--- title: "Upgrade, downgrade, and plan changes" description: "Learn how to change your Interlinked AI subscription plan — understand when upgrades take effect immediately, when downgrades apply at term end, billing-term restrictions, and how proration works." section: "Billing and usage" url: https://interlinked-ai.com/en/resources/docs/upgrade-downgrade-and-plan-changes lang: en lastUpdated: 2026-04-21 --- # Upgrade, downgrade, and plan changes ## Overview Changing your Interlinked AI subscription plan is straightforward, but not all changes behave the same way. Understanding the rules for upgrades, downgrades, and billing-term compatibility helps you make informed decisions and set correct expectations about when changes take effect and how your billing is adjusted. This article covers the specific mechanics of each type of plan change. ## How to change your plan To change your subscription plan: 1. Navigate to **Settings** → **Billing** at `https://panel.interlinked-ai.com/en/settings?tab=billing` 2. Click **Upgrade your plan** 3. Select the new plan and billing duration you want 4. Apply a promotional code if applicable 5. Confirm the change The plan selection modal shows the available options and lets you review the price before confirming.

Screenshot: Upgrade your plan modal showing plan options with pricing and billing duration selection

## Upgrade behavior When you move to a **higher** plan (for example, from Starter to Pro, or from Pro to Ultra): - **The change takes effect immediately.** You do not wait until the end of your current billing term. - Your included message allowance updates to the new plan's higher limit right away. - Billing is adjusted accordingly — see "[How proration works](#how-proration-works)" below. ### Why upgrades are immediate Immediate upgrades ensure that you get access to the higher message allowance and any additional features as soon as you need them. If your business is growing and your current plan's message limit is no longer sufficient, waiting until the end of a billing term would mean operating with overage charges in the interim. ### Example You are on the **Starter plan** (5,000 messages, monthly billing) and you have used 3,200 messages with 12 days remaining in the current period. You decide to upgrade to **Pro** (10,000 messages). - The upgrade takes effect **today** - Your included message allowance increases to **10,000 messages** - The billing system calculates proration based on the unused portion of your Starter subscription (see below) - You are charged the difference between what you already paid and what the Pro plan costs for the remainder of this period ## Downgrade behavior When you move to a **lower** plan (for example, from Ultra to Pro, or from Pro to Starter): - **The downgrade does not take effect immediately.** - Your current plan remains active until the end of the current billing term. - The lower plan begins only after the current term has fully elapsed. ### Why downgrades are deferred Deferred downgrades protect you from losing access to features and message allowances you have already paid for. Since you paid for your current plan through the end of the billing term, you continue to receive the full benefits of that plan until the term concludes. ### Example You are on the **Pro plan** with a 6-month billing term. Three months in, you decide to downgrade to **Starter**. - Pro remains active for the remaining **3 months** of your 6-month term - Your included message allowance stays at **10,000 messages** per month during this period - When the 6-month term ends, your plan switches to **Starter** - From that point forward, your included allowance becomes **5,000 messages** per month - Billing adjusts to the Starter plan rate at the new term

Note

If you downgrade and then change your mind, you can upgrade again at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately, regardless of any pending downgrade.

## Billing-term compatibility restrictions Not every combination of plan and billing duration can be changed directly. Some plan changes are restricted by billing-term compatibility. For example: - A user on **Starter for 6 months** may not be able to switch directly to **Ultra for 1 month** - A user on a **12-month term** may have restrictions on which shorter-term options are available as a direct switch These restrictions exist to maintain billing consistency and prevent conflicts between prepaid terms and new billing cycles.

Important

If you encounter a restriction when trying to change plans, it means the specific combination of plan and billing term is not available as a direct switch from your current subscription. In such cases, you may need to wait until your current term ends, or contact support for assistance with complex plan changes.

### What to do if a plan change is restricted If you want to make a plan change that is not available directly: 1. **Check your current billing term** — Your current term length may be limiting the available options. 2. **Consider upgrading first** — Upgrades have fewer restrictions than downgrades because they take effect immediately. 3. **Wait for term renewal** — At the end of your current billing term, all plan and duration combinations become available again. 4. **Use the Stripe portal** — Some complex changes can be handled through the Stripe customer portal. Access it from **Settings** → **Billing** → **Manage subscription**. 5. **Contact support** — For plan changes that require manual handling, reach out to Interlinked AI support. ## How proration works When you make a **supported plan change**, the platform takes your prior payment into account. This process is called **proration**. Proration means: - The amount of money you have already paid is not ignored - The amount of time you have already used in the current billing period is calculated - The remaining monetary value from your current plan is applied toward the cost of the new plan ### Practical explanation Think of it like this. If you paid $100 for a monthly plan and you upgrade after 15 days (halfway through the period), you have "used" approximately $50 worth of your current plan. The remaining $50 of unused value is credited toward the cost of the new plan for the rest of the period. This ensures that plan changes are financially fair — you do not pay twice for the same period, and you are not penalized for making a mid-term change when you need more capacity.

Tip

Proration calculations are handled automatically by the billing system. You will see the adjusted amount on your next invoice. If you want to understand the exact calculation for your change, review the invoice details in the Payment methods and invoices section.

### When proration does not apply - **Downgrades** — Since downgrades take effect at the end of the current term, there is no mid-term adjustment. You continue using (and paying for) the current plan until the term ends. - **Restricted changes** — If a direct plan change is not available, proration does not come into play because the change cannot be processed. ## Summary of plan change rules | Scenario | When it takes effect | Proration | Restrictions | |----------|---------------------|-----------|--------------| | **Upgrade** (lower → higher plan) | Immediately | Yes — prior payment is credited | Minimal restrictions | | **Downgrade** (higher → lower plan) | End of current billing term | No — current plan runs to completion | Some billing-term restrictions | | **Same-tier change** (different duration) | Depends on direction | May apply | Billing-term compatibility rules | ## What to do next - **Review your billing status** — Check your current plan, term, and renewal date. See [Billing and subscription management](/en/resources/docs/billing-and-subscription-management). - **Compare plan options** — Evaluate plans side by side before making a change. See [Plans and pricing](/en/resources/docs/plans-and-pricing). - **Check your invoices after a change** — See the proration details on your next invoice. See [Payment methods and invoices](/en/resources/docs/payment-methods-and-invoices).