? 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.

📢 Smart Ads Feature Availability by Plan

📋 Overview Smart Ads is Search Atlas's Google and Meta ads automation suite. It lets you create campaigns, audit performance, manage negative keywords, and generate reports — all from one place. This article explains which plans include Smart Ads and what you can do once you have access. ✅ Is Smart Ads Included in the Starter Plan? No — Smart Ads is not included in the Starter plan. Smart Ads is available on higher-tier plans only. If you are on the Starter plan and need Smart Ads, you will need to upgrade your subscription to access this feature. 🔼 How to Upgrade Your Plan To gain access to Smart Ads, you will need to upgrade to a plan that includes it. To do this, navigate to your account's billing or subscription settings within the platform and follow the on-screen prompts to select a higher-tier plan. Once your upgrade is confirmed, Smart Ads will become available in your account. If you are unsure which plan includes Smart Ads or need guidance on which upgrade option is right for you, our team can help you identify the correct plan before you make any changes. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions - I upgraded but I still can't see Smart Ads. Try refreshing your browser. If Smart Ads still does not appear, log out and log back in to force your session to sync with your new plan permissions. If the issue persists, contact our support team. - Can I try Smart Ads before upgrading? Free trials of individual features are not available at this time. Upgrading your plan is required to unlock Smart Ads. 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.

💡 Custom Plan Pricing and À La Carte Features

🎯 What Is a Custom Plan? Search Atlas offers custom plans for customers who want to pay only for the tools they actively use — without being locked into a standard tier that bundles features you don't need. Instead of choosing a fixed package, you can work with our team to build a plan around specific features such as Heatmaps, Google Business Profile (GBP) Management, Local SEO tools, or any other subset of the platform. 🛠️ How to Request a Custom Plan Custom plans are not self-serve at this time. To get a plan tailored to your needs, follow these steps: 1. Open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform. 2. Type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team. 3. Let the teammate know which specific features you want to include (for example, Heatmaps and GBP Management only). 4. Our team will prepare a custom quote based on your selected features and usage volume. 5. Once agreed, your custom plan and pricing will be applied to your account. 📦 Examples of À La Carte Feature Combinations Customers commonly request custom plans that include combinations such as: - Heatmaps + GBP Management — ideal for local businesses focused on map pack visibility and user behaviour tracking. - Local SEO + Rank Tracking — for agencies managing multi-location clients without needing full content or technical SEO tooling. - Content tools only — for teams focused on article creation and optimisation without local or technical features. Any combination is possible. You only pay for what you include in your custom plan. 💰 How Custom Plan Pricing Works Custom plan pricing is calculated based on the specific features selected and the quantity or usage limits associated with each. For example, the number of GBP locations managed or the number of Heatmap scans per month will affect your final price. Your quote will clearly outline each line item so you know exactly what you are paying for. If you are on an Enterprise plan, you may also have access to customisable top-up ranges, which allow you to add extra capacity for specific tools on a flexible basis without upgrading your entire plan. ⚠️ Important Notes on Custom Plan Display If you have an existing custom or negotiated deal plan, you may occasionally notice discrepancies in how pricing or feature quantities are displayed on the Plans & Top-ups page inside the platform. This is a known display issue that does not affect your actual billing or the features available on your account. Your agreed pricing remains in effect. If you are unsure whether what you see reflects your actual plan, contact our team for confirmation. ✏️ Modifying an Existing Custom Plan If your business needs change and you want to add or remove features from your current custom plan, you can request a plan modification at any time: 1. Open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform. 2. Type human teammate to reach our team. 3. Describe the changes you need, such as adding a new feature or increasing your usage limits. 4. Our team will update your plan and provide a revised quote if applicable. 💬 Need 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.

📉 Downgrading Your Plan: What Happens to Projects

🔍 What This Article Covers If you are considering downgrading to a lower-tier plan and you currently have more projects than your new plan supports, this article explains exactly what happens to those projects — and what you will and will not lose. 📋 Understanding Project Types and Plan Limits Search Atlas has two distinct project categories: - OTTO SEO Projects: Projects connected to OTTO SEO for AI-driven automation, on-page fixes, and active optimisation tasks. - Regular Projects: Standard projects that support keyword tracking, rank tracking, site audits, and reporting — without OTTO automation. Every plan includes a limit on the number of OTTO SEO (OTTO-connected) projects you can have active at one time. The Pro plan at $399 supports up to 4 OTTO SEO projects and up to 4 OTTO-connected sites. ✅ What Happens to Your 10 Existing Projects After Downgrading If you are currently on a higher plan with 10 sites and you downgrade to the Pro plan, here is the practical outcome: - You can keep all 10 projects in your account. Downgrading does not delete or archive your existing projects. - Up to 4 of those projects can remain connected to OTTO as active OTTO SEO projects. - The remaining 6 projects will continue to function as regular projects. As regular projects, those 6 sites retain full access to: - Keyword tracking — your tracked keywords continue to update and display ranking data. - Rank tracking and ranking reports — historical and ongoing rank data is preserved and accessible. - Site audits — you can still run and schedule site audits at any time. - Reporting — all reporting features remain available for non-OTTO projects. The only functionality those 6 sites lose is OTTO SEO automation — meaning AI-generated fixes, automated on-page optimisation tasks, and active OTTO management will not apply to those sites. ⚙️ How to Manage Your Projects After Downgrading 1. Go to OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation) in the left sidebar or navigate to /seo-automation-v3. 2. Review your current OTTO SEO projects and identify which 4 sites you want to keep connected to OTTO. 3. For the remaining sites, disconnect them from OTTO. They will automatically revert to regular projects and retain all tracking, audit, and reporting data. 4. Confirm your selections before completing the downgrade to avoid any unintended disconnections. ⚠️ Important Things to Know Before You Downgrade - No data is lost when a site moves from an OTTO SEO project to a regular project. All historical ranking data, audit history, and keyword lists are preserved. - OTTO progress is paused, not erased. If you upgrade again in the future, you can reconnect those sites to OTTO and resume automation. - You cannot exceed the plan limit for OTTO SEO projects. If you have 4 active OTTO connections and try to add a fifth, you will be prompted to upgrade or disconnect an existing one. - Regular projects do not count against your OTTO SEO project limit — only OTTO-connected projects do. 💡 Choosing Which 4 Sites to Keep on OTTO When deciding which sites should remain as OTTO SEO projects under the Pro plan, consider prioritising: - Sites with the most active optimisation work in progress. - Sites in competitive niches where OTTO automation delivers the most value. - Sites with upcoming campaigns or seasonal content pushes. All other sites will continue to be monitored and tracked automatically — you simply manage any on-page changes manually rather than through OTTO. 💬 Need 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.