diff --git a/src/connectors/user_service/client.rs b/src/connectors/user_service/client.rs
index 4147e48..70d808f 100644
--- a/src/connectors/user_service/client.rs
+++ b/src/connectors/user_service/client.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use super::connector::UserServiceConnector;
 use super::types::{
     CategoryInfo, PlanDefinition, ProductInfo, StackResponse, UserPlanInfo, UserProfile,
 };
-use super::utils::is_plan_upgrade;
+use super::utils::is_plan_higher_tier;
 
 /// HTTP-based User Service client
 pub struct UserServiceClient {
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ impl UserServiceConnector for UserServiceClient {
                             return user_plan == required_plan_name;
                         }
                         user_plan == required_plan_name
-                            || is_plan_upgrade(&user_plan, required_plan_name)
+                            || is_plan_higher_tier(&user_plan, required_plan_name)
                     })
                     .map_err(|_| ConnectorError::InvalidResponse(text))
             }
diff --git a/src/connectors/user_service/tests.rs b/src/connectors/user_service/tests.rs
index 7ce739a..b9525f7 100644
--- a/src/connectors/user_service/tests.rs
+++ b/src/connectors/user_service/tests.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use serde_json::json;
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
 use super::mock;
-use super::utils::is_plan_upgrade;
+use super::utils::is_plan_higher_tier;
 use super::{CategoryInfo, ProductInfo, UserProfile, UserServiceConnector};
 
 /// Test that get_user_profile returns user with products list
@@ -221,24 +221,24 @@ async fn test_mock_list_stacks() {
 
 /// Test plan hierarchy comparison
 #[test]
-fn test_is_plan_upgrade_hierarchy() {
+fn test_is_plan_higher_tier_hierarchy() {
     // Enterprise user can access professional tier
-    assert!(is_plan_upgrade("enterprise", "professional"));
+    assert!(is_plan_higher_tier("enterprise", "professional"));
 
     // Enterprise user can access basic tier
-    assert!(is_plan_upgrade("enterprise", "basic"));
+    assert!(is_plan_higher_tier("enterprise", "basic"));
 
     // Professional user can access basic tier
-    assert!(is_plan_upgrade("professional", "basic"));
+    assert!(is_plan_higher_tier("professional", "basic"));
 
     // Basic user cannot access professional
-    assert!(!is_plan_upgrade("basic", "professional"));
+    assert!(!is_plan_higher_tier("basic", "professional"));
 
     // Basic user cannot access enterprise
-    assert!(!is_plan_upgrade("basic", "enterprise"));
+    assert!(!is_plan_higher_tier("basic", "enterprise"));
 
-    // Same plan should not be considered upgrade
-    assert!(!is_plan_upgrade("professional", "professional"));
+    // Same plan should not be considered higher tier
+    assert!(!is_plan_higher_tier("professional", "professional"));
 }
 
 /// Test UserProfile deserialization with all fields
diff --git a/src/connectors/user_service/utils.rs b/src/connectors/user_service/utils.rs
index 0d5cef9..d7f3248 100644
--- a/src/connectors/user_service/utils.rs
+++ b/src/connectors/user_service/utils.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /// Helper function to determine if a plan tier can access a required plan
 /// Basic idea: enterprise >= professional >= basic
-pub(crate) fn is_plan_upgrade(user_plan: &str, required_plan: &str) -> bool {
+pub(crate) fn is_plan_higher_tier(user_plan: &str, required_plan: &str) -> bool {
     let plan_hierarchy = vec!["basic", "professional", "enterprise"];
 
     let user_level = plan_hierarchy