When you add another channel connection to Octopods, one of three things can happen:
You already have available capacity and can connect a channel without changing your subscription.
Your existing subscription is full and needs more capacity.
The new channel requires a different subscription that you do not have yet.
You can handle this while adding a channel from your workspace, or manage your subscriptions directly from Billing → Subscriptions.
How subscription capacity works
Different Octopods subscriptions cover different types of connections:
Subscription | Capacity |
Omnichannel | Supported messaging channels |
WhatsApp for Intercom | WhatsApp Business numbers |
For example, adding another Telegram channel can use available Omnichannel capacity, while adding a WhatsApp Business number to Intercom requires WhatsApp capacity.
There are some channel-specific exceptions:
WhatsApp Cloud on HubSpot uses Omnichannel capacity.
Viber Business Messages requires an Omnichannel subscription but does not consume a regular self-service Omnichannel slot. VBM setup and billing are managed separately.
For the complete plan and channel breakdown, see Subscription Plans Overview.
What happens when I add another channel?
Octopods checks the subscription required for the channel you are connecting.
Your account | What you need to do |
You have the required subscription and available capacity | Continue connecting the channel. No billing change is needed. |
You have the required subscription, but all capacity is in use | Increase the quantity of the existing subscription. |
You do not have the required subscription | Start a new subscription for that product. |
For example, if you already have Omnichannel and want to add another Telegram channel, Octopods checks for an available Omnichannel slot.
If you have Omnichannel and want to add a WhatsApp Business number to Intercom, Octopods instead asks you to start a WhatsApp subscription.
Option 1: Add a channel from your workspace
Use this route when you are already trying to connect a new channel.
Step 1: Start connecting the channel
Open Workspaces.
Select the workspace where you want to add the channel.
Open Channels.
Select Add Channel.
Choose the channel you want to connect and continue the setup.
Step 2: Upgrade if no capacity is available
If your subscription has an available slot, continue connecting the channel without making any billing changes.
If all available slots are already in use:
Select the upgrade button shown in the Subscription Upgrade Required prompt, such as Add more channels or Add more accounts, depending on the subscription.
Review your current capacity, your capacity after the change, any amount due for the remainder of the current billing period, your new recurring subscription price, and the payment method that will be charged.
Select Confirm change if the proposed upgrade is correct.
If you want a different quantity, select Choose a different number. Octopods opens the subscription page, where you can choose the total capacity you want.
After the upgrade succeeds, continue the channel setup from where you left off.
Octopods initially prepares the additional capacity needed for the connection you are adding.
Option 2: Manage capacity from Billing
Use this option when you want to arrange your subscription before connecting the new channel.
From Billing → Subscriptions, you can either increase a subscription you already have or add a different product.
If you already have the required subscription
Open Billing.
Select Subscriptions.
Find the plan under Active subscriptions.
Select Manage.
Use the − and + controls, or enter the new total quantity you want.
Select Review change.
Choose the total quantity you want after the change, not the number you want to add.
For example, if you currently have 3 Omnichannel slots and want one more, change the quantity to 4.
Octopods shows the billing impact before applying the change.
Review:
Your current quantity.
Your new quantity.
Any amount due for the remainder of the current billing period.
Your new recurring subscription price.
The payment method that will be charged.
When everything looks correct, select Confirm change.
After the change succeeds, the additional capacity is available immediately.
If you need a different subscription
If the channel you want to add requires a product you do not currently have:
Open Billing.
Select Subscriptions.
Find the required plan under Add a product.
Select Subscribe.
Choose the quantity you need.
Review the price, payment method, and first-charge information.
Confirm the subscription.
After the subscription is created, its capacity is available for use.
For details about starting a new subscription, see Subscribing to a Plan.
How am I charged when I increase an existing subscription?
Increasing the quantity of an existing subscription takes effect immediately.
If you make the change during an active billing period, Octopods calculates the cost of the additional capacity for the remaining time in that billing period.
Before you confirm, Octopods shows the exact billing impact.
If an amount is due:
The prorated amount is charged and invoiced when you select Confirm change.
The prorated amount is not added to your next renewal invoice.
From your next renewal, you pay the new recurring subscription price.
For example, if you add a slot partway through your billing period, you pay only for that additional slot for the remainder of the period.
In some cases, Octopods may show Nothing is charged today. The change still takes effect immediately, and the confirmation window shows when the new recurring amount applies.
How am I charged when I add a different subscription?
A new product is billed separately from the subscriptions you already have.
Before you confirm a new subscription, Octopods shows:
The selected product and quantity.
The subscription price.
The payment method.
Whether payment is due immediately or eligible free time applies.
When the first charge will happen.
Adding a new product does not change the quantity or billing of your other subscriptions.
For the complete billing and trial rules when starting a new subscription, see Subscribing to a Plan and Free Trial.
Which payment method is used?
When increasing an existing subscription, the confirmation window shows the payment method that will be charged.
When starting a new subscription, you can review or select the payment method during checkout.
For information about adding or changing saved cards, see Managing Payment Methods.
Where can I find the invoice?
If increasing an existing subscription creates an immediate charge, you can find the invoice under Billing → Invoices.
You can also open the relevant subscription from Billing → Subscriptions → Manage. If invoices are available for that product, they appear under Invoices for this product, with See all in Invoices → available to view the full invoice history.
What happens after I add capacity or a new subscription?
Your new capacity is available as soon as the subscription change succeeds.
Existing connections remain connected. Purchasing additional capacity or starting another subscription does not automatically connect a new channel.
To use the capacity:
If you made the change while connecting a channel, continue the setup from where Octopods returns you.
If you made the change from Billing, select Manage channels → from the subscription page, then choose the workspace where you want to connect the channel.
For general channel setup instructions, see Adding a New Channel.
Does adding capacity increase my messaging allowance?
Yes.
Increasing subscription quantity adds channel capacity and increases the Self-serve included messaging allowance.
Self-serve accounts include 50,000 messages per subscribed channel per month. Premium accounts have a custom messaging allowance agreed with the Octopods team.
See Messaging Limits and Included Messages for details.
What if my subscription is managed by Octopods?
Some existing or custom subscriptions cannot be changed through the self-service quantity controls.
If a subscription shows Managed by our team under Billing → Subscriptions, contact Octopods Support to change it.
Do not create another subscription to replace a managed subscription unless the Octopods team asks you to do so.
What if I want to reduce my capacity?
To reduce the quantity of an existing subscription, see Downgrading Your Subscription.
You cannot reduce a subscription below the capacity currently in use, so you may need to deactivate connections first.
What should I do if I cannot add or upgrade a subscription?
If Octopods cannot complete the change, follow the message shown on the screen.
Common reasons include:
You are not an account admin. Ask an account admin to make the billing change.
The selected quantity cannot be used. Adjust the quantity based on the message shown.
The pricing preview is no longer current. Select Review change again to calculate an updated amount.
The subscription is managed by Octopods. Contact Octopods Support to request the change.
If an upgrade is not completed, your existing subscription quantity and connected channels remain unchanged.