Upgrading is fast — typically 2 minutes once you’ve decided. This article walks through the steps.
Where to start
Two paths:
- Dashboard → Settings → Membership → “Upgrade”
- Or visit
thesmilechannel.com/pricingdirectly and click your chosen tier
The upgrade flow
- Pick your tier — Starter, Pro, or VIP
- Choose monthly or annual billing
- Enter payment details (or sign in to your existing payment method if returning)
- Confirm
- You’re upgraded immediately — new tier features unlock right away
Payment processing
Payments are handled by Stripe. We don’t see or store your card number — Stripe does. The Smile Channel only sees the metadata (which member, which plan, which date).
What happens to your existing data
Nothing changes — all your existing profile data, books, episodes, reviews, and earnings stay intact. The upgrade just unlocks the new tier’s features.
If you’ve earned affiliate commissions on Free tier and you upgrade to VIP, those earnings carry over. They’re tied to your account, not your tier.
What unlocks immediately on upgrade
- Free → Starter: book section opens up, all 6 social links unlock, blue verified badge appears within 24 hours
- Starter → Pro: long-form bio expands, video embeds unlock, booking buttons appear, One-Sheet generates within minutes
- Pro → VIP: gold badge replaces blue, Featured ★ appears, priority grid placement applies on next refresh, custom domain setup becomes available
If the payment fails
The most common cause is the card being declined for international transactions. Try a different card, or use PayPal if available. If repeated failures, contact your bank — they sometimes block first-time merchant transactions.
Pro-rating
If you upgrade mid-cycle, you’re charged the prorated difference for the rest of the current period. Future cycles bill at the full new tier rate.