---
id: billing
title: Billing
sidebar_label: Billing
---

Paid plans are billed through **Paddle**, which is the merchant of record. Your
invoice, your card details and your tax handling are all Paddle's; HQ holds a
customer reference and nothing sensitive.

:::warning
The Billing page requires the **owner-only** account role.
:::

## Buying a plan

In Vantage HQ, click **Buy a plan** on the **Overview** page.

### Cloud

1. Set **Deployment** to **Cloud**.
2. Choose a **Billing** cycle, monthly or annual.
3. Choose a **Plan** and configure its features and server allowance.
4. Enter an **Instance name** and click **Continue to payment**.

The instance is created and licensed as soon as payment confirms.

### Self-hosted

Install your control plane first - a licence binds to its instance ID.

1. Set **Deployment** to **Self-hosted**.
2. Choose a **Plan** and configure its features and server allowance.
3. Under **Your install**, paste the instance ID from your install's **Licence**
   page. An ID you already hold is upgraded in place.
4. Enter an **Instance name** and click **Continue to payment**.

The licence is issued as soon as payment confirms; download it and paste it into
your install. See [Self-hosted instances](./self-hosted-instances.md).

## Cancelling and failed payments

Cancelling, or a payment going past due, takes **no immediate licence action**.
Your licence runs to its grace-padded expiry and then lapses normally. There is
no mid-term cut-off.

For a cloud Free instance, lapsing eventually leads to deletion. See
[Free tier](./free-tier.md). Paid instances are not deleted.

## Renewals

At renewal the subscription bills again and the licence is reissued for the new
term. It is also the only moment a scheduled **reduction** takes effect.

- Self-hosted customers: download and paste the reissued licence.
- Cloud customers: nothing to do. The licence is written to the instance for you.