Why a shared subscription costs less than a full month
Updated
Prices here move with the days left in the billing cycle. This explains the arithmetic, so the number at checkout is never a surprise.
A subscription runs on a cycle. It renews on a fixed date, and everything between today and that date has already been paid for by someone. If you join partway through, you are buying the remainder of the cycle, not a fresh month.
The arithmetic
Take the price of a full cycle, divide by the number of days in that cycle, and multiply by the days that remain. That is a pro-rated price. Twenty days left on a thirty day cycle is two thirds of the cycle, so it costs about two thirds of the full price.
This is why the same listing can show different prices on different days, and why the catalogue shows a starting price rather than one fixed number. The final figure is calculated at checkout against the days actually left at that moment.
What you are buying
- The remaining days of the current cycle, at a price that reflects them.
- Warranty cover for that same period, not longer.
- The option to renew into the next full cycle when this one ends.
Cheap is not always better value
A listing with three days left will look strikingly cheap. Per day it is not cheaper at all, and you will be renewing almost immediately. If you want a long uninterrupted run, a listing earlier in its cycle costs more up front and less in attention.
Renewals
Renewing from the order page extends into the next cycle at the full cycle price, because at that point you are buying a whole cycle rather than a remainder. The renewal screen shows the price and the new end date before you confirm, so you can decide with the real numbers in front of you.
Refunds follow the same logic
If an account stops working mid-cycle, a refund covers the days you did not get to use, worked out the same way. You are not refunded for time you already had, and you are not left short for time you lost.
Ready to buy? Browse available accounts, or read the FAQ for the short version.