Documentation Menu
1. Payment Methods
SillyHost supports multiple payment methods to make paying for your services as convenient as possible:
Stripe (Credit/Debit Cards)
Pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major cards. Stripe processes payments securely and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay where available.
PayU
An alternative payment processor supporting various local payment methods depending on your region.
GoCardless (Direct Debit)
Set up a Direct Debit for automatic recurring payments directly from your bank account. Available for UK and EU bank accounts. Ideal for hassle-free monthly billing.
Tip: You can manage your saved payment methods in Dashboard > Billing > Payment Methods. Add multiple cards so there is always a backup if one expires.
2. Viewing Invoices
All your invoices are available in your dashboard. To view and download invoices:
- Go to Dashboard > Billing > Invoices
- You will see a list of all invoices with their status (Paid, Pending, Overdue)
- Click on any invoice to view the full details
- Use the "Download PDF" button to save a copy for your records
Invoices are also sent to your registered email address when they are generated and when payment is received.
3. Auto-Renewal Settings
Auto-renewal ensures your services continue without interruption. When enabled, we automatically charge your default payment method before your service expires.
To manage auto-renewal:
- Domains: Dashboard > Domains > [domain] > Settings > Auto-Renewal toggle
- Hosting: Dashboard > Hosting > [plan] > Settings > Auto-Renewal toggle
- AI Builder: Dashboard > AI Builder > Subscription > Auto-Renewal toggle
Warning: Disabling auto-renewal for domains is risky. If a domain expires and enters the redemption period, recovery fees may apply. If the domain is released, you may lose it permanently.
4. Upgrading / Downgrading Plans
You can change your hosting or AI Builder plan at any time from your dashboard.
Upgrading
When you upgrade, the price difference is prorated for the remaining billing period. For example, if you are halfway through a monthly cycle and upgrade, you only pay half the price difference for the rest of that month. Your upgraded features take effect immediately.
Downgrading
Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. You continue to have access to your current plan's features until then. Make sure your usage (storage, email accounts, etc.) fits within the lower plan's limits before downgrading.
Info: If your current storage usage exceeds the new plan's limit, you will need to reduce your storage before the downgrade can complete.
5. Refund Policy
SillyHost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all hosting plans. Here are the details:
- Hosting plans: Full refund within the first 30 days, no questions asked.
- AI Builder plans: Refundable within 30 days if fewer than 5 credits have been used.
- Domain registrations: Generally non-refundable once registered, as the registration fee is paid to the registry.
- After 30 days: No refunds on the current billing period, but you can cancel to prevent future charges.
To request a refund, contact our support team via the contact page or open a support ticket in your dashboard.
6. Currency Settings
SillyHost primarily bills in British Pounds (GBP). All prices shown on the website and in your dashboard are in GBP.
If you are paying from outside the UK, your bank or payment provider will handle the currency conversion at their current exchange rate. A small foreign transaction fee may apply depending on your bank.
Tip: If you are using a multi-currency card like Wise or Revolut, you can often get better exchange rates than a traditional bank.
7. Billing Cycles Explained
SillyHost offers flexible billing cycles for hosting and AI Builder plans:
| Cycle | Billing Frequency | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Charged every month | -- |
| Quarterly | Charged every 3 months | Save up to 5% |
| Annually | Charged once per year | Save up to 20% |
| Biennially | Charged every 2 years | Save up to 30% |
Longer billing cycles offer significant savings. You can switch your billing cycle at renewal time from your dashboard.
Info: Domain names are always billed annually (1-year periods) regardless of your hosting billing cycle.