How to Update Your Payment Method
Learn how to update your credit card, change your default payment method, or update billing information on your DNScale account.
Answer snapshot
DNScale uses Stripe's billing portal for payment method management — your card is never stored on DNScale's servers. From the dashboard, click Manage billing in Stripe to add or replace a card, change the default, or update billing address and tax ID. Available on every paid plan and PAYG; not visible on the free Nano Free plan.
What you'll learn
- Update or replace a credit card on your DNScale account through the Stripe billing portal
- Understand which plans and account types have access to payment method management
- Update billing details including name, address, and tax ID for accurate invoicing
- Troubleshoot common payment issues like declined cards and missing portal buttons
If your card has expired, you want to switch to a different card, or you need to update your billing address, you can do it directly from the DNScale dashboard. DNScale uses Stripe's secure billing portal to manage payment methods, so your card details are never stored on our servers.
Who Can Update Payment Methods
The payment method management option is available to users on any paid plan:
- Subscription plans (Nano, Pro, Pro Plus, Scale) — monthly or annual
- Pay As You Go — usage-based billing
Users on the free Nano Free plan do not have a payment method on file and will not see this option. If you upgrade to a paid plan, the option becomes available automatically.
If you are deciding between plans, see Paid Plans vs Pay As You Go for a detailed comparison of features, limits, and pricing at each tier.
How to Update Your Payment Method
- Sign in to your DNScale dashboard.
- Go to Settings from the sidebar.
- In the Current Subscription card, click the Manage Payment Method button.
- You will be redirected to a secure Stripe-hosted portal.
- From the portal, you can:
- Add a new credit or debit card
- Set a new card as your default payment method
- Remove old or expired cards
- Update your billing name, address, and tax ID
- When you are finished, click the back link to return to the DNScale dashboard.
Your changes take effect immediately. The next invoice will be charged to your updated default payment method.
Supported Payment Methods
DNScale accepts all major credit and debit cards through Stripe:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
Depending on your region, your bank may require 3D Secure (3DS) verification when adding a new card. The Stripe portal handles this automatically.
Updating Billing Information
In addition to payment methods, the billing portal lets you update:
- Billing name — the name that appears on your invoices
- Billing address — used for tax calculation and invoice formatting
- Tax ID — your VAT number or other tax identifier, validated automatically
These details are reflected on all future invoices.
Keeping your billing information accurate is especially important if your organization uses multi-user accounts, as invoices are generated at the account level regardless of how many users access the dashboard.
What Your Plan Covers
Regardless of which billing model you are on, your payment method covers access to the full DNScale platform. This includes:
- Managing DNS zones and all 14 record types including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, CAA, and more
- Anycast DNS with Global DNS Resolution Balancing
- DNSSEC key management for zone signing
- API access for automation via Terraform or DNSControl
- Zone import via file upload or AXFR transfer
To see how your query volume maps to your plan's allowance, check the DNS query usage panel in your dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I update my payment method if my card has already been declined?
Yes. Go to Settings and click Manage Payment Method. Add a new card and set it as default. The next billing attempt will use the new card.
Will updating my card affect my current subscription?
No. Updating your payment method does not change your plan, billing cycle, or any other subscription settings. It only changes which card is charged. Your DNS zones, records, and DNSSEC configuration remain unchanged.
I don't see the Manage Payment Method button.
This button only appears for users on a paid plan or Pay As You Go. If you are on the free Nano Free plan, you do not have a payment method on file. Upgrade to a paid plan to add a payment method.
Is it safe to enter my card details?
Yes. The payment portal is hosted entirely by Stripe, a PCI Level 1 certified payment processor. DNScale never sees or stores your full card number. For more on how DNScale handles security, see our approach to SSL/TLS certificates and DNS security.
Can I change my plan at the same time as updating my payment method?
Updating your payment method and changing your plan are separate actions. Update your card first, then switch plans from the Settings page. See Paid Plans vs Pay As You Go for guidance on choosing the right plan.
Related Guides
- Paid Plans vs Pay As You Go — Compare pricing models and find the right fit
- Understanding DNS Query Usage — Monitor your traffic to optimize plan selection
- Multi-User Accounts — Manage team access and permissions
- What is DNS? — Getting started with DNS fundamentals
- Domain Registrar vs DNS Hosting — Understand the services you are paying for
Frequently asked questions
- Why does DNScale redirect me to Stripe to update my card?
- DNScale is PCI-compliant by virtue of never handling card data — Stripe is the payment processor, and the billing portal is hosted by Stripe directly. Your card details are stored only in Stripe's vault; DNScale only ever sees a tokenised reference. Industry standard for SaaS, and removes the largest class of payment-data risks from DNScale's surface area.
- Can I add multiple cards to my account?
- Yes — Stripe's billing portal lets you add multiple payment methods and choose which is the default. The default card is charged on each invoice; if it fails, Stripe retries against backup cards before marking the invoice past-due.
- How do I update my billing address or VAT/tax ID?
- Open the Stripe billing portal from the DNScale dashboard, then click Update billing information. Changes apply to all future invoices; past invoices remain unchanged. EU customers should add their VAT ID here for reverse-charge compliance — DNScale will not charge VAT on B2B invoices to validated EU VAT numbers outside its country of establishment.
- Why is the Manage billing button not visible?
- Either you're on the free Nano Free plan (no payment method needed), or you signed in with a Member account that doesn't have billing permissions — only Admins see billing options. Switch to an Admin account or upgrade to a paid plan.
- What happens if my card declines?
- Stripe retries the charge over several days according to its smart-retry schedule. You receive email notifications and can update the card via the billing portal. If retries fail, your account moves to past-due status; DNS keeps resolving for a grace period, then services may be limited until the invoice is paid.
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