Changing plans: how the credit for unused time works
Quick answer: When you change plans, you get credit for the unused time on your current plan. You pay the difference today, and the full new price applies from your next renewal. Before you pay, the upgrade screen shows the Credit for unused time on your current plan, the amount Due today and what you’ll pay after that.
Where do I see the credit?
- Open the account menu (top right) and choose Billing. It opens on Subscriptions.
- Click Change Plan and pick your new plan and billing cycle (monthly or yearly).
- Check the summary before you pay.
The summary shows:
- Plan price — the normal price of the new plan.
- Credit for unused time on your current plan — what’s left of what you’ve already paid, taken off today’s charge.
- Due today — the one-off amount you’ll be charged now.
- A line such as “Then $2,870.40 per year from 30 Jul 2027” — the full price and the date it starts.
The pay button shows the amount due today, for example Pay $1,439.97 & Upgrade. Apple Pay and Google Pay charge the same amount.
Does my renewal date change?
- Same billing cycle (for example, yearly to yearly): your renewal date stays the same. You pay the prorated difference today and the new full price from that date.
- Switching between monthly and yearly: the new cycle starts today, so your renewal date moves to one month or one year from now. Any credit for unused time still comes off today’s charge.
Example
You’re on yearly Pro Lite with about ten months left and upgrade to yearly Pro Standard. You won’t pay the full yearly price again today. The unused Pro Lite time is credited, so Due today is only the difference for the rest of your current year. The full Pro Standard price is charged on your usual renewal date.
What if I don’t see an amount?
- “Calculating your credit for unused time…” — wait a moment. The amount is worked out fresh each time.
- “We couldn’t work out the amount due right now…” — payment is paused so you’re never charged the wrong amount. Click Try again.
- “You’re already on this plan and billing cycle.” — choose a different plan or cycle.
- If the plan can’t be changed automatically, you’ll be asked to contact support@theopenpantry.com. We’ll sort it out so you’re never billed twice.
Tip: The credit is worked out when you open the summary. If you leave the screen open for a while, the amount charged can differ by a few cents.