> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.merchantai.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MerchantAI pricing: plans, limits, and feature comparison

> Compare MerchantAI's Free, Starter, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans — including message limits, seats, trial terms, and billing details.

MerchantAI offers five plans designed to grow with your business, from a permanently free tier for merchants just getting started to fully custom Enterprise arrangements. Every paid plan comes with a 14-day free trial so you can explore the full feature set before committing to a subscription.

## Plan comparison

| Plan       | Price      | Messages / mo | Agents | Seats  | Knowledge Base |
| ---------- | ---------- | ------------- | ------ | ------ | -------------- |
| Free       | \$0        | 20            | 1      | 1      | 1 MB           |
| Starter    | \$25 / mo  | 400           | 1      | 2      | 15 MB          |
| Pro ⭐      | \$79 / mo  | 2,500         | 3      | 5      | 30 MB          |
| Business   | \$249 / mo | 9,000         | 5      | 10     | 60 MB          |
| Enterprise | Custom     | Custom        | Custom | Custom | Custom         |

Pro is the most popular plan. It adds lead capture, CRM integration, and custom agent branding on top of everything in Starter.

## What counts as a message?

Each AI-generated response sent to a visitor counts as one message against your monthly quota. Visitor messages themselves — what your customers type — do not count. If a visitor asks three questions and your agent answers each one, that consumes three messages.

## 14-day free trial

<Note>
  All paid plans (Starter, Pro, Business) start with a 14-day free trial. You are not charged until day 15, and no credit card is required to begin. If you cancel before day 15, you owe nothing.
</Note>

The Free plan is not a trial — it is a permanent tier with no time limit and no card required at any point.

## Upgrading and downgrading

When you upgrade your plan, the change takes effect immediately and your billing is prorated for the remainder of the current cycle. You gain access to higher message limits, additional agents, and any new features right away.

When you downgrade, the change is scheduled for the end of your current billing cycle. You retain your existing plan's features and limits until that date, at which point the lower-tier plan activates.

## Exceeding your message limit

If your workspace reaches its monthly message limit before the billing period resets, outgoing AI responses are throttled. Visitor messages will no longer receive AI replies until either the new billing period begins or you upgrade to a higher plan. Upgrading restores service immediately.

<Tip>
  Watch the usage indicator in your dashboard. MerchantAI sends email alerts before you hit your limit so you can upgrade proactively rather than experience an interruption.
</Tip>

## Payment methods

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Standalone (Stripe)">
    If you signed up directly at merchantai.io, your workspace uses Stripe for payment processing. You can add, update, or remove a payment method from the **Billing** section of your account settings at any time.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Shopify Admin Billing">
    If you installed MerchantAI through the Shopify App Store, your subscription is managed inside Shopify admin. Plan approval, charges, and cancellations all flow through Shopify's standard app billing — you will not be prompted to enter a separate card.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Common billing questions

<Accordion title="Is there a long-term contract?">
  No. All plans are month-to-month. You can cancel at any time from your account settings with no early-termination fee.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I pause my plan?">
  Yes. Pausing your plan stops billing for that period. To pause, contact the support team and they will action it for you.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I switch from Shopify billing to Stripe?">
  Switching billing methods requires coordination between your Shopify subscription and a new standalone account. Contact support and the team will walk you through the process without any loss of data or configuration.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="What happens when my trial ends?">
  On day 15 of your trial your saved payment method is charged for the first full billing period. If you cancel before day 15, no charge is made and your workspace reverts to the Free plan.
</Accordion>