When purchasing a subscription plan, Biteship provides two subscription payment types: One-time payment and Automatic renewal. Both provide access to the same features according to the plan you select. The difference lies in how you pay and how the plan is renewed when its active period ends.
By understanding these differences, you can choose the payment type that best suits your business needs, so shipping operations are not disrupted because your plan ends without you realizing it.
This article will help you understand:
- What One-time payment and Automatic renewal are
- A comparison of the two Biteship subscription payment types
- How to choose a payment type when purchasing a plan
- How to enable and cancel automatic renewal
- What happens if a payment fails or a plan ends
1. What Are One-Time Payment and Automatic Renewal?
One-time payment
You pay once for one subscription cycle (monthly or yearly) through a payment link. The plan is not renewed automatically, so you need to make another payment manually before the plan's active period ends.
On the payment page, you can choose from the available methods, such as bank transfer (Virtual Account), credit card, e-wallet, QRIS, or retail outlets.
Automatic renewal
You save a payment method at the beginning, such as a credit/debit card, e-wallet, or direct debit. After that, Biteship automatically charges the plan fee for each subsequent cycle, so your plan stays active without requiring manual payment.
Paid add-ons can also be included in the automatic renewal bill, so the add-ons are renewed together with the main plan.
2. Comparing Biteship Subscription Payment Types
| Aspect | One-time payment | Automatic renewal |
|---|---|---|
| How to pay | Through a payment link each time you purchase or renew a plan | The payment method is saved and then charged automatically each cycle |
| Payment methods | Bank transfer (Virtual Account), credit card, e-wallet, QRIS, retail outlets, and other methods available on the payment page | Credit/debit card, e-wallet, or direct debit that can be saved |
| Plan renewal | Manual—you need to pay again before the plan ends | Automatic—the charge is made on the plan's expiration date |
| Reminders | A reminder email is sent 3 days before the plan ends | A payment confirmation email is sent each time a charge is successful |
| Add-ons | One-time add-ons, valid only for the current period | Add-ons can be set to recur and are charged each cycle |
| Risk of the plan ending | Higher if you forget to renew | Lower, as long as the saved payment method remains valid |
| Best for | Sellers who want to try a plan or manage payments manually | Sellers who use Biteship regularly and do not want their service to be interrupted |
3. How to Choose a Biteship Subscription Payment Type
Through the Biteship Dashboard
- Log in to the Biteship Dashboard, then open Billing > Overview.
- From the list of available plans, select the plan you want, then click Subscribe.
- In the Choose activation time window, determine when the plan will start:
- Activate now: the new plan becomes active after the payment is successful.
- Activate later: the new plan becomes active when your current plan ends. This option is available only if you already have an active paid plan.
- Under Payment type, select One-time payment or Automatic renewal.
- Continue to the payment page:
- If you select One-time payment, complete the payment through the link that appears. The payment link is valid for 24 hours.
- If you select Automatic renewal, connect and save your payment method. The first charge follows the activation schedule you selected, and subsequent cycles are charged automatically.
4. How to Enable and Cancel Automatic Renewal
Enabling automatic renewal for an active plan
If you previously purchased a plan with a One-time payment, you can still enable automatic renewal without purchasing the plan again.
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Open Billing > Overview.
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On your plan card, click Enable automatic renewal.
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Check Include my paid add-ons in the next bill if you want the add-ons to be renewed as well.
- Save your payment method. There is no charge at this time, and the first charge will be made when the plan ends.
After it is successfully enabled, the Automatic renewal active label will appear along with the date and amount of the next charge.
Canceling automatic renewal
- Open Billing > Overview, then click Cancel automatic renewal.
- Check I’m sure I want to cancel automatic renewal., then confirm.
Your plan and add-ons remain active until the current period ends. After that, the plan will not be renewed, and you will need to pay manually or enable automatic renewal again.
5. What Happens If a Payment Fails or a Plan Ends?
Automatic renewal charge fails
If a charge fails, for example because of insufficient funds or an expired card, Biteship will retry the charge up to 3 times with a 1-day interval. You will receive an email notification for each attempt. During the retry process, you cannot change the plan or add-ons.
If all attempts fail, automatic renewal will be disabled. Your plan will then follow the grace period rules below.
Plan ends without renewal
If the plan ends without being renewed, whether because you use One-time payment or because an automatic charge fails, your account enters a 7-day grace period:
- The order and API limits immediately follow the Starter plan.
- Add-ons cannot be purchased during the grace period.
- If you renew the plan during the grace period, the previous plan will be restored.
- If the grace period ends without renewal, the account switches to the Starter plan. Data exceeding the Starter limit, such as origin locations, team members, couriers, and custom rates, will be deleted.
6. Tips for Choosing a Subscription Payment Type
- Use Automatic renewal for businesses that operate regularly: your shipping service will not be interrupted because you forgot to renew the plan.
- Make sure your saved payment method is always valid: check the card's expiration date and your e-wallet or account balance before the billing date.
- Use One-time payment to try a plan: you can enable automatic renewal at any time after deciding that the plan is right for you.
- Pay attention to emails from Biteship: reminder and billing notification emails help you avoid the grace period.
7. FAQs About Biteship Subscription Payments
Are the features I get different between One-time payment and Automatic renewal?
No. The features and quota you receive are exactly the same according to the plan you select. The only difference is how the plan is paid for and renewed.
When is the subscription automatic renewal charged?
The charge is made on your plan's expiration date. If the billing date falls on the 29th, 30th, or 31st, the charge will be made on the 28th of that month.
Can I switch from One-time payment to Automatic renewal?
Yes. Click Enable automatic renewal in Billing > Overview. There is no charge at that time, and the first charge will be made when the current plan ends.
If I cancel automatic renewal, does the plan stop immediately?
No. Your plan and add-ons remain active until the current period ends. There are no refunds for the current period.
How do I change the payment method for automatic renewal?
Cancel automatic renewal first, then enable it again and save the new payment method.
Can I change plans while automatic renewal is active?
Yes. If you select Activate now, the saved payment method will be charged immediately for the full-cycle price of the new plan and any add-ons that are still being charged. If you select Activate later, there is no charge at this time, and the new plan will be charged when the current plan ends. Automatic renewal remains active and follows the new plan.
What if I no longer need a recurring add-on?
You can remove the add-on from the automatic renewal bill. The add-on remains active until the current period ends and will not be renewed on the next bill. There are no refunds for the current period.
Where can I view my subscription payment history?
You can view your payment history under Billing > Transactions, and download billing documents under Billing > Invoices.
8. Conclusion
One-time payment gives you full control over each payment, but you need to renew the plan manually. Automatic renewal is more convenient for sellers who use Biteship regularly because the plan is renewed without requiring another payment each cycle.
You can change your subscription payment type at any time under Billing > Overview. If you experience issues related to subscription payments, please contact the Biteship Customer Support team.