Billing Migration FAQ for Agencies

We’re upgrading to a unified, modern billing system to make agency purchases and client referrals smoother, faster, and more global. This change brings up-front payments, monthly and annual billing options, support for 26+ currencies, and more ways to pay—helping your agency save time, reduce admin, and scale with confidence. The rollout will happen in three phases between August and November 2025, with full support and clear guidance every step of the way.

Table of contents:

• Why is the billing system changing?
• What’s changing for agencies?
• What’s the migration timeline?
• Does this impact our current clients or subscriptions?
• What about our historical billing data and reporting? Will anything be lost?
• Will volume pricing or discounts change?
• How will recurring billing and renewals work on the new system?
• Our agency has unique or custom terms, will these still apply?
• Are there changes to client referrals and commissions?
• What are the benefits for agencies and clients?
• Which payment methods will be supported?
• Which currencies will be supported?
• What currency will my clients see within referrals?
• Can we now offer our clients the option of monthly and annual payments?
• Will agency attribution for referrals change?
• Is annual billing required for client referrals?
• Will payment methods need to be updated?
• Will I be double billed during this migration?
• Will there be a split billing phase?
• How will credits, coupons, or open balances be handled?
• What about compliance (VAT, GST, tax) and fraud prevention?
• Is there training or support available for agencies during the migration?
• Can we get hands-on migration support?
• How will these changes help my agency scale, stand out, and win more clients?
• Can my agency opt-out or delay the migration?
• What if I still have questions?

At Automattic for Agencies, we’re committed to streamlining and scaling everything your team does so you can focus on growth, not admin headaches. We’re migrating to a new, trusted billing system to bring you:

• A unified purchase and billing experience for all Automattic products.
• Upfront payments and support for 26+ currencies—enabling truly global reach.
• Annual and monthly payment options for hosting and products within Automattic for Agencies
• The ability to expand your payment options beyond credit cards—spend less time on manual invoicing, and built-in localized tax compliance.

This isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a smarter, faster way for you to serve clients anywhere, with the operational confidence and flexibility you need to win more business.

We’re streamlining our billing by consolidating multiple legacy systems into a single, unified platform, trusted by over 160 million customers worldwide. This upgrade will enhance the experience for both agency purchases and client referrals.

Here’s what you can expect:

• No more pay-for-what-you-use: All new purchases move to up-front payments, with both monthly and annual options. This gives you better billing predictability. 
• Global reach: Agencies and clients can now purchase hosting and products in their preferred local currency.
• New payment methods: We’ll soon offer additional payment methods, in addition to credit cards, to facilitate better expansion into global markets.
• Agency-first management: Access and manage all billing in one place.
• Streamlined credits/coupons: Apply them easily, right at checkout—no more back-and-forth with support.

You’ve told us efficiency and seamless workflows are mission-critical. We listened—and this migration is just the beginning.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the 3 phases so your agency knows what to expect and when:

Who’s affected?

• Referrals for new clients will begin using the updated billing platform. Only new client accounts and their subscriptions will shift to the new workflow. 
• Existing clients and existing agency accounts will not be impacted in phase 1.

What’s changing:

• Annual and monthly payment term options will become available during checkout.
• Up-front payments will be required for all new client referrals. 
• The addition of multiple currencies will become available.

When a new client referral is sent, the client will still create a WordPress.com account and manage their purchases just as they do today. The checkout experience will now follow a more familiar, standardized flow:

• Clients will add a payment method up front.
• Choose either an annual or monthly term for each new purchase.
• Complete payment during checkout.
• Subscriptions will be managed through the Automattic for Agencies portal.

Who’s affected?

• All agency accounts making their first purchase after this date will begin using the new billing system.
• Agency accounts that purchased before this date will remain on the old system for now.

What’s changing:

• Annual and monthly payment term options will become available during checkout for all purchases, including volume discounts.
• Up-front payments will be required for all purchases moving forward. 
• The addition of multiple currencies will become available.

Similar to phase 1, new agency accounts and pre-existing agency accounts making their first purchase will now follow the same standardized checkout process:

• Add a payment method up front.
• Choose either an annual or monthly term for each new purchase.
• Complete payment during checkout.
• Subscriptions will be managed through the Automattic for Agencies portal.

Who’s affected?

• All pre-existing agency and client accounts/subscriptions will be migrated to the new billing platform.
• You’ll be notified well in advance of your scheduled migration, with concise guidance provided for any required actions.

What’s changing:

• Annual/monthly term options, currency additions, a better credit/coupon system, and up-front payments will become standard for all new and existing purchases on agency and client accounts. 
• All pre-existing agency and client subscriptions will be migrated to the new billing system and will still be managed within the Automattic for Agencies portal. 

• You’ll receive updates before any change affects you.
• Our team and Automattic experts will be available for support and guidance.
• All credits, discounts, and billing history transfer automatically.

If your agency or clients need to update payment info or take any action, you’ll get step-by-step instructions with plenty of notice.

Not immediately. During the phased rollout (phases 1 & 2), only new client referrals will be migrated to the new platform. 

Your existing clients and subscriptions will continue as before, until our final migration phase, when we’ll seamlessly transition all pre-existing accounts. You’ll always receive advance notice and guidance before any changes are made to your book of business.

Nothing will be lost. Your complete billing and payment history will be securely migrated and accessible. If you need assistance finding or reconciling any records, our support team is here to help.

No changes to your current pricing or discount structures. Your volume discounts, referral commissions, and any existing agreements are fully protected and will remain in effect throughout the transition. Should anything require review (in rare cases involving custom contracts), our team will work with you individually, always providing ample notice.

Products and hosting will now be billed separately on their own recurring dates, based on when they were purchased. Instead of a single usage invoice with our old system, you’ll receive individual receipts for each.

For example, if a WordPress.com plan is purchased on July 22 and a Jetpack Complete license on July 28, each will renew on its respective date, monthly or annually, depending on the selected term.

• For monthly plans: Automatic renewal occurs on the expiration date of the plan.
• For annual plans: Automatic renewal occurs one month before the expiration date.

Learn more about renewals here

Absolutely. We value the strategic partnership we have with leading agencies like yours. If you have custom terms, rates, or commission levels, those will be honored through the migration. If any adjustment is necessary, our team will reach out directly and work collaboratively to ensure continuity.

No change to your referral flow, except now, your clients will pay up front, and in local currencies. Our goal is to make it effortless to recommend, reward, and repeat.

• Estimated commissions in the portal will remain displayed and paid out in USD, regardless of which currency your clients purchase in. Non-USD purchases will be converted to USD at the time of commission payouts.
• Referral payouts will still be based on the total value of your clients’ purchases during each payout period—whether monthly or annual.
• Payout dates will remain unchanged. 

For your agency:

• Revenue confidence: Upfront payments mean less chasing, more predictable cash flow, and lower administrative costs. 
• Global expansion: Serve clients worldwide in their local currencies. Clients outside the US will no longer have to deal with steep USD conversion rates.
• Time savings: Eliminate manual invoicing and reconciliation.
• Accessibility: More ways to pay for trusted Automattic products and hosting.
• Visibility: Easier ways to see and utilize credits and coupons.
   

For your clients:

• Choice: Pay in their local currency, with more payment options.
• Transparency: Simple, upfront pricing and taxes are shown at checkout.
• Peace of mind: Reliable, enterprise-grade payment processing from the team behind WordPress.com.

For phases 1 through 3, we will continue to support all major credit and debit cards. However, we are exploring additional options for late 2025 / early 2026, including PayPal, Apple Pay, and other country-specific gateways such as RazorPay and iDeal. 

If you or your clients have a preferred payment method that’s not yet available, let us know! We’re building this platform for your needs, and your feedback directly shapes our roadmap.

We will accept payment in the following currencies for all 3 phases of the billing system migration:

• USD (United States Dollars)
• EUR (Euro)
• AUD (Australian Dollars)
• GBP (British Pounds)
• BRL (Brazilian real)
• CAD (Canadian Dollars)
• CHF (Swiss Francs)
• CZK (Czech Koruna)
• DKK (Danish Krone)
• HKD (Hong Kong Dollars)
• HUF (Hungarian Forints)
• IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
• ILS (New Israeli Shekels)
• INR (Indian Rupees)
• JPY (Japanese Yen)
• MXN (Mexican Pesos)
• NOK (Norwegian Krone)
• NZD (New Zealand Dollars)
• PHP (Philippine Peso)
• PLN (Polish Zloty)
• RUB (Russian Rubles)
• SEK (Swedish Kronor)
• SGD (Singapore Dollars)
• THB (Thai Baht)
• TWD (New Taiwan Dollars)
• TRY (Turkish Lira)

• For the time being, when you send a referral order to your client anywhere in the world, their email invoice will display in USD only. Your client will see their localized currency, based on their geographic location, during checkout.
• If, for whatever reason, your client isn’t seeing their localized currency during checkout. Contact us and provide their preferred currency, and we will set it for them. (Limited to the currencies listed above)
• All of their recurring invoices will be billed in this currency, and any email receipt sent to them will also display the currency they initially paid with.
• Note: As an agency, your marketplace will continue to display in USD only, as well.

Yes! Agencies and clients can choose either monthly or annual billing for products and hosting during checkout. Many agencies have asked for annual options to simplify workflows and now it’s possible at checkout, globally.

Your agency always gets credit and attribution for every referral and purchase. Clients may complete payment through the current checkout flow, but their agency connection is never lost, and agency reporting will continue with complete transparency.

We know that payment culture varies by region. That’s why we’ll support both monthly and annual billing with 26+ currencies available. If you have local payment workflow questions, our support team can help you navigate options specific to your region and client base.

We’re working to make the migration as seamless as possible. In most cases, payment methods will carry over. In rare instances where a manual update is necessary (for example, if your bank requires re-authentication), we’ll provide ample notice and simple, step-by-step instructions, along with dedicated support, just in case.

Great question! To ensure a smooth transition, you may, just once, see a final invoice for your legacy usage period (billed in arrears, since we currently bill on the first of the month, for the previous month’s usage), then a new, up-front charge for your next billing period. 

This is a one-time overlap, and you’ll always be notified in advance. We’ll provide guides, calendar reminders, and template communications, so nothing catches you (or your clients) by surprise.

We’ll make it easy. Due to the phased roll-out of the migration, agencies and clients won’t have split billing instances. Phases 1 & 2 will enable the new billing system for new clients and agencies making their first purchases. Phase 3 will completely migrate all pre-existing clients and agencies to the new system and workflows.

Any unused credits or coupons you already have will be automatically migrated. The new system makes it easy to see available credits and apply them instantly at checkout—no more support tickets or delays.

You can trust that every transaction will be fully compliant with local laws (VAT, GST, and more), and that payments are protected by world-class fraud prevention. Up-front payments minimize risk for your agency and reduce the need for manual intervention.

Absolutely! We’re hosting live webinars, releasing new walkthroughs, and updating our knowledge base to make sure your team is ready. Our agency support team is here for you every step of the way, whether you want a personalized walk-through or just have a quick question.

Yes. For agencies with advanced needs, we offer custom migration support. If you’d like an early consultation or test migration, let us know. We’ll work together to ensure your transition is smooth and your workflows are uninterrupted.

We believe every agency deserves best-in-class tools, partnerships, and opportunities, without the burden of fragmented systems. With unified billing, deeper reports, multi-currency support, and the backing of Automattic’s family of brands, you’re free to serve bigger clients, expand globally, and run your agency with absolute confidence.

It’s not just billing. It’s a foundation for easier growth, less admin, and greater success for every agency in our community.

If you have any concerns about the transition, let us know. Our goal is a smooth, seamless move for all customers. If action is needed on your part, like updating a payment method, you’ll have plenty of time, and your service won’t be disrupted.

Our team is always here to help. Contact us and let us know how we can help.