Choosing the Right Plan: Subscriptions, Packages, and Billing Options

Picking the right plan should not require a finance degree. This guide walks through every aspect of preparAItor's billing system — subscription tiers, one-time packages, billing periods, credit behavior, payment methods, and what happens when things change — so you can make an informed decision with zero surprises.

Two Ways to Pay: Subscriptions vs. Packages

preparAItor offers two fundamentally different purchase options. Understanding the distinction is essential to choosing the right one for your situation.

Recurring Subscriptions

A recurring subscription is the standard model for ongoing use:

• Automatic renewal at the end of each billing period
• Monthly credit allocation that resets each period
• Cancel anytime without penalty — access continues until the end of your current billing period (no partial refunds)
• Upgrade available with prorated pricing at any point during your billing cycle

Subscriptions are ideal if you are actively job searching and expect to generate applications regularly over weeks or months.

One-Time Packages

A one-time package is a single payment with no ongoing commitment:

• Single payment — no automatic renewal
• Credits allocated upfront for your selected period (1, 3, or 6 months)
• Can only move upward while active — to a higher tier, a longer duration, or both
• No auto-renewal — when the period ends, it simply expires

One-time packages suit job seekers who want a fixed budget with no recurring charges.

Subscription Tiers

preparAItor offers multiple subscription tiers with increasing credit allocations and features. Each higher tier unlocks more monthly credits and additional platform capabilities.

The tier you choose determines:

• How many credits you receive each billing period
• Which features are available to you (cloud sync, custom templates, etc.)
• The level of AI generation capabilities you can access

Billing Periods and Savings

All plans are available in three billing periods. Longer commitments come with meaningful discounts:

We don't offer a 12-month plan. Our goal is to help you land a role quickly — not to lock you in for a year. If a yearly commitment sounds appealing, that's often a signal the tool isn't working fast enough. We'd rather keep you short-term and effective than long-term and comfortable.

The discount applies to the total cost of the billing period. For example, the 6-month plan costs 20% less per month — billed as a single payment for the full six months.

How Credits Work

Credits are the currency of document generation in preparAItor. Every time you generate a cover letter, CV, email, or interview prep document, credits are consumed.

Monthly Credits (Subscription)

• Allocated at the start of each billing period
• Do not roll over to the next period — unused monthly credits expire when your new allocation arrives
• Reset automatically when your subscription renews

Purchased Credits (One-Time)

• Allocated upfront when you purchase a package
• Never expire — they remain in your account indefinitely
• Survive cancellations — if you cancel a subscription, any previously purchased credits stay available

Upgrading and Downgrading

Upgrading Your Plan

Upgrading is straightforward and available at any time during your billing cycle:

• Prorated pricing: You only pay the difference for the remainder of your current period
• Billing cycle preserved: Your renewal date does not change
• Immediate feature access: New tier features are available instantly
• Credit adjustment: Additional credits from the higher tier are applied right away

Downgrading Your Plan

Downgrading works differently:

• Direct downgrade is not available during an active subscription
• To move to a lower tier, you must cancel your current subscription and wait for it to expire
• Once expired, you can resubscribe at the lower tier
• Any remaining monthly credits from the higher tier are lost when the subscription ends

Payment Methods

preparAItor processes all payments through Stripe, a globally trusted payment platform. The following payment methods are accepted:

Credit and Debit Cards

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Debit cards (Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit)

Digital Wallets

• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

Bank Transfers

• SEPA Direct Debit (for European bank accounts)

All transactions are processed securely through Stripe's infrastructure. preparAItor does not store your payment details directly.

What Happens If a Payment Fails

Payment failures happen — expired cards, insufficient funds, bank holds. preparAItor handles this gracefully:

1. 24-hour grace period begins immediately after the failed payment
2. Email notifications are sent to alert you of the issue
3. Automatic retry attempts are made during the grace period
4. You retain full access to your plan during the grace period

After the Grace Period

If payment is not resolved within that 24-hour window:

• Your subscription is canceled
• You lose access to premium features
• Your documents remain accessible until the data retention period expires
• You can resubscribe at any time to restore access

Refund Policy

preparAItor handles refund requests case-by-case:

• Technical issues that prevented you from using credits you paid for
• Accidental double-charges
• Unused subscriptions cancelled shortly after purchase

Refunds are not typically issued for credits that have already been spent, or for subscriptions that have been used for normal activity. For refund requests, email admin@preparaitor.ch with your account email and a short description of what happened.

EU consumers may have a 14-day statutory right of withdrawal under the Consumer Rights Directive; this right may be waived when you consent to immediate delivery of digital content and begin using the service. Full details are in our refund policy.

No Hidden Fees

This is worth stating plainly:

• No setup fees
• No activation costs
• No cancellation fees
• No penalty for switching plans
• VAT may apply depending on your location — this will be shown during checkout

What you see at checkout is what you pay. There are no surprise charges, no automatic add-ons, and no fees for closing your account.

The Free Tier: Try Before You Buy

preparAItor does not offer a traditional free trial with a countdown timer. Instead, the approach is more flexible:

• Free tier with a small monthly credit allocation — enough to try the core features
• Pay-per-use credit packages if you want a specific number of generations without a subscription
• Flexible cancellation on any subscription with no penalty
• 2 free lifetime Interview Practice sessions for every user, regardless of plan

This model lets you explore the platform at your own pace without pressure.

Invoices and Billing History

Every payment generates a detailed invoice accessible in your account:

1. Open the dedicated Billing page in the app for your billing history
2. Use Manage Billing if you need the Stripe-hosted invoice or saved payment-method details

Each invoice includes:

• Invoice number
• Transaction date
• Subscription tier and billing period
• Amount charged
• Payment method used
• VAT details (where applicable)

Invoices are available for as long as your account is active. They are formatted for expense reporting and tax documentation purposes.

Choosing the Right Option: A Decision Framework

Choose a Recurring Subscription If:

• You are actively job searching and will apply regularly
• You want the flexibility to upgrade mid-cycle
• You prefer automatic renewal so your access never lapses
• You value the ability to cancel anytime

Choose a One-Time Package If:

• You have a fixed budget for your job search
• You prefer a single payment with no recurring charges
• You know approximately how many applications you will need
• You do not want to worry about cancellation

Choose the Free Tier If:

• You want to evaluate the platform before committing money
• You only need a few applications and the free allocation is sufficient
• You are not in an active job search but want to keep an account for future use

Quick Reference

Conclusion

preparAItor's billing is designed to be transparent and adaptable. Whether you choose a recurring subscription for ongoing flexibility or a one-time package for budget certainty, you know exactly what you are getting. Monthly credits keep the system usage-based, purchased credits give you a permanent safety net, and the free tier ensures you never have to pay before you are ready.

Review your options on the Pricing page, start with the plan that fits your current job search intensity, and use the dedicated Billing page to manage the subscription once it is active. No long-term contracts, no hidden fees, no surprises.