The billing cycle is the length of the period each invoice covers. It affects more than the frequency of invoices, so it is worth understanding before you change it.
What a cycle actually is
Each service has its own cycle — monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually or longer. The next due date is the start of the next period, and an invoice for that period is generated some days in advance so there is time to pay before the service is due.
Different services on the same account can run on different cycles, which is why invoices can arrive at seemingly random intervals. If that bothers you, they can usually be aligned; ask us rather than trying to engineer it yourself.
Why longer cycles usually cost less
Longer terms are commonly discounted, so the effective monthly rate on an annual cycle is lower than on a monthly one. The trade is flexibility: you commit for the full term, and the price is locked for that term. If you are confident you will keep the service for a year, the annual cycle is normally the better deal. If you are still evaluating, pay monthly and switch later.
Changing a cycle
Cycle changes take effect at the next renewal rather than immediately. The current period has been paid for and runs to its end. When the renewal comes round, the new cycle and its price apply.
Two consequences:
- Switching from monthly to annual does not produce an immediate annual charge. It produces one at the next due date.
- Switching from annual to monthly does not generate a refund for the unused part of the year. It changes what happens at the end of it.
Upgrades and downgrades within a cycle
Changing to a different product mid-cycle is different from changing the cycle. The system calculates the value of the unused portion of the current product and applies it against the new one, so you are charged the difference rather than a full new period. See the article on reading an invoice for how that shows up on the bill.
Domains are not the same
Domain registration terms are set by the registry, in whole years. They cannot be prorated, part-refunded or shortened. A domain registered for a year is registered for a year. Do not assume a domain behaves like a hosting product just because both appear on the same invoice.
Before you change anything
If the change is meant to reduce cost, or to align renewals, tell us the outcome you want rather than the mechanism. There is often a cleaner route than the one that is obvious from the portal, and it costs nothing to ask first.
