How to Cancel Shopify (2026)
Quick answer
To cancel a Shopify subscription you deactivate (close) your store from Settings → Plan in the Shopify admin: click 'Cancel trial' if you are still in a free trial, or 'Cancel plan' on a paid plan, then confirm with your password. Your subscription is cancelled at the end of the current billing cycle and Shopify keeps a strict no-refund policy. Only the store owner can do this — Shopify Support cannot deactivate a store for you. If you only want a break, use the 'Pause and build' option to keep your store at a reduced fee instead of closing it.
How to cancel Shopify, step by step
Online (Shopify admin — deactivate store)
- 1Log in as the store ownerOnly the store owner can cancel the subscription. Sign in to your Shopify admin at the store's myshopify.com address.
- 2Go to Settings → PlanFrom your Shopify admin, open Settings, then click 'Plan'.
- 3Click Cancel trial or Cancel planIf your store is still in the free trial, click 'Cancel trial'. If it is on a paid plan, click 'Cancel plan'. Consider 'Pause and build' instead if you only need a temporary break.
- 4Review charges and domainsReview any Shopify-managed domains (to avoid renewal charges) and pending app/usage charges (app fees, transaction fees, shipping labels) that will be billed at cancellation.
- 5Confirm and enter your passwordSelect 'Cancel my plan and uninstall all apps', enter your password, and complete any two-step authentication challenge to confirm. The subscription cancels at the end of the current billing cycle.
⏰ Deadline
Cancelling deactivates the store at the end of the current billing cycle. Because there are no refunds, cancel before your next renewal date if you want to avoid paying for another full period. You can find your next billing date under Settings → Billing.
💵 Fees
No separate cancellation fee, but any outstanding app or usage charges are billed automatically at cancellation. Apps charged outside of Shopify billing must be cancelled separately so you are not charged after the store closes.
↩️ Refunds
Shopify has a strict no-refund policy for subscription plans (Terms of Service section 5.10). No refunds are issued for plan cancellations or store deactivations, regardless of unused time, and charges incurred during a promotional pricing period are not refundable. If you believe you were charged in error you can contact Shopify Support for a case-by-case review, but refunds are not guaranteed. To stop paying, deactivate the store before your next billing date, or switch to the lower-cost 'Pause and build' plan if you want to keep your store and data.
Retention traps to expect
- Strict no-refund policy (Terms of Service section 5.10): you get nothing back for unused time, and any outstanding app or usage charges are billed the moment you cancel.
- The flow steers you toward 'Pause and build' to keep paying a reduced fee instead of actually leaving.
- Apps billed outside Shopify and Shopify-managed domains can keep charging you after the store closes unless you cancel each one separately.
The bottom line on cancelling Shopify
Cancelling Shopify means deactivating the whole store, and only the store owner can do it — Support will not close it for you. The real sting is the no-refund policy (Terms section 5.10): you get nothing back for unused time, and outstanding app or usage charges are billed at cancellation. Watch for apps billed outside Shopify and any Shopify-managed domains, which can keep charging you after the store is gone unless you handle them separately.
If you are only stepping away, do not close the store — switch to 'Pause and build' to keep your data at a reduced fee. If you truly want out, deactivate before your next billing date, since paying past renewal buys you a full period you cannot recover.
Ways to cancel Shopify at a glance
| Method | Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online (Shopify admin — deactivate store) | ✓ Yes | 5 steps |
Cancelling Shopify vs Squarespace
How the cancellation experience stacks up against similar services.
| Shopify | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Cancel online? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ease of cancelling | 4 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Refund fairness | 1 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| No dark patterns | 2 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
Shopify cancellation — FAQ
＋ − Will I get a refund for the rest of my billing period?
No. Shopify does not refund subscription fees. Your store stays usable until the end of the current billing cycle, then deactivates.
＋ − Can I keep my store without paying the full price?
Yes — instead of cancelling, choose the 'Pause and build' option from Settings → Plan. Your store stays paused at a reduced subscription fee and your data is preserved.
＋ − Can I reactivate my store later?
Usually yes. Shopify retains your store's information for a period (about two years) after deactivation, so in most cases you can reactivate and pick a plan again without rebuilding from scratch.
＋ − What happens to my apps and domains when I close the store?
Closing the store uninstalls your apps and any pending app/usage charges are billed at cancellation. Shopify-managed domains may renew unless handled, and apps billed outside Shopify must be cancelled with that provider directly.
Sources & official policy links
This guide is independently written and not affiliated with Shopify. Cancellation terms can change at any time — always confirm the current policy on the official website before cancelling.