Upgrade without a domain?

  • Unknown's avatar
    captainks1 · Member ·

    I want to upgrade to the Personal plan, to remove sponsored ads. But I DO NOT want a domain for which I will need to start paying for, a year later. I repeat… I DO NOT want a new domain… nor do I want to utilize one that I already own.

    I want…
    1) To purchase a Personal Plan — minimum to remove ads.
    2) To AVOID getting a ‘free domain’ (which becomes a ‘pay domain’ 1 year later).
    3) To continue using my simple UserName.wordpress.com.

    Is this possible?
    If not, why not? (if there is one, it’s not advertised)

    Thanks in advance! :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    themagicrobot · Member ·

    You can upgrade to a Personal plan on your site and skip the domain part if you’re happy with your current address.

  • Unknown's avatar
    captainks1 · Member ·

    How do you “skip” that part? I don’t see any opt-out or skip options. I was being asked to give a domain-name… with no way to skip. :(

    I’ve also read the Terms of Service and this is very vague. It almost seems as if I need to choose a domain and then let it expire after 1 year. But it’s vague as to whether or not that causes me to downgrade to a free plan… bringing back ads.

    Can anyone provide more detail on this… and a page that explains this more clearly, if available? Thanks in advance! :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    helper-heroponriki · Member ·

    @captainks – I just went through the purchase flow on a free site to Personal and I’m not prompted to add a domain to my purchase.

    After the purchase, there’s this screen where it asks me to “select a custom domain” but that can be skipped by clicking “View my new features” as shown here: screenshot https://d.pr/i/2UsaHv

    If you’re seeing something else, please take a screenshot of the problem in question. If you’re not familiar on how to take a screenshot, this support document will help explain how to make one:

    Take a Screenshot

    Then, use a service like Snipboard.io to upload the screenshot and then share the image link from that service here and we’ll take a closer look.

    Thanks!

  • Unknown's avatar
    captainks1 · Member ·

    helper-heroponriki This is getting really weird. Thanks for all of that effort, btw!
    Are you able to reply with the starting-URL… that got you to that page with “View my new features”?

    I’m noticing WordPress has MANY entries into their plans. I’m unable to find the one you’re seeing (the super-weird part). I’ll explain what I’m seeing, below.

    Btw, if helpful, I’m a old web-programmer, but new to WordPress (moving over from Blogspot). But I can still miss the super-obvious!! ;) And thanks for that about Snipboard.io!

    So I’m only finding 2 entry-paths into the plans. Here’s what I’m seeing for each… and neither gives me options to bypass Domain-purchasing/transferring.

    1) Enter from generic “pricing” page: https://wordpress.com/pricing/
    I see this page, allowing only entry of the domain-name to add:
    https://snipboard.io/q07utQ.jpg (“Filters” isn’t helpful for this)

    If I click on “Already own a domain,” I was hoping I would reach a page that would let me bypass this. But I reach this page, which doesn’t seem to provide that ability:
    https://snipboard.io/6tSgY1.jpg (none of the 5 clickable-options helps)
    Hmm… dunno.

    2) Log into my account. On either “Home” or via the left-side “Upgrades,” I can click to see the plans and then choose Personal. I’m then taken directly to a shopping-cart where the plan has been added (wth???). You can see there are no details. I don’t want to proceed… and spend $48 to then find that I hop into a similar “domain registration” path (which becomes billable in a year):

    Again… SO Weird!
    It feels that WordPress has complexified/mystified something simple. :(

    Any further ideas? Am I missing something obvious… or hidden? :)

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    Your step 2 is correct, you’ll be able to proceed there without adding a domain.

    You can do this too via https://wordpress.com/plans

  • Unknown's avatar
    captainks1 · Member ·

    staff-blorbo, I’m not sure I followed. See my last post.

    #2 just adds the plan to my shopping cart and no details. I fear that, after paying $48, I will be stuck in a “policy loop” where… I must pay for the domain after 1 year (I do not want this) but. then.. discontinuing the domain (ie. not renewing) sends me back to –> a free plan

      that has Ads showing again

    . :( There is nothing saying this won’t happen.

    I want to upgrade to Remove Ads… and also have No Domain required.

    I hope that makes more sense. It seems like a simple ask that’s overly-complicated. lol

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    If you complete number 2, you will not need to add a domain.

    If it prompts you to add a domain, there will be an option to skip that part.

    And, if you do add a free domain, you’re under absolutely no obligation to renew it the following year, you don’t even have to use it the first year if you don’t want to.

  • Unknown's avatar
    captainks1 · Member ·

    staff-blorbo OH… gotit! That must’ve been what helper-heroponriki was also saying. He must’ve been able to test and see that feature-bypass-path

      after

    purchase. Makes sense! :D

    If WordPress is interested, I might suggest they add that clarification (ie. “renewal not required”) next to the “free domain” feature. It might help others to proceed with upgrades. For myself, that “first year free” sounded disconcerting. ;)

    Anyways… THANKS SO MUCH!!

  • The topic ‘Upgrade without a domain?’ is closed to new replies.