.. _how-subscriptions-work: How Subscriptions Work ========================= This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how subscriptions work in Orchestra, ensuring you make the most of our platform while managing your subscription effectively. Whether you are starting a free trial, considering plan changes, or navigating through billing cycles, this guide will walk you through each step, offering detailed explanations and insights. Understanding the subscription process is crucial for a seamless experience, and we are here to ensure you have all the information you need. Read on to explore the intricacies of our subscription plans, billing cycles, and additional features. Should you have any questions or need assistance along the way, our support team at CTHINGS.CO is here to help. Let's embark on a journey to orchestrate your experience with Orchestra efficiently and effortlessly. .. table:: +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ | Action | Trial Period | Paid Subscription | +==================+=================================================+=========================================================+ | Get Subscription | Trial starts immediately | N/A | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ | Cancel | Access ends immediately | Access ends at the end of the current billing cycle | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ | Change Plan | New plan takes effect when trial ends | New plan takes effect in the next billing cycle | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ | Trial Ends | Paid subscription begins (prorated first month) | N/A | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ | Add Devices | Not billed during trial | Billed for the maximum number during the billing cycle | +------------------+-------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ Trial ----- For the first 14 days, it's a free trial, and the paid subscription starts on the 15th day. When a user signs up and selects the Orchestra subscription, they can begin using Orchestra immediately. During the initial 14 days, they are on a free trial. On the 15th day, their paid subscription starts. For instance, if a user signs up on 13.03.2023, they have the option to use Orchestra or cancel anytime before the 15th day. If they do not cancel, their paid subscription will start on 27.03.2023. .. image:: images/trial-subscription-2025-02.png :alt: Cancel your subscription :width: 40% :align: center Canceling the Free Trial ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you cancel during the free trial, you lose access immediately. .. image:: images/cancel-subscription-04-03-2024.png :alt: Cancel your subscription :width: 60% :align: center Changing Subscription During the Trial ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If a user decides to change their subscription plan (e.g., upgrade or downgrade) during the trial period, the requested change is noted. However, the actual change in subscription (upgrading or downgrading) doesn't take effect immediately. It is scheduled to happen after the trial period ends. Users can change their plan at any time during the trial, and the new plan will take effect at the end of the trial period when the paid subscription begins. Beginning New Subscription -------------------------- A new subscription is prorated in the first month, meaning you are only charged for the portion of the month that you actually used the service, to synchronize the billing cycle with the calendar month. For example, if a user's paid subscription starts on 27.03.2023, they will receive an invoice on 31.03.2023 with a prorated charge for 5 days: (5/31) * [device_charge]. .. image:: images/orc-subscription-2025-02.png :alt: Cancel your subscription :width: 40% :align: center Billing Cycle Start and End --------------------------- The billing cycle begins on the 1st day of each month and concludes on the last day of the calendar month. For example, the first full cycle starts on 01.04.2023 and concludes on 30.04.2023. For all tenants, the start date and end date of the billing cycle are the same. Invoicing and Billing Cycle --------------------------- The billing cycle is 1 calendar month. Each month has a varying number of days. Invoices are generated and issued on the first day of the month following the billing cycle (the date of sale is the last day of the month, and the date of issue is the next day after the billing cycle ends, meaning the first day of the following month). The payment due date is scheduled for 30 days after the invoice is issued for manual payments. For automatic payments, the due date is the same as the issuance date, and Stripe attempts to charge the payment method approximately one hour after the invoice is issued. The date of sale is the same as the date of the invoice issue. Post-Billed ----------- The user is not billed at the start of the billing cycle. The invoice is issued at the conclusion of the billing cycle and includes charges for the devices and any additional resources used. Customers are billed for the services they utilized during that month. Charges ------------------- Device charges are included in the invoice for the month in which those charges were incurred. **Devices:** We count the *maximum* number of devices active on your account at any point during the billing cycle. Users can add and remove the same devices as many times as they want. We only count the most devices they had at the same time during the billing period. The maximum number of devices a user had in a single calendar month will be added to their bill as an additional charge for those devices. Change Subscription -------------------- The change takes effect from the next billing cycle. In the current billing cycle, the tenant is billed for the entire cycle and continues to use the old subscription plan. Cancel Subscription -------------------- The subscription is canceled starting from the next billing cycle. In the current billing cycle, the tenant is billed for the entire cycle and continues to use the old subscription plan. .. image:: images/cancel-subscription-04-03-2024.png :alt: Cancel your subscription :width: 60% :align: center User Journey ------------- The user signs up and selects an Orchestra plan. #. A 14-day free trial commences. #. The user utilizes Orchestra. #. The paid subscription will start automatically after the free trial, and users need to actively cancel it if they don't want to continue with a paid subscription. #. If a customer cancels during the free trial, the subscription ends immediately and a user does not have access to the Orchestra Manager anymore. #. If they decide to continue with a paid subscription, they will start getting billed. #. On the last day of the month, the user receives an invoice with a prorated quote based on the number of days they used Orchestra in the current calendar month (after their trial ended). #. In the subsequent months, they receive a full monthly bill on the next day after each month ends. #. If the user decides to upgrade their subscription plan, they request the new plan, which will become active at the beginning of the following month. In the current month, they continue using their old subscription plan. #. If the user decides to cancel their subscription, they request a cancellation. The subscription will end after the current billing cycle (month) ends. They can continue using their subscription until the end of the month and will be charged for this month on the first day of the following month. .. #. Additional charges are applied to the invoice if extra resources were used during the month. We hope this guide provides you with the clarity and information you need to manage your Orchestra subscription effortlessly. Should you have any further questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. Happy orchestrating! For any further assistance or inquiries, refer to the documentation or contact CTHINGS.CO support team.