# Local Top Experts: Free and Plus

Canonical page: https://localtopexperts.com/plans

Free is $0. Plus is $19 per month, per profile.

## Features

| Feature | Benefit | Free | Plus |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Your essential business information | Give visitors a clear starting point: who you are, what you do, and how to reach you. | Included | Included |
| Languages | Help people see whether you speak their preferred language. | Included | Included |
| License details and online profile links | Make it easier to explore your professional background and other profiles. | Included | Included |
| Areas of expertise | Show the specific services and types of work you want to be known for. | Prepare privately | Publish on your profile |
| Areas served | Show visitors where you work beyond your primary location. | Prepare privately | Publish on your profile |
| Credentials and awards | Give your relevant training and recognition a dedicated place to stand out. | Prepare privately | Publish on your profile |
| An introductory YouTube video | Let visitors hear from you and get a feel for your approach. | Prepare privately | One highlighted video |
| Your approach and common questions | Explain what working with you is like and answer questions before someone reaches out. | Prepare privately | Publish on your profile |
| Appointment booking link | Give visitors a direct route to your existing scheduling page. | Prepare privately | Publish on your profile |
| Interactive questions about your business | Help visitors explore your background and services, with answers linked to the supporting details on your profile. | Suggested questions | Suggested and custom questions |
| Voice questions on your profile | Let visitors speak their question instead of typing, with OpenAI-powered transcription where available. | Not included | Included on supported browsers |
| Natural-language guided search | Visitors can describe the help they need. AI can interpret their request before the directory applies the same relevance rules to every profile. | Included | Included |
| Search-readable profile information | Publish structured information about your business and applicable profile sections so search engines and AI tools can understand what is on the page. | Basic profile information | Basic and published Plus sections |

## Questions and billing terms

### Can I buy Plus without buying other Optimize5 services?

Yes. Local Top Experts Plus is a standalone profile upgrade for $19 per month, per profile. It adds richer content to your Local Top Experts profile, including areas of expertise, credentials, awards, an introductory video, a booking link and custom profile questions. You do not need to purchase Optimize5’s Online Brand Optimization service. Plus does not include management of your listings on other websites or the Verified Profile badge.

### Can visitors ask questions about my business?

Yes. Profile visitors can choose suggested questions. Plus also lets them type their own question or use voice input on a supported browser. Answers show matching published profile information and link to supporting details. When there is not enough information, visitors are encouraged to contact you. The more useful information you publish, the more there is for visitors to explore.

### How does Local Top Experts use OpenAI?

OpenAI supports interpretation of natural-language requests in guided search and transcription of optional voice questions. Profile answers currently match information already published on that profile; they are not unrestricted AI-generated answers. These tools help visitors explore information, without independently verifying claims or guaranteeing recommendations in ChatGPT or other external AI services.

### Can I keep a Free profile without upgrading?

Yes. Free is a public business profile, not a trial that requires a paid upgrade. Visitors can find your essential business information, background, languages, license details and online profile links. You can maintain that information without buying Plus or other Optimize5 services.

### How can a richer profile help my business?

A richer profile gives people more information to consider, whether they discover you in the directory or already have your name from a referral. Share your expertise, introduce yourself on video, explain your approach and make the next step easier. Public profile pages use structured data to help search tools understand the information shown. This does not guarantee search rankings, AI recommendations, traffic, inquiries or sales.

### Am I committing to a year?

No. Plus is billed monthly, per profile, and renews automatically until you cancel. There is no annual agreement or long-term commitment.

### How do I cancel, and when does it take effect?

You can cancel anytime from the Plan and Billing section of your account. Just cancel before your next renewal to avoid another charge. You’ll keep your Plus features through the end of your paid billing period, then your profile automatically returns to Free.

### Can I turn Plus back on later?

Absolutely. You can upgrade again whenever you’re ready. Any Plus information you’ve already entered is saved privately while you’re on Free, so you won’t have to start over. A new subscription begins when you upgrade again.

### Are unused days refunded?

There are no refunds or credits for unused subscription time, except where required by law or approved by our team. Canceling stops future renewals; it does not automatically issue a refund.

### Can I prepare my Plus profile before paying?

Yes. You can add information and preview the Plus features in your account before upgrading. Those details stay private until you activate Plus.

### Does Plus include a higher search ranking or Verified Profile badge?

No. Free, Plus and Verified Profiles follow the same search ranking rules. Payment and verification status do not improve organic placement, even when relevance is tied. Plus gives you more ways to showcase your business, without guaranteeing leads or results. The Verified Profile badge is tied to a separate qualifying Optimize5 Online Brand Optimization service.

### I already work with Optimize5. Do I need to pay for Plus?

Not necessarily. Plus benefits are already included with qualifying active Optimize5 Online Brand Optimization services. Check your account before purchasing, since other Optimize5 services don’t automatically include Plus.

### Why does Optimize5 appear when I sign in or pay?

Local Top Experts is a product of Optimize5, which manages your account and billing. Your public profile appears on Local Top Experts, and purchasing Plus won’t change any other Optimize5 services you have.