How to Cancel Your Shopify Subscription: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

So you’re thinking about saying goodbye to Shopify? Whether you’re taking a break from e-commerce, moving to another platform, or just need to pause your subscription, this guide has you covered.

As e-commerce experts, we’ve helped dozens of merchants transition between platforms. We’ll walk you through how to cancel your Shopify subscription and everything you need to know about canceling your Shopify subscription.

Before You Cancel: Read This First

Before hitting that cancel button, there are a few important things to consider.

Pause vs. Cancel: Know the Difference

Shopify offers a “pause” option that might be better than full cancellation if you’re just taking a temporary break. With the pause option, you’ll pay just $9/month instead of your regular subscription fee.

This keeps your store intact and ready to reactivate whenever you need it.

Will I Still Be Charged if I Deactivate My Shopify Store?

No, once you deactivate your store, Shopify will stop charging you after your current billing cycle ends. However, any third-party apps with their own billing will need to be canceled separately.

If you’re on an annual plan, Shopify typically doesn’t offer refunds for unused months, so timing your cancellation is important.

Alternatives to Cancelling

Consider these options before fully canceling:

• Pause & Build Plan: Keep your store at a reduced rate while you make improvements
  
• Temporary Closure: Hide your store from the public but keep everything intact
  
• Downgrade Your Plan: Switch to a cheaper tier like the $5/month Starter plan

How to Cancel Shopify Subscription (Step-by-Step)

Follow these straightforward steps to cancel your Shopify subscription without the headache:

Step 1: Log in to Your Shopify Admin Panel

First things first, you need to access your store’s backend.

• Go to Shopify.com and click “Login“
  
• Enter your store address and credentials
  
• Make sure you’re logged in as the store owner (not a staff account)

Step 2: Navigate to Your Account Settings

This is where many merchants get lost, so follow closely:

• Click on your profile icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen
  
• Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu
  
• In the Settings menu, click on “Plan and permissions“

Step 3: Scroll Down to Find Cancellation Options

Now we’re getting to the part Shopify doesn’t make obvious:

• Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Plan page
  
• Look for the section labeled “Close store“
  
• Click on “Close store” to begin the cancellation process

Step 4: Select Your Reason for Cancellation

Shopify wants to know why you’re leaving:

• Choose the most appropriate reason from their dropdown menu
  
• Be honest, this helps them improve their service
  
• You can add additional details in the comment box if needed

Step 5: Confirm Your Cancellation

The final step requires confirmation:

• Enter your password to verify it’s you
  
• Click “Close store” to confirm your decision
  
• Look for the confirmation email from Shopify

And that’s it! Your store is now scheduled for closure, and your billing will stop at the end of your current billing cycle.

What Happens When You Cancel Your Shopify Subscription?

Before we dive into the how to cancel Shopify subscription process, let’s understand what you’re saying goodbye to:

• Your online store becomes inaccessible to customers
  
• You lose access to the admin panel after 30 days
  
• Your product data remains stored for 2 years (you can export it first!)
  
• Any custom domain you purchased through Shopify will need to be transferred
  
• Apps and themes you purchased separately may still be usable elsewhere

How to Deactivate Your Shopify Store

Deactivating your Shopify store is actually the same process as canceling your subscription, Shopify uses the terms interchangeably.

Deactivation vs. Permanent Deletion

It’s important to understand the difference:

• Deactivation (what Shopify calls “Close store”): Stops your subscription and makes your store inaccessible to customers, but preserves your data for potential future reactivation
  
• Permanent Deletion: Completely removes all your store data and cannot be undone

What’s Preserved When You Deactivate?

When you deactivate your Shopify store:

• Product data is preserved for 2 years
  
• Customer information remains in Shopify’s database
  
• Custom themes and settings are saved
  
• Your store URL is reserved for you (if you want to come back)

What you lose access to immediately:

• Most admin features after 30 days

• Your storefront (customers will see a “Store unavailable” message)

• The ability to process orders

How to Delete a Shopify Account Permanently

If you want to completely delete your Shopify account and all associated data:

1. First, follow the deactivation steps above
   
2. Then contact Shopify Support directly and request permanent deletion
   
3. Verify your identity when asked
   
4. Confirm in writing that you understand the permanent nature of this action

What “Deleting” Really Means on Shopify

True account deletion means:

• All store data is permanently removed
• Customer information is purged from their systems
• You’ll need to create a brand new account if you ever return to Shopify
• Any custom domain purchases or third-party integrations may be affected

Legal, Billing, and Data Consequences

Be aware that deletion:

• Removes access to past transaction records you might need for taxes
• Cancels any pending refunds or payouts
• May affect your ability to dispute past charges
• Eliminates evidence of intellectual property ownership from your store

Common Issues When Canceling Shopify (And How to Solve Them)

Problem: You Have an Active Domain with Shopify

If you purchased a domain through Shopify, you’ll need to

• Transfer it to another provider before canceling
  
• Or let Shopify know you want to keep it (additional fees apply)

Problem: You Still Have Inventory to Sell

Don’t cancel until you’ve:

• Sold remaining inventory
• Created a backup plan to sell elsewhere
• Exported your product data

Problem: You Have Active App Subscriptions

Remember to:

• Cancel third-party apps separately
• Check for annual subscriptions that might still be active
• Request refunds for recently renewed apps if applicable

What to Do After Canceling Your Shopify Subscription

After successfully canceling, make sure to:

1. Save your store data (especially customer information)
2. Download your sales history for tax purposes
3. Inform your customers about your store closure or new location
4. Update any business listings or social media profiles
5. Cancel any connected services like payment processors

How to Unsubscribe From Shopify Emails

Getting too many emails from Shopify? Here’s how to manage them:

1. Look for the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any Shopify marketing email
2. Or go to your Shopify admin → Settings → Notifications
3. Uncheck the email types you don’t want to receive
4. Save your preferences

Marketing Emails vs. Platform Notifications

Keep in mind there’s a difference between:

• Marketing emails: Promotions, features, tips (these are optional)
• Platform notifications: Order alerts, security updates (some may be required)

For a complete opt-out, visit Shopify’s email preference center (you’ll need to be logged in).

Conclusion: Need Help With Your E-commerce Journey?

Canceling Shopify doesn’t have to mean the end of your online selling adventure. At 2HatsLogic, we specialize in helping businesses find the right e-commerce setup for their unique needs.

Whether you’re looking for more cost-effective Shopify development solutions, need help migrating to a new platform, or want to explore headless commerce options that give you more flexibility and lower costs, our team is here to help.

Our headless commerce solutions have helped businesses reduce their monthly platform costs by up to 70% while maintaining all the functionality they need.

Ready to explore better options? Contact our team today for a free consultation about your e-commerce future.