How to Cancel Shopify Free Trial in 5 Quick Easy Steps

Ever started a Shopify free trial but decided it’s not the right fit? Understanding how to cancel Shopify free trial properly ensures no unexpected charges and keeps store data safe. From verifying credit card details to exporting essential store files, cancelling requires careful steps. This guide breaks down the entire process into five quick, easy steps. Follow this simple tutorial now to end your trial smoothly and avoid future billing hassles!

How Shopify Free Trial Works

Shopify offers a free trial to help users explore its e-commerce platform. The standard trial lasts for 3 days, allowing access to most features without requiring a credit card. After the initial period, users can opt for an extended trial: 3 months at $1 per month. This offer applies to the Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans

During the trial, users can:

• Set up their store

• Add products

• Customize themes

• Integrate apps

Before you learn how to cancel Shopify free trial, understand that if a plan isn't chosen by the end of the trial, the store remains inactive until a plan is selected.

What You Need to Do Before Cancelling Your Shopify Free Trial

Before kicking off the guide on how to cancel Shopify free trial, complete a few preparatory tasks to safeguard data and avoid hidden costs.

Verify That Your Credit Card Details Are Not Stored

Before learning how to cancel Shopify free trial, check the Billing or Payments section in your Shopify admin to confirm that no credit card or billing information remains linked to the account. Keeping saved card details might leave you vulnerable to automatic charges if the store's status changes.

Review and Remove Any Third-Party Apps with Recurring Charges

Apps installed during the trial can continue billing after cancellation if not handled properly. It’s essential to review all installed apps, cancel subscriptions, and uninstall those with recurring fees before you proceed with how to cancel Shopify free trial. This step protects against future expenses tied to the account.

Move Any Custom Domains Purchased Through Shopify

If a custom domain was purchased via Shopify, it needs to be transferred or the renewal disabled before you learn how to cancel Shopify free trial. Failing to do so may result in losing the domain or being unable to reuse it elsewhere. Taking control of the domain ahead of time ensures ownership remains intact.

Export CSV Files to Back Up Your Store Data

Your store may contain valuable data: products, orders, customer lists, and discount codes. Exporting CSV files before closing the trial preserves that information for future use. This step is vital if shifting to a different platform or saving records for future reference.

Explore Suitable Alternatives Before Leaving Shopify

Canceling doesn’t always mean ending the journey; it may mean reconsidering platform fit. Evaluate whether another plan or platform fits your needs before executing how to cancel Shopify free trial. Exploring alternatives ensures the chosen path aligns with business goals and budget constraints.

Step-by-Step: How to Cancel Shopify Free Trial in 5 Easy Steps

Follow this simple guide on how to cancel Shopify free trial safely and avoid unwanted charges:

Step 1: Log In to Your Shopify Admin Dashboard

Access your store by logging in with your owner credentials. Once logged in, click Settings in the bottom-left corner.

Then pick Plan to view your current plan or trial status.

Step 2: Begin the Deactivation of Your Free Trial

In the Plan section, look for an option labelled Cancel trial (if still in the free period) or Deactivate store (if a plan was selected).

Click this option to initiate the process.

Step 3: Confirm That You Want to Cancel Your Account

A pop-up will appear asking to confirm cancellation. Tick I've reviewed the information above.

Then, click Continue.

Step 4: Select and Submit a Reason for Closing Your Store

Select a reason for cancelling from the drop-down menu. This step helps Shopify collect feedback.

Click Continue.

Step 5: Complete the Final Deactivation Process

You will receive the final announcement from Shopify: "Your store will close and access to your data is lost, but it will be available if you resubscribe."

Click Cancel Trial, and you will see "Your plan was canceled".

Then, you will receive an email from Shopify.

What Happens After You Cancel the Free Trial

After completing how to cancel Shopify free trial, your store becomes inactive immediately. Access to the dashboard is removed, and the checkout is locked down.

The store is not deleted right away. The data, like products, orders, and customer lists, remains stored. Owners can return later and pick a plan to reactivate the account.

Key consequences include:

• No further billing if no plan was selected during the trial.

• The storefront goes offline, and customers cannot make purchases.

• The account enters a "paused" or "frozen" state until a paid plan is chosen or the store is reactivated.

It’s important to note that data retention has limits. If the store remains inactive for an extended period, it may eventually be deleted.

Common Issues When Cancelling (and How to Solve Them)

When ending a free trial with Shopify, some merchants hit stumbling blocks. Knowing how to cancel Shopify free trial also means understanding what could go wrong.

Below are several common problems and how to handle them clearly and confidently:

Loss of Access to Data or Domain Control

Cancelling the trial may freeze the store and restrict admin access, which could result in losing custom domain management or data exports if not handled properly.

Solution: Before accessing to the guide on how to cancel Shopify free trial, export product, customer, and order data into CSV files. Also, transfer any custom domain purchased through Shopify or disable auto-renewal. Make sure to save theme files and settings before finalising cancellation.

Apps Continue Charging After Trial Is Cancelled

Apps installed during the trial can continue billing after the cancellation of the Shopify account, because app subscriptions often exist outside the main plan.

Solution: Before cancelling, go to the Apps section in the admin dashboard and cancel each app’s subscription. Confirm there are no pending invoices in the Apps tab.

Unable to Cancel Because Payment Method Is Missing or Invalid

A payment method may be required to complete the cancellation process. Without it, the system may block cancellation or leave the store in limbo.

Solution: Before you know how to cancel Shopify free trial, add a valid payment method temporarily, then proceed to Settings → Plan → Cancel trial. After cancellation, remove the card from your account.

Trial Ends But Billing Begins Anyway

Some users choose a paid plan during the trial, and even after deciding to cancel the trial, they find a charge has appeared. This happens because Shopify automatically starts billing when a paid plan is selected.

Solution: Head to Settings → Plan in your Shopify admin and ensure no paid plan is active. Cancel before the next billing cycle. If you selected a plan, manually deactivate your store.

Cancelling Shopify Free Trial: 4 Alternatives

Before learning how to cancel Shopify free trial, it’s worth considering some alternative options that might better suit the business’s needs.

Selecting the Right Shopify Plan for Your Business

Instead of cancelling outright, choosing a paid Shopify plan that matches store size and growth projections can make more sense. Shopify offers several tiers, from Starter to Advanced, each with different features and costs. By staying, the store keeps full access to Shopify’s tools, apps, and ecosystem, but at a price that aligns with current business demands. That option can avoid disruption and keep revenue flow intact.

Temporarily Putting Your Shopify Store on Hold

Another valid route: placing the store in a "pause" state rather than full cancellation. Shopify allows certain plans to freeze the storefront while keeping data intact. This can be useful if business is seasonal or if there’s a short hiatus. The store can reopen later without starting from scratch.

Getting Help from Shopify’s Customer Support Team

Before taking final action, consulting Shopify’s support team can uncover hidden options, such as extended trial periods, discounts, or alternative plans suited to unique needs. Some merchants discover better fits than full cancellation. Reaching out may reveal flexible solutions that weren’t initially apparent.

Exploring Alternative E-Commerce Platforms to Shopify

If Shopify no longer fits the business strategy, researching other platforms, like Wix or WooCommerce, is a wise move. Many viable options compete with Shopify, each with unique pricing, features, and flexibility. By comparing a few, the business can migrate confidently to one better aligned with specific goals, budget, and growth path.

FAQs About How to Cancel Shopify Free Trial

What If I Already Selected a Pricing Plan During the Free Trial?

If a paid plan was picked before the free trial ended, then simply letting the trial expire won’t stop billing. In that case, the store owner must go to Settings → Plan in the admin and click Deactivate store or Cancel plan. Any outstanding charges still apply and must be settled to avoid further billing.

Can Shopify Support Cancel It for Me?

No. For security reasons, Shopify support cannot manually deactivate your store or cancel your free trial on your behalf. You must log in to your admin account and complete the process.

Can I Reactivate My Store Later?

Yes. After canceling (or deactivating) the store, the data is retained for up to two years. You can log back in, choose a plan, provide billing info, and reopen the store without building from scratch.

Will My Data or Themes Be Lost Forever?

No, not immediately. After completing how to cancel Shopify free trial, store information is held for up to two years after deactivation. During that period, it is possible to recover products, themes, orders, and settings. But if that period elapses without reactivation, data may be deleted.

Do I Need to Cancel App Subscriptions Separately?

Yes. This is an important part of how to cancel Shopify free trial to avoid surprise billing. App subscriptions installed during the trial or paid plan often carry separate billing and are not cancelled automatically when the Shopify store is deactivated. Users should review the Apps section in the admin and manually uninstall or cancel apps to avoid future charges.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to cancel Shopify free trial correctly prevents billing mistakes and secures your store data. The process only takes a few minutes when you follow each step carefully, from checking payment details to exporting essential files. Always remember to cancel app subscriptions and transfer domains before closing the account. Still exploring your e-commerce options? Compare Shopify’s plans or other platforms before making your final move. A thoughtful approach today ensures your business remains protected and flexible for whatever comes next.