How To Cancel Shopify Subscription In 5 Easy Steps

If you came here to figure out how to cancel shopify subscription, you are in the right place, and yes, it can be quick. I’ll walk you through a simple 5-step path, plus the gotchas that cause charges to linger. You will also see when to pause instead, what happens after you close, and how to keep your domain and data safe.
What To Do Before You Cancel
Before you tap the big red button, a short prep saves money and stress. While you learn how to cancel shopify subscription, export the stuff you’ll miss later, tidy up billing, and plan for domains and apps. Shopify confirms that custom domains can be moved and that HSTS security stays on your domain for 90 days after deactivation, which affects platform switches and redirects, so plan timing.
Pre-cancel checklist
- Export customers, orders, and products for your records.
- Review Settings → Billing → View current charges to see pending fees.
- Cancel or remove apps, especially ones billed outside Shopify.
- Decide if you should pause shopify store for a season instead of closing today.
- Plan your domain transfer if you will switch platforms soon.
How To Cancel Shopify Subscription In 5 Easy Steps
You can do this in a couple of minutes. As you follow these steps, you will complete how to cancel shopify subscription from the owner admin.
- Open Settings-Plan in your Shopify admin.
- Choose Deactivate store then follow the prompts.
- Review charges that will post immediately for any outstanding app fees.
- Confirm with your password and select a reason.
- Finish and keep the confirmation email for your records.
That is the core of how to cancel shopify subscription, and it is the same on desktop. If you want a break instead, the Pause and Build plan turns off checkout but keeps your admin open, which is useful for edits and staging.
What If You Are Still On A Free Trial
If you never chose a paid plan, your trial freezes automatically, so you do not need to do anything. If you selected a plan during the trial, you must pause or deactivate to stop billing. This small detail trips many people who are searching how to cancel shopify subscription during a trial.
When Should You Pause Instead Of Cancel
Sometimes you just need a breather. If that is you, pause shopify store with the official Pause and Build plan. Checkout turns off across all sales channels, and you can still work on your catalog, theme, and apps. This route fits seasonal brands and travel breaks and often beats closing a store only to rebuild it later.
Cancel vs Pause vs Trial
Option | Checkout Status | Admin Access | Billing Notes | Best For |
Cancel | Disabled | No | Outstanding app charges bill before deactivation | Done for good, moving platforms |
Pause | Disabled | Yes | Reduced plan, continues until you switch | Seasonal or short breaks |
Free Trial Not Chosen | Disabled | No | Account freezes with no charge | Just tried it, no plan selected |
While you compare, some readers also want to cancel shopify plan during busy months and return later. In those cases, a pause reduces headaches and keeps assets close.
What Happens After You Close The Store
After you complete how to cancel shopify subscription, you can still return. Shopify states you can reactivate your store for up to 2 years by logging in and picking a plan again. After that window, data can be deleted and cannot be restored. This is why many owners keep backups.
There is also the HSTS note. For 90 days after deactivation, your domain enforces secure connections. That keeps customers safe, yet it can affect immediate redirects to a non-HTTPS destination on a new platform. Plan domain moves with that 90-day clock in mind.
How Billing, Refunds And Apps Work
Money questions show up in every search for how to cancel shopify subscription, so let’s keep it clear. Any outstanding app amounts are charged right away during deactivation, and your store closes after payment succeeds. If an app billed you directly by credit card outside Shopify, you must cancel with that vendor too. For refunds on plans, Shopify is not obligated to prorate, and credits are case-by-case.
Where Do Domains And Emails Go After You Cancel

Your domain can move with you. You can transfer a Shopify-managed domain to another provider or to another Shopify store using a code from the admin. Plan this before you finish how to cancel shopify subscription, since transfers take time and you may want email forwarding set up at the new host first.
If your goal is to cancel shopify plan and relaunch on a new platform, create a calendar. Many registrars complete transfers within several days, and some enforce a short lock after a move. That timing matters if you are running promotions or preorders.
How Creators Can Recycle Store Assets Into Short Videos
Before you hit deactivate, save your best product images. Then turn them into short, scroll-stopping clips you can keep posting. For that, try VidAU AI’s Image-to-Video. It helps you create quick social videos from product photos, which keeps your brand visible even after you close shopify store for a while. Use it to announce the pause, to say goodbye, or to drive followers to a marketplace listing.
CONCLUSION
Now you know how to cancel shopify subscription without guesswork. You saw the 5 steps, the pause option, the billing truths, and the domain plan. With a little prep, you can cancel shopify plan cleanly, keep your audience warm with short videos from VidAU AI, and return later if it makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take To Cancel
The actual clicks are fast. You can finish how to cancel shopify subscription in a few minutes inside Settings → Plan → Deactivate store.
What Happens To App Charges After I Cancel
If an app charge appears on your Shopify invoices, billing stops when the store is deactivated. If the app bills you directly, contact that vendor to cancel.
Where Do I Find My Data Later
You can log in and reactivate within two years, then access your admin again. After data deletion, reactivation is no longer possible.
When Should I Pause Instead Of Cancel
Pick pause shopify store if you plan to return soon and want to keep editing themes and products while checkout stays off.
What If I Was Only Testing On A Free Trial
If you never chose a plan, trials freeze on their own and you will not be charged.