Canceling your Shopify subscription is an important decision that requires careful thought and planning. Whether you are switching to another e-commerce platform, closing your online store, or simply pausing operations, it’s essential to handle the cancellation properly to avoid unwanted fees or data loss. In this guide, we’ll cover the steps, tips, and best practices for effectively cancel shopify subscription.

Understanding Shopify’s Billing System

Monthly and Yearly Subscriptions

Before canceling, it’s crucial to understand how Shopify’s billing system works. Shopify offers both monthly and yearly subscription options. If you’re on a monthly plan, the subscription renews every 30 days, while yearly subscriptions renew after 12 months. Canceling your subscription doesn’t automatically stop charges, especially if you have third-party apps or outstanding fees that may still apply.

Pausing vs. Canceling

Shopify provides two primary options if you no longer want to actively run your store: pausing and canceling. Pausing the store allows you to keep the basic structure of your store while ceasing most operations. This is ideal for store owners who need a break or want to reduce costs temporarily. Canceling, on the other hand, completely shuts down the store and terminates the subscription.

Preparing for Shopify Cancellation

Backup Your Store Data

One of the most important steps to take before canceling your Shopify subscription is to back up all your store data. This includes customer information, order history, product listings, and any other crucial data. Once you cancel, you will lose access to Shopify’s admin panel, making it impossible to retrieve this information. Export data like customer lists, sales reports, and product inventories as CSV files, so you can save them securely.

Cancel Third-Party Apps and Subscriptions

While canceling your Shopify subscription stops Shopify’s billing, it does not automatically cancel your third-party app subscriptions. These apps may continue to charge you independently, even after your store is deactivated. To avoid unnecessary fees, manually cancel or remove any apps you no longer need from your Shopify admin before proceeding with the cancellation.

Address Outstanding Payments

It’s essential to check for any outstanding fees, such as shipping charges, app subscriptions, or unpaid invoices. Shopify will bill you for the remainder of the current billing cycle, so make sure you’ve settled everything before canceling. Failing to pay any pending charges could lead to complications during the cancellation process.

Step-by-Step Process for Canceling Shopify Subscription

Log in to Shopify Admin

To begin the cancellation process, log in to your Shopify admin panel using the credentials of the store owner account. Only the store owner can access the subscription and billing details necessary for the cancellation process.

Navigate to Settings

Once logged in, head to the “Settings” section in the bottom left corner of the admin dashboard. The “Settings” area contains all options related to billing, store plans, and other configurations for your Shopify store.

Click on Plan

In the “Settings” section, find and click on the “Plan” option. This area will show details about your current Shopify plan, including your billing cycle, payment method, and subscription level. Here, you’ll find options to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your plan.

Deactivate the Store

Scroll down to the “Deactivate Store” button. Clicking this will initiate the process of canceling your Shopify subscription. You’ll be prompted to choose a reason for deactivating your store. This feedback is collected for Shopify’s records but doesn’t impact the cancellation.

Confirm Deactivation

After selecting a reason, confirm your decision to deactivate the store. Once you confirm, Shopify will proceed with canceling your subscription. For monthly subscribers, you will no longer be billed after the current cycle ends. If you are on a yearly plan, the subscription will remain active until the end of the year, though you won’t be charged for any further services.

Tips for Canceling Shopify Subscription

Explore Other Plan Options

If the reason for canceling your Shopify subscription is due to financial constraints or the need for a break, consider Shopify’s “Pause and Build” plan. This option allows you to keep your store live at a reduced rate without losing everything you’ve built. It’s ideal for seasonal businesses or those who need time to reassess their strategy but want to maintain their store’s presence.

Remove Shopify from Your Domain Settings

If you have a custom domain connected to your Shopify store, make sure to update or remove Shopify’s DNS settings from the domain provider’s control panel. This step prevents the domain from pointing to your inactive Shopify store, and you can reuse the domain on other platforms.

Check Refund Eligibility

While Shopify typically doesn’t offer refunds for unused time on monthly or yearly subscriptions, it’s worth checking your eligibility. If you cancel in the middle of a billing cycle, you may still be charged for the full period. Contact Shopify support if you believe a refund is due or if you have any questions about potential charges.

Reopening Your Shopify Store

Shopify Store Reactivation

If you change your mind after canceling, Shopify allows you to reactivate your store within a limited time frame. Reactivation is simple: log back into your Shopify account and choose to reopen the store. However, note that customizations, app settings, and other features may be lost after cancellation, so it’s always best to back up data before canceling.

Maintain Your Store URL

Even after canceling, your store URL remains reserved for you. If you plan to reopen your store later, you can retain the same URL as long as it hasn’t been claimed by someone else. This continuity is beneficial for maintaining brand identity if you ever decide to restart your business on Shopify.

Conclusion

Canceling a Shopify subscription is a relatively simple process, but it requires careful preparation to avoid unnecessary complications. By backing up data, canceling third-party apps, and settling outstanding payments, you can ensure a smooth transition. If you're not ready to fully close down your business, consider alternative options like pausing your store. Using the best no-code mobile app builder can also help you explore other e-commerce platforms. With these steps and tips, you can confidently cancel your Shopify subscription when necessary.