What is this $5 charge from upgrading to Pay As You Go (PAYG)?

When you upgrade to a Pay As You Go (PAYG) plan, Alchemy places a temporary $5 pre-authorization hold on your payment method. This is not an actual charge - it’s a standard verification step used to confirm your card’s validity.

The hold is automatically canceled after verification by our payment processor Stripe, which typically happens in 7 days. Then your bank usually immediately releases the hold but it could take a few days longer depending on the bank.

Alchemy does not collect this $5, and you won’t be billed for it. Once released, the authorization will disappear from your statement. If you still have not seen this charge released, contact your bank.