🔍 Overview
If you recently upgraded your Search Atlas plan or activated the OTTO Google Ads add-on, you may notice a charge on your invoice that wasn't part of your original subscription cost. This article explains what prorated charges are, why the OTTO Google Ads add-on generates its own billing line, and what to do if something looks incorrect.
💡 What Is a Prorated Charge?
A prorated charge is a partial billing amount calculated based on the number of days remaining in your current billing cycle. When you upgrade your plan mid-cycle, you are charged only for the portion of the new plan you will use before your next renewal date — not the full monthly or annual amount.
For example, if you upgrade from a Pro plan to an Agency plan partway through the month, you will be charged a prorated amount covering the remaining days of that billing period at the Agency plan rate. This charge appears as a separate line item on your invoice alongside your regular subscription.
📋 What Is the OTTO Google Ads Add-On?
The OTTO Google Ads add-on is an optional feature that extends OTTO SEO automation to include Google Ads management. It is billed separately from your base Search Atlas plan and has its own pricing. This means:
- The add-on can be activated independently of a plan upgrade.
- It generates its own invoice line item or, in some cases, a separate invoice entirely.
- If activated mid-cycle, the add-on charge is also prorated for the remaining days in your billing period.
🧾 Why Does My Invoice Show an Unexpected Charge?
Customers most commonly see an unexpected charge in the following situations:
- Plan upgrade mid-cycle: Upgrading from Pro to Agency (or any higher-tier plan) generates an immediate prorated charge for the difference in plan cost.
- OTTO Google Ads add-on activation: Enabling the Google Ads add-on at any point in your billing cycle triggers a prorated charge for the remainder of that period.
- Billing migration: If your account was recently moved to a new billing system, a pending add-on charge may appear on your first invoice after migration.
- Annual plan with add-on: Annual plan subscribers who activate the Google Ads add-on are charged for the add-on on a separate schedule, which can make the charge appear unrelated to your main plan invoice.
📊 How to Check Your Invoices and Charges
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Navigate to your Account Settings by clicking your Avatar Menu (👤) in the top-right corner.
- Select Billing from the settings menu.
- Review your invoice list. Each invoice will show the plan, add-ons, proration period, and the exact dates the charge covers.
- Click any invoice number to view a full itemised breakdown, including the daily rate used to calculate the prorated amount.
⚠️ When to Contact Support
Most prorated charges are expected and correct. However, you should reach out to our team if you notice any of the following:
- You were charged for the OTTO Google Ads add-on but never activated it.
- Your invoice shows a prorated charge for a plan upgrade, but your account still reflects the lower-tier plan.
- You see two identical prorated charges for the same period (duplicate charge).
- The prorated amount appears to cover only one day rather than the full remaining billing period.
- Your annual plan was charged at an incorrect base price.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.