Thinking of Leaving? Here’s How to Cancel Your Shopify Subscription

Thinking about closing your Shopify store? You are in the right place. Whether your business is heading in a new direction, you’re switching platforms, or you simply need a break, canceling your Shopify subscription involves more than just clicking a button.

This guide explores how to easily cancel a Shopify subscription. Whether you are leaving permanently or taking a temporary break, learn how to pause, delete, or close your store more effectively.

What to Check Before Cancelling Your Shopify Subscription

Before you go ahead and cancel your Shopify subscription or delete your Shopify account, there are a few key tasks to take care of first.

Notify Your Customers

Let your customers know what’s happening, whether you are closing permanently or moving to a new platform. Inform them about their orders, refunds, return policies, or upcoming final sales. Email or social media announcements work well for this.

Consider a Final Sale

If you are shutting down your business, a clearance or final sale is a great way to clear your inventory. This doesn’t apply if you switch platforms and take your products with you.

Fulfill All Open Orders

Remember, if you want to cancel your account, ensure all outstanding orders are shipped and delivered. Keep customers updated on their order status to avoid confusion or complaints.

Clear Outstanding Payments

You must settle any unpaid Shopify invoices, app fees, shipping charges, or transaction costs. You won’t be able to cancel your subscription if your account still has a balance.

Save Your Billing & Payout Records

Export your billing history and payout reports, mainly if you use Shopify Payments. These documents are helpful for future reference or tax reporting.

Cancel Third-Party Apps

Head to the Apps section in your Shopify admin and remove any active subscriptions. This helps avoid being charged for apps after your store is closed.

Close Out Shopify Financial Tools

If you use Shopify Balance, Capital, or Credit, remember that deactivating your store ends access to those services. Be sure to withdraw any funds or settle balances beforehand.

Turn Off Payment Gateways

Make sure to turn off payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe so no new payments come in after you close your store.

Manage Your Domain

If you bought a custom domain through Shopify, you must decide what to do with it. You can either transfer it to another platform or keep it active for later use. Make sure your domain settings are updated before closing your store.

Remove Custom Code or Scripts

If you added custom code or third-party scripts, remove them before shutting down. This helps prevent potential security risks.

Download Financial Reports

Save important reports like sales history, taxes, or expenses. You might need them for accounting, taxes, or if you plan to restart later.

Backup Your Store Data

Export all key data, product details, customer information, and order history. Shopify’s built-in export tools (or apps like Matrixify) can help create backups for migration or easy-to-keep records.

How to Cancel a Shopify Subscription

Following the proper steps to avoid unnecessary charges and secure your data is essential. Below is a complete and easy-to-follow process for canceling or pausing your Shopify subscription.

Step 1: Get Your Store Ready for Closure

Before you cancel or pause your Shopify store, take a few minutes to tie up any loose ends:

• Complete or cancel any open orders.
• Download invoices, reports, customer info, and product details.
• Uninstall any third-party apps or integrations to avoid extra charges.
• Make sure there are no unpaid bills or fees.

Step 2: Uninstall Apps (To Avoid Extra Charges)

Some third-party apps may continue charging even after your store is closed. To uninstall apps:

1. Go to Apps from your Shopify admin dashboard.

2. Click on the app you want to remove.

3. Select Delete or Uninstall.

4. A confirmation window will pop up. Click “Uninstall” to confirm.

5. Repeat for all installed apps.

Step 3: Cancel Your Shopify Subscription

Once everything is prepared, follow these steps to cancel:

1. Head over to Shopify.com and log in to your store.

2. Ensure you use the store owner’s login since only the owner can cancel the subscription.

3. Go to Settings. Look for “Plan” (or sometimes labeled “Subscription” depending on your version). You will see your current plan and billing info.

Source: ecommercepro

4. Scroll down and click “Deactivate store” (for complete cancellation). Or “Pause and build” if you want to keep your store semi-active at a lower cost.

Source: Whidegroup

5. Choose your reason for leaving and follow the on-screen prompts.

Source: Saasant

6. Enter your password for verification.

7. Click Deactivate now to finalize.

What Happens After You Cancel Your Shopify Subscription?

Once you are done with how to cancel a subscription on your shopify​ store, here’s what you can expect:

Your Store Is Frozen

• Your storefront becomes inaccessible to the public.
• Your store URL (e.g., mystore.myshopify.com) will still exist, but no one can view or visit it.
• You (the admin) can no longer access the Shopify admin dashboard unless you reactivate your plan.

Data Retention for 2 Years

• Shopify retains your store data (products, orders, customers) for up to 2 years.
• You can reactivate your store anytime by logging in again and choosing a new plan.

No Further Charges

• After cancellation, Shopify stops billing you (except for any outstanding charges such as apps or shipping fees).
• If you were on a free trial, it ends immediately—unused days are not saved.

Domains Remain Yours

If you purchased a domain through Shopify:

• It still belongs to you and can be managed through your Shopify account.
• You can transfer it or point it to a new platform.

If you use a third-party domain:

• Be sure to update DNS settings and redirect your domain as needed.

Emails & Marketing Tools Stop Working

• Any email marketing, automation flows, or abandoned cart sequences will be disabled.
• Export your contacts and customer lists before closing if you’re switching platforms.

Apps & Integrations Are Disconnected

• All third-party apps and integrations are automatically disconnected.
• Some third-party apps may continue billing you separately, log in and cancel those subscriptions manually to avoid charges.

Making the Last Move for Your Business: Final Thoughts

And there you have it — everything you need to know about canceling your Shopify subscription, all in one place. Whether you feel restricted by Shopify’s customization, frustrated with transaction fees, or ready to try something new, you are not alone.

Canceling your Shopify subscription may seem overwhelming, but with this guide’s step-by-step overview and tips, it’s smooth and stress-free. We have covered everything from backing up data and handling financials to uninstalling apps and securing your domain.

If you are saying goodbye for good, make it a clean break and one that allows you to succeed in your next ecommerce adventure. If you plan a move, you can explore alternatives like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Wix.

Here’s to fresh starts, better platforms, and continued growth in your online journey.

FAQs

1. Can I pause my Shopify store instead of canceling it?
Yes! Shopify offers a Pause and Build plan at a reduced cost if you want to keep your store data active without selling products.

2. Will I get a refund after canceling my Shopify plan?
No. Shopify does not offer refunds for unused time or mid-cycle cancellations. Make sure to cancel close to your billing date to
avoid extra charges.

3. What happens to my domain after canceling the store?
If purchased via Shopify, you still own your domain and can manage or transfer it. If it’s from a third-party provider, update your DNS settings accordingly.

4. Can I access my store after cancellation?
Your store will be frozen, but you can log in and reactivate it within 2 years. Your data (products, orders, etc.) is saved during that time.

5. Do I need to cancel third-party apps manually?
Yes, To avoid recurring fees, you should uninstall apps manually before canceling, especially those that charge outside of Shopify.

6. Can I export my store data before cancellation?
Absolutely! It is recommended to export your products, customer data, orders, and reports before canceling, especially if you’re migrating to another platform.