Expert Guide: How to Cancel Shopify Subscription Correctly

Canceling a Shopify subscription shouldn’t feel like you’re trapped in a contract negotiation with a corporation. Whether you’re shutting down your store, switching platforms, or just need to pause operations, knowing how to cancel Shopify subscription the right way saves you from unexpected charges, data loss headaches, and customer service runarounds.

The reality? Most people miss critical steps. They delete their store without backing up data, forget about active apps still charging them, or don’t realize their domain registration is separate from their subscription. We’re going to walk through the exact process—no fluff, just the steps that actually matter.

Before You Cancel: Critical Prep Work

Think of canceling your Shopify subscription like moving out of an apartment. You wouldn’t just leave—you’d pack your stuff, notify your landlord, and make sure your mail forwards to the right place. Same principle here.

• Export your customer data. This includes email addresses, purchase history, and contact info. You’ll need this if you ever want to reach out to past customers or migrate to another platform.
• Download your product information. All product descriptions, images, pricing, and inventory details should be backed up locally.
• Save your order history. For tax and accounting purposes, you’ll want records of every transaction.
• Check for active subscriptions. Apps, themes, and integrations often auto-renew. Missing even one means you’re still getting charged after your store is gone.
• Notify your customers (if applicable). If you’re closing shop, let people know. Send a final email, post on social media, or add a notice to your store homepage.
• Verify your payment method. Make sure you know which card is linked to your account so you can confirm the final charge.

This prep phase takes 30 minutes to an hour. Skipping it? That’s how people end up frustrated and losing valuable data.

Back Up Your Data (Don’t Skip This)

Shopify doesn’t automatically delete your data immediately after cancellation, but relying on that is risky. Here’s the proper way to back up everything.

1. Log into your Shopify admin dashboard.
2. Go to Customers in the left sidebar.
3. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right.
4. Select Export customers.
5. Choose your export format (CSV is standard) and download the file.

1. Navigate to Products in the admin.
2. Click the three-dot menu again.
3. Select Export products.
4. Download the CSV file with all product details, images, and metadata.

1. Go to Orders in the admin sidebar.
2. Use the three-dot menu to export orders.
3. Save this file separately for accounting and legal purposes.

1. Go to Online Store > Themes.
2. Find your active theme and click Actions > Edit code.
3. Right-click and save the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to your computer.

Pro Tip: Create a folder on your computer labeled “Shopify Backup [Your Store Name] [Date]” and organize everything inside. This makes it way easier to find stuff later if you need to migrate to WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or another platform.

Cancel Apps and Third-Party Integrations

This is where people get burned. You cancel your Shopify store, but apps keep charging you monthly because they’re linked to your Shopify account, not your store itself.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Apps and sales channels.
2. Review every single app listed. Yes, every one.
3. For each paid app, click it and look for a Remove app or Cancel subscription button.
4. Some apps require you to cancel through their own website. Check the app description or support page for cancellation instructions.
5. Take screenshots of each cancellation confirmation. You’ll want proof if you’re ever charged again.

Common culprits that keep charging after cancellation:

• Email marketing apps (Klaviyo, Omnisend, etc.)
• Inventory management tools
• Accounting integrations
• Shipping apps
• SEO and analytics tools

Don’t assume “free” apps won’t charge you. Even free apps sometimes have paid tiers or premium features you might have activated.

Safety Warning: Before you cancel an app, make sure you’ve exported any data you need from it. Some apps delete your data immediately upon cancellation.

Step-by-Step: How to Cancel Shopify Subscription

Now for the main event. This is the actual cancellation process.

1. Log into your Shopify admin.
2. Click the account icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Account or Settings (exact wording varies).

1. In Settings, look for Plan and permissions or Billing.
2. Click on this section to see your current subscription details.

1. You should see your current plan (Basic, Shopify, Advanced, or Plus).
2. Look for a button that says Cancel subscription, Cancel plan, or Change plan.
3. Click it.

Shopify will ask why you’re leaving. Be honest if you want—they use this feedback. But it’s optional. Options typically include:

• Closing my business
• Switching to another platform
• Pausing my business temporarily
• Cost concerns
• Other reasons

Here’s where it gets important. Shopify offers different cancellation options:

• Immediate cancellation: Your store goes offline right now. You lose access to your admin. Use this if you’re done completely.
• End of billing cycle: Your store stays active until your next billing date, then cancels. Good if you want a grace period to migrate or notify customers.

Most people choose the end-of-billing-cycle option because it gives them a buffer.

1. Review the cancellation summary.
2. Click Cancel subscription or Confirm cancellation.
3. You’ll get a confirmation email. Save this.

That’s it. Your subscription is canceled.

What Happens After You Cancel

Understanding the timeline prevents surprises.

• Your store goes offline. Customers see an error page or “store closed” message.
• You lose admin access (though you can usually request a temporary restoration for data export).
• Email notifications stop.

• Your store stays live and operational.
• You keep admin access.
• On the final day, your store goes offline.
• You’re charged for the final month.

• Shopify sends a cancellation confirmation email.
• Your account transitions to a “cancelled” status.
• You can no longer access the admin dashboard (unless you request temporary access).

• Shopify may delete your store data entirely. This varies by plan and circumstances.
• If you need data after cancellation, contact Shopify support immediately.

Real Talk: If you think you might reactivate your store later, don’t cancel. Pause it instead. Paused stores keep your data intact and cost less than active ones. You can reactivate anytime without losing anything.

Your Domain and Email—Separate Issues

This trips up a lot of people. Your domain registration and email hosting are not part of your Shopify subscription. Canceling your store doesn’t automatically cancel these.

1. Your domain remains active and registered to you.
2. You’ll continue to be charged the annual renewal fee (usually $11-14/year).
3. To stop paying, you need to separately cancel the domain registration.
4. Go to Settings > Domains and look for cancellation options, or contact Shopify support.

1. This is a separate subscription from your store plan.
2. Canceling your store doesn’t cancel Shopify Email.
3. Go to Apps and sales channels and remove Shopify Email separately.

1. Your domain remains registered wherever you bought it (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
2. Canceling Shopify doesn’t affect it.
3. If you want to stop paying, cancel with your domain registrar, not Shopify.

Pro tip: If you’re moving to another platform, you can point your domain to the new site without canceling anything. This keeps your domain active while you transition.

Refunds and Billing: What You Need to Know

Shopify’s refund policy is straightforward but has limits.

• If you cancel in the middle of your billing cycle, Shopify does not prorate refunds. You pay for the full month.
• To avoid this, cancel at the end of your billing cycle, not in the middle.
• If you cancel on day 15 of a 30-day cycle, you lose the remaining 15 days of payment.

• Refunds for apps depend on the app developer’s policy.
• Some app developers offer prorated refunds; others don’t.
• Contact the app developer directly if you were charged and want a refund.

1. Go to Settings > Billing.
2. Scroll down to Billing history.
3. You’ll see every charge, including apps and add-ons.
4. Click on any charge to see details.

1. Screenshot them immediately.
2. Contact Shopify support with the charge details.
3. According to Shopify’s official support documentation, they investigate unauthorized charges and may issue refunds.

Pro Tip: Set a calendar reminder for 3-5 days after cancellation to check your credit card statement. Make sure there are no surprise charges. If there are, dispute them immediately with your credit card company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reactivate my Shopify store after canceling?

– Yes, but timing matters. If you cancel and immediately regret it, contact Shopify support within 24-48 hours. They can sometimes restore your store. After 90 days, your data may be deleted permanently. If you think you might restart later, pause instead of canceling.

Will canceling my store affect my domain?

– No. Your domain registration is separate from your store subscription. If you bought it through Shopify, you’ll keep paying the annual renewal fee unless you specifically cancel the domain registration. If it’s registered elsewhere, canceling Shopify has zero impact.

What happens to my customer data after cancellation?

– Shopify keeps your data for 90 days after cancellation. After that, it may be deleted. Always export your customer data, orders, and products before canceling. This is non-negotiable if you want to migrate to another platform or maintain customer records.

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-cycle?

– Shopify doesn’t offer prorated refunds for mid-cycle cancellations. You pay for the full month regardless of when you cancel. To avoid this, time your cancellation for the end of your billing cycle.

Do I need to cancel my apps separately?

– Yes. Apps are separate subscriptions. If you don’t cancel them, you’ll keep getting charged even after your Shopify store is gone. Go through your “Apps and sales channels” section and remove every paid app manually.

What if I’m on a Shopify Plus plan?

– Shopify Plus has dedicated account managers. You can’t self-serve cancel. Contact your account manager or Shopify support directly. They may negotiate early termination fees or exit clauses depending on your contract.

How long does it take for my store to go offline?

– If you choose immediate cancellation, your store goes offline within minutes. If you choose end-of-cycle cancellation, it stays live until your next billing date, then goes offline within 24 hours.

Will my email forwarding stop working?

– If you’re using Shopify Email or email forwarding tied to your Shopify domain, yes. These stop when your store cancels or when you stop paying for the domain. Set up email forwarding elsewhere before cancellation if you want to keep receiving messages at that address.

Can I download my theme code after canceling?

– Yes, but only if you do it before cancellation. After your store goes offline, you lose admin access. Export your theme files while you still have access to the admin dashboard.

What’s the difference between canceling and pausing?

– Canceling deletes your store from the active list and eventually removes your data. Pausing keeps your store data intact, costs less per month, and lets you reactivate anytime. If there’s any chance you’ll restart, pause instead.