Defer plan switches to the next renewal
Let customers change plans now but pay later — the switch is stored as pending and applied when the next renewal is paid.
- No mid-cycle charge
- Pending switch stored
- Applies on next renewal
Not every switch should bill immediately. With Apply at renewal proration, a plan change is stored as a pending switch: the current subscription runs unchanged, the next renewal invoice is built at the new plan’s price, and the switch only takes effect after that renewal is paid. No surprise mid-cycle charge. This recipe sets switching to defer to renewal.
- Customers change plans with no immediate charge.
- The next renewal invoice uses the new plan’s price.
- The switch applies only after that renewal is paid.
- Pending switch details are visible to admin and customer.
The exact configuration
Enter these values and you have the setup live. Every field maps to a real ArraySubs setting.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Proration typeSettings → Plan Switching | Apply at renewal |
| Pending switchAutomatic | Stored: target plan, effective date, price, fee |
| Switch fee handlingSettings → Plan Switching | Stored with pending switch, added to renewal |
When to use this setup
Set it up in 3 steps
A step-by-step guide drawn from the ArraySubs user manual. Open the linked page for the full walkthrough and screenshots.
Set proration to Apply at renewal
In Settings → Plan Switching, set Proration type = Apply at renewal. This is a global setting for all switches.
Plan Switching & RelationshipsUnderstand the pending switch
When a customer switches, ArraySubs stores the target plan, effective renewal date, price, and any fee — shown in both admin and portal views.
Plan Switching & RelationshipsConfirm renewal application
The next renewal invoice is built at the target price; once it’s paid, the subscription is permanently switched.
Renewal Operations
This recipe is built from these ArraySubs user-manual guides:
Notes & edge cases
Modules behind this recipe
The ArraySubs modules this setup relies on.
Subscription Products
Create and manage simple or variable subscription products with trials, signup fees, plan logic, and lifecycle behavior.
Billing and Renewals
How ArraySubs creates, schedules, communicates, and collects recurring payments from first invoice to final renewal.
Customer Portal
Subscriber self-service inside WooCommerce My Account for viewing, cancelling, pausing, switching, and paying subscriptions.
Related setups to explore
Other configurations you can build with the same modules.
Charge a fee to switch plans
Add a flat fee on top of proration for upgrades, downgrades, or crossgrades to discourage plan-hopping.
Upgrade paths between tiers
Let customers move up to a higher plan with the price difference prorated automatically — Basic → Pro → Enterprise.
Let customers switch in the portal
Turn on self-service plan switching so customers upgrade, downgrade, or crossgrade themselves — no support ticket.
Questions, answered
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