Downgrade Guide
How to switch from a paid plan to the free plan
Please Check Before Downgrading
Free Plan Limitations
The free plan allows only up to 20 books per file.
- Files with 20 or fewer books: Can be used normally
- Files with 21 or more books: View, split, and delete only (editing and saving disabled)
If your current file has 21 or more books, we recommend splitting your books before downgrading.
How to Store Unlimited Books on the Free Plan
Even on the free plan, you can store unlimited books by splitting them across multiple files.
- Example: Organize by genre (Fiction.rfnote, Business.rfnote, Technical.rfnote, etc.)
- Example: Organize by year (2024 Reading.rfnote, 2025 Reading.rfnote, etc.)
How to Split Books (If You Have 21+ Books)
Before downgrading, split your books with 21 or more entries into multiple files. This allows you to continue managing all your books on the free plan.
First, log in to Reading Forest and load the file containing the books you want to split.
Click the " Book List" button in the top menu.
All registered books will be displayed in a list.
"Book List" button in the menu bar
Check the boxes next to the books you want to split.
- You can select multiple books at once
- Example: Select only business books to split into a separate file
- Example: Select only finished books to split into an archive file
- Make sure to split so each file has 20 or fewer books
Calculation Example
If you currently have 30 books:
- File A: Keep 20 books
- File B: Split off 10 books
Or:
- File A: Keep 15 books
- File B: Split off 15 books
When you select books, a " Save to file" button appears at the bottom of the screen.
Click this button.
"Save to file" button
A dialog will appear to choose the save location and filename.
Give it a descriptive name.
- Example: "Business Books.rfnote"
- Example: "2024 Reading.rfnote"
- Example: "Archive.rfnote"
- Example: "Finished Books.rfnote"
After saving, the selected books remain selected.
Click the " Delete" button to remove books from the original file.
State After Splitting
- Original file: Delete the selected books (only remaining books)
- New file: Contains only the selected books
- Both files can be edited independently if they have 20 or fewer books
Repeat the split until all files have 20 or fewer books.
The delete operation can be undone with Ctrl+Z.
After splitting, save the original file.
Click the " Save" button at the top of the screen.
Once you have 20 or fewer books, you can edit and save on the free plan.
The new file is saved in your browser's download folder.
If needed, save it to cloud storage like Google Drive.
Google Drive Storage Recommended
The Google Drive save feature is available even on the free plan. Saving multiple files to Google Drive allows access from any device.
The top of the book list screen shows "X books registered". If this number is 20 or less, you can use the file on the free plan without issues.
If you still have 21 or more books, repeat steps 3-8.
Tip
Splitting is done in two steps: "Save to file" → "Delete". You can confirm the new file was saved correctly before deleting.
Downgrade Steps
After splitting your books, downgrade from the paid plan to the free plan.
Log in to Reading Forest.
After logging in, select " Settings" from the top menu.
* On smaller screens like smartphones, tap the menu icon () in the top right to open the menu.
When the settings screen opens, click the "Plan" tab in the left menu.
Your current plan status and available plans will be displayed.
"Plan" tab in settings screen
Click the "Switch to Free Plan" button on the free plan card.
"Switch to Free Plan" button on free plan card
Confirmation Dialog
A confirmation message like this will appear:
"Switch to free plan?
Free plan limitations:
• Up to 20 books per file
• Export features unavailable (TXT/Excel/CSV/Markdown/HTML/BibTeX)
* If your current file has 21 or more books, you can only view, split, and delete."
Click "OK" in the confirmation dialog to complete the downgrade and cancel your subscription.
Downgrade confirmation dialog
After Downgrading
- Free plan limitations apply immediately
- No automatic charges after the next renewal date
- You can upgrade again at any time
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my past data be deleted after downgrading?
No, it won't be deleted. All your data remains intact. However, if a file has 21 or more books, you won't be able to edit or save it (viewing, splitting, and deleting are still possible).
Can I merge split books back together later?
Yes, you can, but the book order may change. However, since the free plan limits files to 20 books, we recommend upgrading to a paid plan first before merging.
Can I manage multiple files on the free plan?
Yes, you can. There's no limit on the number of files on the free plan - only a limit of 20 books per file. By splitting into multiple files, you can effectively manage unlimited books.
Can I upgrade again after downgrading?
Yes, you can upgrade again at any time. Go to "Plan Management" in the settings screen and select your desired plan to upgrade.
How should I decide which books to split?
We recommend splitting based on criteria like:
- By genre: Fiction, business, technical books, etc.
- By year: 2024 reading, 2025 reading, etc.
- By reading status: Currently reading, finished books
- By rating: Favorites, others
What happens if I keep a file with 21+ books?
On the free plan, files with 21 or more books become "read-only". Only these actions are available:
- ✅ View (see book list and details)
- ✅ Delete (remove unwanted books)
- ✅ Split (split specific books to another file)
- ❌ Edit (modify book information) - Not available
- ❌ Add (add new books) - Not available
- ❌ Save (save file) - Not available
Delete or split books to get to 20 or fewer to enable editing and saving. To add new books, you need 19 or fewer.
Support Information
If you have questions or issues with the downgrade process, please feel free to contact our support team.
Contact Methods
- Email: support@allisone.co.jp
- FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions