Subscription Management
Necron Vault Manager Pro subscriptions are billed through Paddle, our payment processor. This page covers how to manage your subscription, update billing details, handle renewals, and understand what happens when a subscription changes status.
Billing Overview
| Plan | Price | Billing Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $3.99/month | Charged on the same date each month |
| Annual | $39.90/year | Charged once per year (saves ~17%) |
Paddle handles all payment processing, tax calculation, and receipt generation. Necron does not store your credit card details.
Managing Your Subscription
From the Website
- Log in to your account at necronsolutions.com
- Navigate to Account Settings
- The subscription panel shows your current plan, billing cycle, and next renewal date
- Click Manage Subscription to open the Paddle customer portal
From the Paddle portal you can:
- Update your payment method
- Switch between monthly and annual billing
- View past invoices and receipts
- Cancel your subscription
From the Desktop App
The desktop app's Settings → Account panel shows:
- Your account email
- Current tier (Free or Pro)
- Subscription status
- A link to the website for full subscription management
Note
Subscription changes (upgrades, cancellations, payment updates) are handled through the website and Paddle portal. The desktop app reflects these changes at the next launch via the server verification check.
Subscription Statuses
Your subscription can be in one of several states:
| Status | Meaning | App Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Subscription is paid and current | Full Pro functionality |
| Past due | Payment failed; Paddle is retrying | Pro access continues during retry period |
| Paused | Subscription paused by user | Treated as expired at next launch |
| Canceled | Subscription canceled; access until end of billing period | Pro access until billing period ends, then treated as expired |
| None | Free tier (no subscription) | Free tier functionality |
What Happens When a Subscription Expires
When your Pro subscription expires (end of billing period after cancellation, or payment permanently fails):
- At the next app launch, the dongle verification check detects the expired subscription
2. The app shows a notification: "Subscription expired — renew or continue in Free tier" 3. You have two options: - Renew: Opens the Paddle renewal page in your browser - Continue Free: Enters the app in Free tier mode for this session
Warning
When continuing in Free tier, you can still decrypt files using your dongle for the current session. However, new vault operations may be limited by Free tier restrictions. The dongle remains functional — only the server-side tier check changes.
Upgrading from Free to Pro
- From the website account page or desktop app, click Upgrade to Pro
- The Paddle inline checkout overlay appears
- Choose monthly or annual billing and complete payment
- The server updates your account tier to
subscription - Relaunch the desktop app
- The app detects the tier change and starts the USB Provisioning Wizard
The upgrade is seamless — your existing encrypted files and vaults continue working with the same key material, now stored on a hardware dongle instead of a local software key.
Cancellation
To cancel your Pro subscription:
- Go to Account Settings on the website
- Click Manage Subscription → opens Paddle portal
- Click Cancel Subscription
- Confirm the cancellation
After cancellation:
- Pro access continues until the end of the current billing period
- At the end of the period, your account reverts to Free tier on the server
- Your dongle remains functional and your encrypted files are not affected
- You can re-subscribe at any time to regain Pro access
Note
Canceling your subscription does not delete your account, your dongles, or your encrypted data. Everything remains intact. You simply lose the server-side Pro tier status that enables dongle verification at app launch.
Payment Issues
Failed Payment
If a payment fails, Paddle automatically retries over several days. During this time:
- Your subscription status becomes
past_due - The app continues to function normally with Pro access
- Paddle sends email notifications about the failed payment
- If all retries fail, the subscription moves to
canceled
Updating Payment Method
- Open the Paddle customer portal (via Account Settings → Manage Subscription)
- Click Update Payment Method
- Enter your new card details
- The next billing cycle will use the updated method
Receipts and Invoices
Paddle automatically sends email receipts for every payment. You can also access past invoices from the Paddle customer portal.
Receipts include:
- Amount charged (including applicable taxes)
- Billing period
- Paddle transaction ID
- Your account email
Account Deletion
If you want to completely delete your Necron account:
- Decrypt any files you need to keep (you'll lose the ability to decrypt after deletion)
- Contact support to request account deletion
- Your account, dongle registrations, and subscription are permanently removed
Danger
Account deletion is irreversible. All dongle registrations are removed, which means your dongles will fail verification at the next app launch. Make sure you have decrypted copies of all important files before requesting deletion.
FAQ
Can I switch between monthly and annual billing? Yes. Open the Paddle portal and change your billing cycle. The change takes effect at the next renewal.
Can I get a refund? Paddle handles refund requests according to their refund policy. Contact Necron support or Paddle directly for refund inquiries.
What happens to my dongles if I cancel? Your dongle hardware is yours to keep. The key material on the dongles remains intact. If you re-subscribe later, the same dongles will work again immediately — no re-provisioning needed.
Can I use the dongle without a subscription? The dongle contains your encryption key material, but the app requires a server-side verification check at launch. Without an active subscription, the app will not enter Pro mode. You can still use the app in Free tier (with the software key) during the current session.
Further Reading
- Creating an Account — sign up for Free or Pro
- Free vs. Pro Tiers — compare tier features
- Backup Dongles — protect against dongle loss
- USB Dongle Provisioning — initial dongle setup