Billing Model Overview
Mission Inbox uses a hybrid billing model: a fixed monthly subscription that carries a set of included monthly allowances, combined with variable usage-based charges for consumption above those allowances. These are two legally distinct obligations that operate on different schedules and carry different refund rules.
| Charge Type | What It Covers | When Billed | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription Fee Fixed | Platform access, feature entitlements, and your plan's included monthly allowances of mailboxes, domains, and email sends | In advance, on each renewal date | Within 2-day grace period only |
| Usage Charges Variable | Mailboxes, domains, email sends, and credits consumed above your included allowances | In arrears — collected at next renewal | Never |
Subscription Plans
Mission Inbox offers three monthly subscription plans across two product lines. Lite and Starter are mailbox-based plans for outbound email infrastructure. Pro is a domain-based plan for high-volume API sending. Your plan determines your feature access, your included allowances, and the rate schedule applied to all variable usage charges.
Included Allowances & Overage Handling
Each plan carries a set of allowances that are refreshed at the start of every billing cycle. What happens when you exceed them depends on your plan.
- Allowances reset each cycle and do not roll over. Unused mailbox slots, domains, or email sends expire at the end of the cycle and carry no cash or credit value.
- Allowances are not transferable between plans, accounts, or billing periods.
- Lite — hard stop. Exceeding your included allowance pauses your account. Sending is halted until you upgrade to a higher plan. Lite does not meter overage as a billable charge.
- Starter and Pro — metered overage. Usage above your included allowance accrues as a usage charge, is finalised at the end of the cycle, and is collected in arrears at your next renewal.
- Downgrading does not preserve overage. If your usage exceeds the allowance of the plan you are moving to, the new plan's overage rules apply from the start of the next cycle.
Free Trials
Free trials may be offered at Mission Inbox's sole discretion. A valid payment method is required to activate a trial. At the end of the trial period, your account will automatically convert to a paid subscription unless cancelled before the trial expires. Trial terms may be modified or revoked without notice.
Mailbox Tier Pricing — Starter Plan
On the Starter plan, mailboxes are billed on a cumulative tiered model. Each tier's rate applies only to mailboxes within that specific band — not retroactively to all mailboxes. The first 30 mailboxes are included in your subscription at no additional charge.
| Tier | Mailbox Range | Rate / Mailbox / Month | Max Charge in Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included Free | 1 – 30 | $0.00 | — |
| Tier 1 | 31 – 1,000 | $3.00 | 970 × $3.00 = $2,910.00 |
| Tier 2 | 1,001 – 3,000 | $2.25 | 2,000 × $2.25 = $4,500.00 |
| Tier 3 | 3,001 – 5,000 | $1.75 | 2,000 × $1.75 = $3,500.00 |
| Tier 4 High Volume | 5,001+ | $1.50 | Unlimited |
Pro Plan — Flat Mailbox Rate
On the Pro plan, all mailboxes are billed at a single flat rate of $2.00 per mailbox per month. There are no tiered steps. High Water Mark billing still applies — your billable count equals the peak mailbox count at any point during the cycle.
Lite Plan — Included Mailboxes Only
The Lite plan includes 15 mailboxes. Tiered rates do not apply to Lite. Reaching the included allowance pauses the account and requires an upgrade to Starter; mailboxes above 15 are not metered as a usage charge.
Domain Billing — Pro Plan Only
Domain management is a Pro-exclusive feature. Lite and Starter accounts cannot connect domains or subdomains through Mission Inbox's infrastructure.
The Pro plan includes 5 domains at no additional charge. Domains connected above that allowance are billed at $2.00 per domain per month.
| Item | Rate | Plan | Billing Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domains 1–5 | $0.00 — included in plan | Pro only | High Water Mark |
Root Domain (e.g. company.com) — above allowance | $2.00 / domain / month | Pro only | High Water Mark |
Subdomain (e.g. mail.company.com) — above allowance | $2.00 / subdomain / month | Pro only | High Water Mark |
Each distinct domain string is a separate billable unit and counts against your allowance. company.com, mail.company.com, and outbound.company.com are three units. An account connecting 8 domains in total uses its 5 included units and is charged for 3 × $2.00 = $6.00/month.
Email Sends & Included Allowances
Every plan includes a monthly email send allowance. Sends within your allowance carry no additional charge. Sends above your allowance are charged at $1.00 per 1,000 sends on Starter and Pro.
| Plan | Sends Included / Month | Rate Above Allowance | Behaviour at Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | 5,000 | Not metered | Account paused; upgrade required |
| Starter | 10,000 | $1.00 / 1,000 | Overage accrues; billed at renewal |
| Pro | 100,000 | $1.00 / 1,000 | Overage accrues; billed at renewal |
A Starter account sending 47,001 emails is billed on 37,001 billable sends, which is 38 units ($38.00), not 37 units. There are no volume discounts on send pricing, and no rate reduction at higher send volumes.
Credits System
Certain Mission Inbox features consume credits. Credits are priced at $0.50 per credit and billed as usage — they accrue during the cycle and are collected at renewal alongside other usage charges. Credits are not covered by any plan allowance.
| Feature | Credit Rate | USD Equivalent | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailbox Warmup | 6 credits / mailbox / month | $3.00 / mailbox / month | All plans |
| Domain Warmup | 16 credits / domain / month | $8.00 / domain / month | Pro only |
| Health Score Check | 1 credit / check | $0.50 / check | All plans |
Complete Rate Card
All variable charges are billed in arrears and collected at your next renewal. No usage charges are collected mid-cycle. The table below covers every billable item across all three plans.
| Billable Item | Lite — $50/mo | Starter — $199/mo | Pro — $99/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailboxes included | 15 | 30 | None — billed from the first |
| Email sends included | 5,000 / mo | 10,000 / mo | 100,000 / mo |
| Domains included | Not available | Not available | 5 |
| Mailboxes 1–30 | $0.00 (to 15) | $0.00 | $2.00 / mailbox |
| Mailboxes 31–1,000 | n/a | $3.00 / mailbox | $2.00 / mailbox |
| Mailboxes 1,001–3,000 | n/a | $2.25 / mailbox | $2.00 / mailbox |
| Mailboxes 3,001–5,000 | n/a | $1.75 / mailbox | $2.00 / mailbox |
| Mailboxes 5,001+ | n/a | $1.50 / mailbox | $2.00 / mailbox |
| Mailboxes above allowance | Account paused | Tiered, cumulative | $2.00 flat |
| Domains above allowance | Not available | Not available | $2.00 / domain |
| Email sends above allowance | Account paused | $1.00 / 1,000 | $1.00 / 1,000 |
| Mailbox Warmup (credits) | $3.00 / mailbox / mo | $3.00 / mailbox / mo | $3.00 / mailbox / mo |
| Domain Warmup (credits) | Not available | Not available | $8.00 / domain / mo |
| Health Score Check (credits) | $0.50 / check | $0.50 / check | $0.50 / check |
| Billing method — mailboxes & domains | High Water Mark | High Water Mark | High Water Mark |
| Billing method — sends | Cumulative | Cumulative, rounds up | Cumulative, rounds up |
Billing Cycle & Timing
Your billing cycle is 30 days, anchored to the date your paid subscription first activated. The exact same date each month is your renewal date.
Subscription fee for the upcoming 30-day period is charged in advance. Prior cycle's finalized usage charges are collected in arrears. Both appear on the same invoice. Your included mailbox, domain, and send allowances reset to zero consumption.
Mailbox counts, domain counts, email sends, and credit consumption are tracked continuously against your allowances. Your billing dashboard shows allowance consumption and accrued charges at any time. No charges are collected mid-cycle.
All usage metrics are recorded, finalized, and locked. Unused allowance expires. No adjustments are possible after this point regardless of subsequent account changes.
Day 31 is simultaneously Day 1 of the new cycle and the renewal date. Locked usage from the prior period is collected; new subscription is charged in advance; allowances reset and new usage tracking begins.
Proration & High Water Mark Billing
How High Water Mark Works
Mailboxes and domains are billed based on the maximum count active at any single point during the cycle — not the average, not the end-of-period count. Your included allowance is then deducted from that peak figure.
No Mid-Cycle Subscription Proration
Mission Inbox does not prorate subscription fees for plan upgrades, downgrades, or cancellations made mid-cycle. Plan changes take effect at the start of the next billing cycle. The current cycle's subscription fee is non-refundable after the 2-day grace window.
This applies to all plans without exception, including a Lite account that has been paused for exceeding an included allowance. Upgrading from Lite takes effect at the start of the next billing cycle on the same terms as any other plan change. The Lite subscription fee already paid for the current cycle is not prorated, refunded, or credited against the new plan.
Usage Collected at Renewal — Never Mid-Cycle
- No usage invoice is issued during an active cycle. All usage is visible in your dashboard but not charged until renewal.
- On renewal day, prior-cycle usage and the new subscription fee are charged in a single operation to your payment method on file.
- If your payment method fails for usage charges at renewal, your account may be suspended until the full balance is settled.
- Cancelling your subscription does not cancel, defer, or reduce accrued usage obligations — see Section 10.
Cancellation & Outstanding Charge Obligations
Sequence of Events at Cancellation
- Platform access continues until the last day of your current paid cycle. You are not cut off immediately upon cancellation.
- Usage continues to accrue from the cancellation date through the end of your paid cycle. Sending emails or consuming credits after cancelling still draws down your allowance and, once exhausted, still generates billable usage.
- Final usage is locked at the end of your last active cycle and a final invoice is generated.
- Final usage charge is collected on what would have been your next renewal date, from the payment method on file.
- Your payment method must remain valid until the final invoice is cleared. Invalidating your payment method before the final charge processes constitutes a breach of these Terms.
- Unpaid final balances are subject to collection procedures, including referral to third-party collection agencies and applicable credit reporting.
Refund Policy
| Charge | Refundable? | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription Fee | Eligible | Within 2 calendar days of renewal | Account in good standing; no ToS violations; email request required |
| Subscription Fee — post grace | Not Eligible | After day 2 from renewal | No exceptions |
| Unused Included Allowance | Not Eligible | Never | Allowances expire at cycle end and hold no cash value |
| Mailbox Usage | Not Eligible | Never | All usage is final |
| Domain Usage | Not Eligible | Never | All usage is final |
| Email Send Charges | Not Eligible | Never | All usage is final |
| Credit Charges | Not Eligible | Never | All usage is final |
| ToS Violation Termination | Not Eligible | Never | No refunds upon termination for policy violations |
How to Request a Subscription Refund
- Email
hey@missioninbox.comwithin 2 calendar days of your renewal date with subject line: "Billing Refund Request." - Include your account email address, the renewal date in question, and the reason for the request.
- Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method.
- Requests received after the 2-day grace window are declined without review — no exceptions.
Dispute & Chargeback Policy
Required Internal Dispute Process
Email hey@missioninbox.com with your account email, the specific invoice or charge in question, and a written explanation. We acknowledge all billing disputes within 2 business days.
Mission Inbox reviews the dispute against timestamped usage logs, allowance consumption records, payment records, and account history. You receive a written determination with supporting data.
If the internal review does not resolve the dispute, the matter proceeds to binding arbitration in Delaware, USA, per our Terms of Service. Class action participation is waived.
Consequences of Unauthorized Chargebacks
- Immediate suspension of all Mission Inbox services and account access pending resolution.
- The full disputed amount plus a chargeback processing fee becomes immediately due and payable.
- Outstanding balance is referred to collections and may be reported to credit bureaus.
- Mission Inbox will contest all unauthorized chargebacks with documented usage evidence submitted directly to the payment processor.
- Accounts subject to unauthorized chargebacks are permanently banned. Re-registration under any name or entity is prohibited.
Payment Methods & Failed Charges
Accepted Methods
Mission Inbox accepts major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and ACH bank transfers for eligible accounts. All charges are in USD. Currency conversion fees charged by your bank or card issuer are your responsibility.
Failed Payment Sequence
| Event | Timing | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| First failure | Day 0 | Email notification sent; automatic retry scheduled in 3 days |
| First retry | Day +3 | Charge retried; warning notification sent |
| Second retry | Day +5 | Charge retried; service degradation may begin |
| Account suspension | Day +10 | Account suspended; sending disabled; data retained 30 days |
| Termination risk | Day +30 | Account subject to termination; balance referred to collections |
Updating Payment Method
You may update your payment method at any time in your account billing settings. It is your sole responsibility to update expired or cancelled cards before your next renewal date. Mission Inbox is not liable for service interruptions caused by outdated payment credentials.
Price Changes
Mission Inbox reserves the right to modify subscription fees, included allowances, mailbox tier rates, domain rates, send pricing, and credit prices at any time subject to the following notice rules:
- Subscription fee and included allowance changes are communicated with a minimum of 30 days' notice via email to your registered address and/or in-app notification.
- Usage rate changes take effect at the start of the first full billing cycle following the notice period.
- Continued use of Mission Inbox after the effective date of any price change constitutes unconditional acceptance of the new rates.
- Grandfathered or promotional pricing applies only for the explicitly stated term and does not renew automatically unless confirmed in a written agreement signed by Mission Inbox.
- Enterprise contracts with fixed pricing schedules are governed by the individual contract, which supersedes this general policy for the duration of that contract.
Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Billing Cycle | A 30-day period beginning on your subscription activation or most recent renewal date. |
Renewal Date | The date on which your subscription renews, prior-period usage is collected, and included allowances reset. Simultaneously Day 1 of the new cycle. |
Included Allowance | The quantity of mailboxes, domains, or email sends covered by your subscription fee each cycle. Allowances reset every cycle, do not roll over, are non-transferable, and hold no cash value. |
Overage | Consumption above an included allowance. On Starter and Pro, overage is metered and billed as a usage charge. On Lite, overage results in an account pause rather than a charge. |
Account Pause | A halt to sending applied to a Lite account that has reached an included allowance. Resolved by upgrading to a higher plan. Distinct from suspension for non-payment. |
High Water Mark (HWM) | The maximum number of active mailboxes or domains connected at any single moment during a billing cycle. Your included allowance is deducted from this figure to determine the billable count for that period. |
Mailbox | A single email account (SMTP/IMAP credential pair) connected to Mission Inbox. Each unique pair is one billable unit. |
Domain | A root domain or subdomain connected to Mission Inbox's infrastructure. Each distinct domain string is a separate billable unit. Pro plan only; 5 included. |
Credit | A unit of consumption used by certain features (warmup, health scores). Priced at $0.50 each; billed as usage at renewal. Not covered by any plan allowance. |
Warmup | The automated process of gradually increasing send volume to build sender reputation for a mailbox or domain. An optional, separately billed feature charged in credits per month, including on units within your included allowance. |
Grace Period | The 2-calendar-day window after a subscription renewal during which a refund request for that subscription charge may be submitted. Applies to subscription fees only — never to usage charges. |
Usage Charges | All variable charges (mailboxes, domains, sends, credits) accrued above your included allowances during a cycle. Billed in arrears, collected at renewal, and non-refundable. |
This Billing Policy is incorporated by reference into the Mission Inbox Terms of Service (last updated December 28, 2025). In the event of any conflict between this document and the Terms of Service, the Terms of Service shall govern. For billing questions contact hey@missioninbox.com. Mission Inbox Inc., 2093 Philadelphia Pike #2171, Claymont, DE 19703.
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