Upgrading unlocks more publishing capacity, AI credits, A/B test sessions, and features like cart publishing and Shopify Markets. This guide walks through upgrading inside Instant.
When to upgrade
From | Upgrade when you need… |
Free | To publish more, use AI credits, add a Liquid code block, or remove the Instant badge |
Starter | Cart drawer, draft themes, A/B testing, heatmaps, or more sections and templates |
Pro | Higher AI and A/B session caps, or Shopify Markets across all layout types |
Compare tiers in Compare plans before committing.
How to upgrade
Open Settings → Plans in the dashboard.
Review your Current plan banner — it shows your plan name, limits, and price.
On the plan you want, click Switch to.
Approve the subscription charge to confirm. Nothing changes until you complete this step — abandoning the confirmation screen leaves you on your current plan.
Your site's entitlements update once the upgrade is confirmed.
If features still appear locked right after upgrading, refresh the builder. Contact support if entitlements don't update.
You can also upgrade from the builder's Plan panel, which runs the same flow.
What changes
Upgrading raises your limits and unlocks features immediately:
AI credits — your monthly allowance increases to the new plan's amount
Publishing — higher reusable section and template limits, plus home-page publishing on Starter and up
Features — cart drawer and draft themes on Pro and up, A/B testing and heatmaps on Pro and up, and Shopify Markets across layouts on Business
Branding — the Instant badge is removed when you move off Free
Existing published content stays live. You only republish if you want to apply a newly unlocked feature.
7-day trial pop up
When you're starting out on a project without an active plan, Instant shows a pop up offering a free 7-day Starter trial as you open the builder. It doesn't appear on Shopify development stores, which can use Instant for free anyway.
Click Start free 7-day trial and approve the Starter subscription to begin. Nothing is charged during the trial.
A trial converts to the paid plan unless you cancel it before it ends — cancel through the same flow as Downgrade or cancel. If you cancel before the trial ends, you won't be charged anything.
Billing cycle
You can be billed monthly or annually; your Current plan banner shows which. Downgrades follow different rules — see Downgrade or cancel.
After upgrading
Publish a cart drawer — ask the Agent to build a Cart layout
Create an A/B test — see Create an A/B test
Open click and scroll heatmaps — see Click and scroll heatmaps
Set up Shopify Markets (Business) — see Shopify Markets and localization