Invoicing and Automatic Billing
As part of our commitment to transparency and service continuity, starting July 23, 2025, HostGator has updated our invoicing and automatic billing workflows. The following guide outlines when and how your services renew, how automatic payments are processed, and the notifications you can expect to receive.
Log in to your Customer Portal and explore these helpful guides for step-by-step instructions:
- Customer Portal - Manage Credit Cards: Update or change your payment methods.
- Customer Portal - Billing History: Review your complete billing and payment history.
Invoicing and Automatic Payment Timeline
We process your renewal charges directly on your service expiration date. Unlike previous policies, we do not generate renewal invoices in advance. Instead, we create and email your invoice immediately after your payment is successfully completed.
Your renewal cycle determines when you receive reminders and when we attempt automatic charges:
| Item(s) Renewing | Renewal Cycle | Reminder Notifications | Automatic Charge Date | Invoice Generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting Packages | 1 Month | You receive reminder notifications before your renewal date | We attempt your renewal charge automatically on your renewal date using your payment method on file | We generate your invoice after successful payment |
| Addon Services | 1 Month | You receive reminder notifications before your renewal date | We attempt your renewal charge automatically on your renewal date using your payment method on file | We generate your invoice after successful payment |
| Hosting Packages & Addon Services | 3, 6, 12, 24, or 36 Months | If you have automatic billing enabled, you may receive advance renewal reminders before payment processing | We attempt your renewal charge automatically on your renewal date using your payment method on file | We generate your invoice after successful payment |
| Domain Renewals | 1 Year | If you have automatic billing enabled, you may receive advance renewal reminders before payment processing | We attempt your renewal charge automatically on your renewal date using your payment method on file | We generate your invoice after successful payment |
Notification Policy
We keep you informed about your account status so your websites and services run smoothly.
Upcoming Renewal Reminders
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You will receive reminder notifications before your service renewal date. If you have automatic billing enabled, you may get advance renewal reminders before your payment is processed.
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We will attempt to process your renewal charge automatically on your renewal date using the payment method you have on file. If your renewal rate changes or there is an issue with your payment, we will notify you right away.
Failed Payment Notifications
If your automatic payment attempt fails on your renewal date, we will send you a notification about the unsuccessful payment. We may send additional reminders to help you resolve the issue and avoid any service interruptions or data loss.
Automatic Payment Methods
Credit/Debit Card Backup Processing
You can enable automatic billing by keeping one or more credit or debit cards on file. When a renewal date arrives, our system automatically charges your primary card.
To prevent service interruptions due to expired, replaced, or declined cards, HostGator features Multi-Card Backup Processing:
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If your primary payment method fails, our system will immediately attempt to charge your next available saved payment method.
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The system will cycle through up to 4 different cards on file before returning to re-attempt the first card.
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To avoid manual intervention and potential downtime, we highly recommend keeping a backup card on file in your Customer Portal.
Manual Payments & Account Cancellations
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Disabling Auto-Pay: If you prefer to make manual payments, you can remove your saved cards. You will receive an email notification as soon as a renewal invoice is generated on your renewal date. For instructions, see Customer Portal - Make a Payment.
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PayPal Agreements: To link a PayPal account for automated billing, please follow our guide on the Customer Portal - PayPal Billing Agreements .
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Cancellations: If you no longer wish to renew your services, please submit a request before your renewal date by following the steps in How Do I Cancel My Account.