Knao Direct Billing Subscription Terms

1. Overview

These Direct Billing Subscription Terms ("Subscription Terms") are a binding agreement between you and DAO OF KNOWING PTE. LTD. ("we," "our," or "us"), the company that operates Knao. They govern only Knao Pro subscriptions, promotional trials, and referral benefits offered directly by Knao through the Knao website or a Knao app distributed outside an app store, and billed through Stripe ("Direct Billing Subscriptions"). These terms are in addition to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

These Subscription Terms do not govern the purchase, billing, renewal, cancellation, or refund of a subscription bought through Apple In-App Purchase or Google Play Billing. Apple or Google handles those transactions under the terms and account controls that apply to the purchaser's store account. Our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy still apply to the use of Knao.

When supported, an active store-billed entitlement and an active Direct Billing Subscription can unlock the same Knao Pro product benefits on supported Knao surfaces when connected to the same Knao account. This account-level access does not combine or transfer the separate Apple, Google, and Stripe billing relationships. A subscription must be managed and cancelled through the billing provider through which it was purchased.

By starting a Direct Billing Subscription or promotional trial, or by participating in the referral program described in Section 12, you agree to these Subscription Terms. If these Subscription Terms conflict with the Terms of Service on billing, trials, renewals, cancellation, or referral rewards, these Subscription Terms control for that subject.

2. Subscription Plans

Knao does not offer a free product tier. An active paid trial or subscription is required to access Knao's subscriber product.

2.1 Knao Pro

Knao Pro provides paid access to broader and deeper Knao reading features, including:

• Access to up to 5 active industry topics, including standard and custom topics where available
• One focused Knao deep read per active industry topic each day
• Up to approximately 150 in-depth analyses per month when 5 industry topics remain active

2.2 Existing Plans

Some existing subscribers may remain on an earlier plan. Earlier plans may continue under their existing terms unless changed, cancelled, migrated, or otherwise updated through the subscription experience. Earlier plans are not necessarily available for new public purchase.

2.3 Pricing

Knao Pro's regular subscription prices and current Knao direct-billing prices are:

• Knao Pro: regular price $17.99 USD per month; Knao direct-billing price $15.00 USD per month
• Knao Pro Annual: regular price $179.99 USD per year; Knao direct-billing price $150.00 USD per year

Direct-billing trial eligibility, promotional pricing, plan availability, and prices are subject to change with notice as described in Section 8. The checkout flow will show the applicable price before you subscribe.

3. Billing and Payment

3.1 Payment Processing

All Direct Billing Subscription payments are processed securely through Stripe. By subscribing through an eligible Knao direct-billing surface, you authorize us to charge your payment method for the subscription fee and any applicable taxes.

3.2 Billing Cycle

Your Direct Billing Subscription begins on the date of your initial payment or trial checkout. Monthly subscriptions renew automatically each month, and annual subscriptions renew automatically each year. Promotional trials convert to the disclosed renewal plan at the end of the trial period unless cancelled before renewal.

3.3 Automatic Renewal

YOUR DIRECT BILLING SUBSCRIPTION WILL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW at the end of each billing period unless you cancel before the renewal date. You will be charged the then-current subscription fee using your stored payment method.

3.4 Failed Payments

If a payment fails, we may attempt to charge your payment method again. If payment continues to fail, your access to premium features may be suspended until payment is resolved.

3.5 Plan Changes and Upgrades

If plan changes are made available, we may update your existing Stripe subscription instead of canceling and recreating it. Stripe may calculate prorated credits for unused time on your current plan and prorated charges for the new plan. These adjustments are generally handled as invoice credits or charges inside Stripe and are not automatic cash refunds.

4. Trial and Promotions

We may offer trial periods or promotional pricing for Direct Billing Subscriptions at our discretion. The current public Pro trial, when available and when you are eligible, costs $2.00 USD for seven days and then automatically renews at $15.00 USD per month unless cancelled before renewal. If a trial or promotion is offered, the checkout flow will disclose the trial length, promotional price, renewal price, and cancellation terms before you subscribe.

An eligible new customer who creates an account through a valid subscriber referral link may receive fourteen days of Knao Pro trial access for the same $2.00 USD promotional price. This referred offer then automatically renews at $15.00 USD per month unless cancelled before renewal. Promotional trials are available with monthly billing only, are limited to one per eligible account, and may not be combined with another promotional trial.

5. Cancellation

5.1 How to Cancel

You may cancel future renewal of a Direct Billing Subscription at any time through:

• Your account settings on the Subscription page
• The Stripe Customer Portal accessed via "Manage Billing"

An Apple In-App Purchase or Google Play Billing subscription must be cancelled through the corresponding store account. Cancelling a Direct Billing Subscription does not cancel a store-billed subscription, and cancelling a store-billed subscription does not cancel a Direct Billing Subscription.

5.2 Effect of Cancellation

When you cancel future renewal:

• Your subscription will not renew at the end of the current billing or trial period
• You will retain access to your subscribed features until the end of your paid or trial period, unless otherwise stated at checkout
• After the paid or trial period ends, access to subscriber features and content will stop until you subscribe again
• Your saved content and preferences will be retained subject to our Terms of Service

Cancellation stops future renewal. It does not mean immediate account deletion, immediate loss of already-paid access, or an automatic refund.

5.3 Reactivation

If your subscription is scheduled for cancellation but has not yet expired, you may reactivate it through the Stripe Customer Portal. If your subscription has already expired, you will need to subscribe again.

6. Refund Policy

6.1 General Policy

Direct Billing Subscription and direct-billing trial fees are generally non-refundable. However, we may provide refunds or credits at our discretion in the following circumstances:

• Technical issues preventing access to paid features
• Duplicate charges or billing errors
• Exceptional cases reviewed by Knao at its discretion

6.2 Accidental-Renewal Refunds

If a monthly or annual Direct Billing Subscription renews after you no longer intended to continue, including the first monthly renewal following a promotional trial, you may request an accidental-renewal refund within seven calendar days after the renewal charge, provided you have not accessed or used any Knao Pro subscriber content or subscriber-only features after that renewal.

Signing in solely to view account or billing settings, cancel the subscription, or contact support does not count as subscription use. Eligibility is determined using the latest successful renewal and the account activity recorded after that payment. If approved, the corresponding Direct Billing Subscription will be cancelled and access for the refunded period will end.

Stripe does not return its original payment-processing fees to us. Unless required otherwise by applicable law, an approved accidental-renewal refund will therefore equal the renewal charge minus those non-refundable fees. A duplicate or incorrect charge caused by our billing or technical error will be refunded in full.

This accidental-renewal policy applies only to Direct Billing Subscriptions billed through Stripe. Refund requests for Apple In-App Purchase or Google Play Billing must be submitted to the corresponding store and remain subject to that store's refund rules and decisions.

6.3 Requesting a Refund

To request a refund for a Direct Billing Subscription, please contact us at contact@knao.ai with your account email and reason for the request. Refund requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Refund requests for Apple In-App Purchase or Google Play Billing must be submitted to the corresponding store and are subject to that store's applicable refund rules and decisions.

Nothing in this Refund Policy limits any refund, cancellation, or other consumer right that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

7. Service Availability

We strive to maintain continuous availability of subscription features but do not guarantee uninterrupted service. We are not liable for temporary service interruptions due to maintenance, technical issues, or circumstances beyond our control.

8. Changes to Subscription

8.1 Price Changes

We may change Direct Billing Subscription prices with at least 30 days' notice before your next billing date. You will have the opportunity to cancel before the new price takes effect. Continued use after a price change constitutes acceptance of the new price.

8.2 Feature Changes

We may modify, add, or remove subscription features at any time. We will notify subscribers of significant changes that materially reduce the value of the subscription.

9. Account Sharing

Your subscription is for your personal use only. You may not share your account credentials or allow others to access subscription features through your account. Violation of this policy may result in account suspension or termination without refund.

10. Termination by Knao

We reserve the right to terminate your subscription and access to paid features if you:

• Violate our Terms of Service or these Subscription Terms
• Engage in fraudulent activity or abuse of the service
• Fail to pay subscription fees

In cases of termination for cause, no refund will be provided. In cases of termination without cause by Knao, we will provide a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of your subscription.

11. Taxes

Direct Billing Subscription fees do not include taxes. You are responsible for any applicable sales tax, VAT, GST, or other taxes based on your location. Taxes will be calculated and displayed at checkout.

12. Invite Friends Referral Program

12.1 Eligibility and Attribution

A Knao subscriber with an active paid trial or subscription may receive a personal referral link to share with people who may genuinely benefit from Knao. The link is available and valid only while the inviter has active subscriber access. The invited person must use that link to create an eligible new account. A referral is attributed to one inviter, and account creation alone does not earn reward days. Self-referrals, duplicate or artificial accounts, automated activity, misleading promotion, spam, and other attempts to manipulate the program are prohibited.

12.2 Invitee Benefit

An eligible referred customer who purchases through a Knao direct-billing surface receives the referred trial described in Section 4: fourteen days of Knao Pro for $2.00 USD, including seven additional days at no additional cost compared with the standard seven-day offer. The referred offer automatically renews at $15.00 USD per month unless cancelled before the renewal date shown at checkout.

12.3 Inviter Rewards

An eligible inviter may earn up to seven Knao subscription days for each qualifying referral:

• Three days after the referred customer successfully starts the paid $2.00 trial
• Four additional days after that customer's first recurring monthly payment succeeds

Each milestone may be rewarded only once for a referred account. Reward days are promotional subscription extensions only. They have no cash value, are not transferable, cannot be sold, and do not reduce or refund a payment already charged.

12.4 Applying Reward Days

Earned days accumulate in the inviter's referral balance. After each successful Knao Pro Direct Billing Subscription payment by the inviter, we may automatically apply up to seven available reward days by moving the next Stripe billing date. Any remaining balance carries forward while the account remains open and in good standing. Reward days are not applied to the initial $2.00 trial payment and cannot be redeemed separately for cash or another product.

Referral activity and earned reward balances are connected to the subscriber's Knao account. However, reward days cannot change or extend an Apple In-App Purchase or Google Play Billing period because the relevant store controls that renewal. Reward days remain in the Knao referral balance and may be applied when the subscriber has an eligible Direct Billing Subscription, subject to these Subscription Terms.

12.5 Reversals, Abuse, and Program Changes

A reward may be withheld or reversed if its qualifying payment is refunded, disputed, reversed, fraudulent, or otherwise invalid. We may investigate referral activity and suspend links, disqualify referrals, reverse improperly obtained rewards, or suspend accounts where we reasonably believe there has been abuse or a violation of these Terms.

The referral program is promotional and may be modified, suspended, or ended. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes where practicable. Changes will not remove legitimately earned reward days except where reversal is permitted under these Subscription Terms or required by law. Participants are responsible for any taxes arising from referral benefits and must comply with applicable laws when sharing referral links.

12.6 Referral Information

An inviter may see the referred customer's masked email address, account-creation date, milestone status, and reward activity. Our collection and use of referral information is governed by the Privacy Policy.

13. Contact

For Direct Billing Subscription billing questions or subscription support, please contact:

Email: contact@knao.ai