Subscription & Payment Policy
Effective November 1, 2026 · Last updated September 28, 2026
This policy is part of the Terms of Service and covers every paid plan on Hot Sauce HQ. All plans renew automatically until you turn off auto-renew, and all payments are non-refundable except where the law requires otherwise.
1. Plans and prices
| Plan | Who | Price (USD) | Where you can buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Members | $0 | — |
| Premium | Members | $20 per year | Website (Stripe), App Store, Google Play |
| Bronze | Brands | $0 | — |
| Silver | Brands, per brand | $399 per year | Website only (Stripe) |
| Gold | Brands, per brand | $799 per year | Website only (Stripe) |
Prices are in U.S. dollars. The App Store and Google Play may charge in your local currency. Applicable taxes are added where required. Brand plans cannot be bought inside the phone apps.
2. New-subscriber specials
We may offer a special price for the first year of Premium. Unless the offer says otherwise, it is available to members who have never had Premium, or whose Premium ended more than 12 months ago. After the special period, Premium renews at the regular price. In the apps, specials are offered as App Store or Google Play introductory or win-back offers under their rules.
3. Automatic renewal
By subscribing, you authorize us (or Apple or Google) to charge your payment method at the start of each yearly period at the then-current price until you turn off auto-renew. We will remind you before an annual renewal where the law requires.
4. Turning off auto-renew (cancelling)
- Website (Stripe): Settings → Subscription → Turn off auto-renew. Brand plans: Company billing, per brand.
- App Store: your Apple ID → Subscriptions. Google Play: Play Store → Payments & subscriptions.
- Turn it off at least 24 hours before renewal to avoid the next charge (store rules).
- Your plan stays active until the end of the period you paid for, then moves to Free (members) or Bronze (brands).
5. No refunds
Payments are non-refundable, including for partial periods, unused features, or if you stop using the Service, except where required by law. Refund requests for App Store or Google Play purchases are handled by Apple or Google under their policies; we cannot issue refunds for store purchases.
6. Price changes
- Price decreases apply at your next renewal.
- Price increases: we email every affected subscriber and show an in-app notice with the options "Keep my subscription," "Remind me next time" and "Turn off auto-renew."
- Website (Stripe) subscribers: if your renewal falls within 45 days after we announce an increase, you renew once at the old price; the new price applies from the following renewal.
- App Store and Google Play subscribers: price changes follow Apple's and Google's rules. Some changes require your consent in the store; if you do not consent, the store may end your subscription at the end of the current period.
7. Moving from Premium to Free
Free plan limits are: 3 homemade sauce recipes, 5 custom lists, 10 tags, and 1 year of purchase history. If your Premium ends while you are over a limit:
- You cannot add more of that item until you are under the limit, but you can delete items at any time.
- For 30 days you will see a reminder when you log in and a banner on the affected pages, each with an Upgrade option.
- After 30 days, extra items are hidden. Your 3 newest recipes stay visible.
- Six months after your Premium ended, hidden extras are permanently deleted and purchase history older than 1 year is removed.
- If you upgrade before deletion, everything hidden comes back.
8. Deleting your account while subscribed
Deleting your account ends Premium immediately, with no refund for unused time, and cannot be undone. Website subscriptions are cancelled automatically. App Store and Google Play subscriptions are not cancelled by deleting your account; you must turn off auto-renew in the store or you may continue to be charged.
9. Brand plan billing
- One billing date per company. Each company has one renewal date and one combined invoice listing each brand, its plan and its fee.
- Multi-brand discount. While a company has 2 or more brands on paid plans, every paid brand plan is 10% off. If the company falls below 2 paid brands, the discount ends at the next renewal.
- Auto-renew per brand. Auto-renew can be turned on or off for each brand.
- Upgrades and added brands are charged immediately, prorated to the company's renewal date.
- Downgrades take effect at the next renewal. No credit is given for the current period.
- Brand transfers. Paid time stays with the brand and is prorated onto the receiving company's billing date.
- Leaving a brand. If the last owner removes themselves from a brand with a paid plan, the plan ends immediately with no refund for unused time. This must be confirmed separately before it happens.
- Out of business. If an owner marks a brand out of business and stays the owner, auto-renew is turned off and the plan runs to the end of its period, then moves to Bronze.
10. Failed payments and chargebacks
If a renewal payment fails, we will notify you and may retry the charge. If we cannot collect payment, the plan moves to Free or Bronze. Filing a chargeback for a valid charge may lead to suspension of your account.
11. Promo codes
Promo codes apply only to website purchases, have no cash value, cannot be combined unless stated, and may be withdrawn at any time. App Store and Google Play offer codes follow the stores' rules.