Ars Pro and Ars Pro++ Details & FAQ

This page addresses questions related to the Ars Pro and Ars Pro ++ subscriber offerings. Please consult the information below before contacting support.

NB: We ask that you read through our User Agreement and Privacy Policy before creating an account or purchasing a subscription.

Why are you selling subscriptions? What is the money used for?

The Ars subscriber program launched in July of 2001. Since then, it has played a critical role in the mission of Ars Technica. In particular, subscriber revenue has been used to support the creation of new content and the operation of community offerings like the Ars OpenForum, sending editors and writers to conferences and product launches, liveblogs of live events, paying freelancers for specialty and technical content, and much more.

We also offer subscriptions because our readers have asked for them. Nearly all of the features provided by Ars Pro and Ars Pro ++ were suggested or inspired by readers.

If I buy a Subscription, what do I get?

Our constantly evolving list of subscriber benefits is listed here. All features are provided as-is, without warranty or representation. Features may change or be removed at any time. You are free to cancel at any time.

Note that use of the Ars Technica website is free, and a subscription is not needed to access the site or its public content.

How much does a Subscription cost?

We offer three payment tiers:

• $3 a month subscription for Ars Pro
• $25 a year subscription for Ars Pro
• $50 a year subscription for Ars Pro ++

How will I be billed for my subscriptions?

Subscriptions will use a secure tokenized payment transaction through Stripe or Paypal.

NB: By default, all plans will be re-billed automatically. If you would like to update your payment preferences or cancel the re-billing of your account, you can manage those options through your Ars Technica subscriptions page depending on your payment method.

1. Visit your account subscriptions page
2. Find your current subscription and click View
3. The actions section will have options for adjusting your subscription.

Will Stripe retain my credit card information?

Yes, as long as your account is set to re-bill automatically, Stripe must keep your credit card information on file to perform the regular re-billing. We have investigated Stripe's security mechanisms and have been thoroughly satisfied that they are taking precautions to keep this information safe and secure.  Stripe is an industry leader in online credit card transactions and have an incredible track record.  Our process with Stripe prevents even our servers from ever seeing your credit card details.

Read more about Stripe's security.

What if I want to remove my payment information?

Cancel your subscription from the account subscriptions page.  Additionally, check the payment methods page and remove any saved payment methods.  *Note: cancelling your subscription removes auto re-billing, but your subscription features will stay intact through the duration of your paid period.

What if I don't want Ars Technica to store my credit card details?

Your credit card number never reaches our servers or is stored in our database.  Instead when you checkout with our secure credit card form from Stripe, your card details are sent directly from your browser to Stripe for processing.  Ars Technica only receives a reference token for future billing.

What happens if I stop my account from re-billing after I've paid?

When you stop your subscription from re-billing, your subscription will continue until the date it would have naturally re-billed. If there is no further intervention on your part, your subscription will simply expire. You can resubscribe at any point before or after this happens.

How do I manage my subscription, my profile?

You can edit your subscription billing details on your subscription account page.

Can I gift a subscription?

Sure! Just head here.  Note that currently subscription gift credits can only be applied to new subscriptions.  However if you gift a subscription and the recipient is already a subscriber, contact us about applying credit to their existing subscription.

Where is the PDF Library?

Links to PDF files are available on each article page and will appear when logged in with your subscriber account.

Where is my Ars profile, and how do I edit it?

You can access your Ars Technica profile by accessing the following URL: https://arstechnica.com/civis/account/. From this page you can edit your profile, change your account's email address, etc.

How can I tell what kind of subscription I have or when it expires?

Just visit your subscription account page, everything you need should be found up there.

Where do I find my personalized full text RSS feeds?

You can find them here.

Can I share my full text RSS feeds with my friends?

No, we ask that you do not.  We actively monitor the number of subscriptions to each feed, and any hint of abuse will result in your feeds being deactivated and may result in your account being suspended.

I've purchased a subscription but I'm still seeing banner ads on the front page or articles, what can I do?

If you've successfully paid and are still seeing ads on the site, try clicking the logout link and then logging back in. If you are still not seeing the ads-free layout, or any of the other subscriber benefits like PDF access, please visit our contact page and select "Technical/Subscription Support" from the drop-down menu and we'll get it straightened out.

I'm having an issue not covered here, what can I do?

Visit our contact page and select "Technical/Subscription Support" from the drop-down menu and we'll help you get it figured out.