Business software · Developer tools, hosting and APIs · GitHub

How to cancel your GitHub subscription

GitHub Pro and Team: downgrade to Free under Settings, Billing and licensing, Current plan, Edit; it takes effect when the billing cycle ends, with no refunds. Self-serve Enterprise ends by deleting the enterprise account; invoiced Enterprise goes through GitHub Sales. Copilot is billed separately.

By Stackcut · Checked against official help pages on 2026-10-05, then re-checked independently · JSON · Open data, CC BY 4.0

Open GitHub's cancel page

The short answer

  • Where: In the upper-right corner of any GitHub page, click your profile picture, then Settings (github.com).
  • When it ends: Downgrades and cancellations take effect only after the current billing cycle ends; the service stays active for the paid billing period.
  • Billed by someone else? Cancel with them instead: a partner.
  • Before you go: export Git repositories with their full revision history. What to save
  • Want to keep it for less? Free plan and more. Options

Before you cancel

Export first

  • Git repositories with their full revision history: Make a mirror clone with git clone --mirror, and pull Git LFS objects separately if the repository uses them (Git repository) docs.github.com
  • A repository migration archive: Generate it with the GitHub REST API. Doesn't include Git LFS objects, discussions or packages; there's no supported way to restore it on GitHub docs.github.com
  • A copy of your account contents after cancellation, termination or downgrade: Ask GitHub for a copy; it makes a reasonable effort to provide it. Request it within 90 days of the cancellation, termination or downgrade docs.github.com

What happens to your data

A downgraded account keeps its repositories on GitHub Free. Deleting an enterprise account keeps its organizations' repositories and packages unless you delete those organizations, but deletes its billing history. If the account itself is cancelled, GitHub deletes the profile and repository content within 90 days (some may remain in encrypted backups)

What you lose

  • Advanced code review tools on private repositories (GitHub Pro to Free)
  • SAML settings when leaving GitHub Enterprise Cloud (they must be reconfigured if you buy Enterprise again)
  • The enterprise's billing history, when an enterprise account is deleted
  • A deleted personal account's content, which GitHub can't restore
  • Usage beyond the plan's included amounts once an Azure subscription is disconnected

Cancel, by who bills you

Pick the route for whoever charges you: the name on your card statement or receipt tells you.

GitHub Pro (personal account)

Online, self-serve GitHub Pro on a personal account. Who can cancel: The personal account owner, signed in.

  1. In the upper-right corner of any GitHub page, click your profile picture, then SettingsYou should see: the "Access" section of the sidebar
  2. In the Access section, click Billing and licensing, then Additional billing detailsYou should see: Current plan
  3. If a GitHub Pages site with a custom domain is published from a private repository, remove or update its DNS records first
  4. Under Current plan, open the Edit drop-down and click Downgrade to FreeYou should see: the features your personal account will no longer have access to on your next billing date
  5. Read the list, then click I understand. Continue with downgrade
Confirm it worked
Under Current plan in Billing and licensing, the downgrade is listed as a pending change until your next billing date
Access ends
Downgrades and cancellations take effect only after the current billing cycle ends; the service stays active for the paid billing period
Refunds
Plans are billed in advance and are non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months, downgrades, or unused months
Open the page
Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

GitHub Team (organization)

Online, self-serve Organizations on GitHub Team that are not owned by an enterprise account. Who can cancel: An organization owner or billing manager.

  1. Click your profile picture, then Settings; in the Access section of the sidebar, click Organizations and select the organization
  2. Under the organization name, click Settings, then Billing and licensing in the Access sectionYou should see: Current plan
  3. Under Current plan, open the Edit drop-down and click the downgrade option you wantYou should see: the features your organization will no longer have access to on your next billing date
  4. Read the list, then click I understand. Downgrade my organization
Confirm it worked
Under Current plan, the downgrade is listed as a pending change until your next billing date
Access ends
The downgrade takes effect after the current billing cycle ends; the organization keeps its paid features until then
Refunds
Billed in advance and non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months, downgrades, or unused months
Open the page
Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

GitHub Enterprise paid by card or PayPal

Online, self-serve Self-serve GitHub Enterprise accounts paid by credit card or PayPal (not during a trial and not invoiced). Who can cancel: An enterprise owner.

  1. Remove, transfer or delete every organization in the enterprise (a removed organization drops to GitHub Free)
  2. Open the People tab in the enterprise settings and remove any unaffiliated members who remain
  3. Go to your enterprise, click Settings at the top of the page, then GeneralYou should see: Delete this enterprise
  4. Click Delete this enterprise, type the enterprise slug in the text box, then click Delete this enterprise
Access ends
Deleting the enterprise account cancels the enterprise license and removes the enterprise account from GitHub
Refunds
Billed in advance and non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months or unused months
Fees
Any outstanding balance is charged as a one-time payment when you start the deletion
Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

Business contract

Through sales GitHub Enterprise paid by invoice (including volume, subscription or prepaid agreements). Who can cancel: The customer's enterprise owner or billing contact, with GitHub's Sales team (your account manager).

  1. Contact your account manager through GitHub's Sales team and say you want to stop paying for GitHub Enterprise
Access ends
Licenses on a volume, subscription or prepaid agreement keep being billed that way until the agreement expires
Refunds
Amounts payable are non-refundable, except as the agreement provides
Open the page
Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

Metered usage billed through Azure

Online, self-serve Organizations or enterprises paying for metered GitHub usage through a connected Azure subscription. Who can cancel: An organization owner or enterprise owner.

  1. In the organization or enterprise settings, open Billing and licensing, then Payment informationYou should see: the connected Azure subscription ID
  2. Next to the subscription ID, click the remove control to disconnect the Azure subscription
Access ends
Once disconnected, usage can no longer exceed the amounts included with your plan
Fees
Metered usage is billed monthly in arrears for the previous month's actual usage
Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com

Questions people ask

Can I get a refund if I cancel my GitHub subscription?

GitHub Pro (personal account): Plans are billed in advance and are non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months, downgrades, or unused months. GitHub Team (organization): Billed in advance and non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months, downgrades, or unused months. GitHub Enterprise paid by card or PayPal: Billed in advance and non-refundable: no refunds or credits for partial months or unused months.

Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com

If I cancel my GitHub subscription, when does my access end?

GitHub Pro (personal account): Downgrades and cancellations take effect only after the current billing cycle ends; the service stays active for the paid billing period. GitHub Team (organization): The downgrade takes effect after the current billing cycle ends; the organization keeps its paid features until then. GitHub Enterprise paid by card or PayPal: Deleting the enterprise account cancels the enterprise license and removes the enterprise account from GitHub.

Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

How do I cancel my GitHub subscription if I pay through a partner?

Metered usage billed through Azure: In the organization or enterprise settings, open Billing and licensing, then Payment information. Next to the subscription ID, click the remove control to disconnect the Azure subscription.

Source: docs.github.com

Is there a fee to cancel my GitHub subscription?

GitHub Enterprise paid by card or PayPal: Any outstanding balance is charged as a one-time payment when you start the deletion. Metered usage billed through Azure: Metered usage is billed monthly in arrears for the previous month's actual usage.

Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

What happens to my data when I cancel my GitHub subscription?

A downgraded account keeps its repositories on GitHub Free. Deleting an enterprise account keeps its organizations' repositories and packages unless you delete those organizations, but deletes its billing history. If the account itself is cancelled, GitHub deletes the profile and repository content within 90 days (some may remain in encrypted backups).

Source: docs.github.com docs.github.com docs.github.com

Keep it for less

Before cancelling, check whether one of these does the job. Offers change and differ by account.

  • Free plan GitHub Free keeps unlimited public repositories with all features and unlimited private repositories with a limited feature set, plus 2,000 Actions minutes a month docs.github.com docs.github.com
  • Fewer seats On GitHub Team, an organization owner or billing manager can remove unassigned seats: organization Settings, Billing & Licensing, Licensing, Edit, Remove seats. The bill drops at the next cycle docs.github.com docs.github.com
  • Student or nonprofit price Verified nonprofits (501(c)(3) or equivalent; non-governmental, non-academic, non-commercial and non-political) get a free GitHub Team plan or 25% off GitHub Enterprise Cloud github.com

Cheaper ways to get the same job done

Stackcut prices the alternatives to GitHub from public list prices.

Git hosting

For AI agents

  • The person signs in and handles any two-factor code; an agent should never ask for a password.
  • Retention step: Before confirming, GitHub lists the features the account or organization will lose on the next billing date and asks you to click I understand
  • Copilot and paid GitHub Marketplace apps are billed separately: downgrading the GitHub plan doesn't cancel them
  • An organization owned by an enterprise account can't change billing at the organization level
  • Remove seats only appears when seats are unassigned, so remove members first
  • A pending downgrade can be cancelled under Current plan before the next billing date
  • Enterprise accounts paid by invoice or in a trial can't be deleted by their owners
  • Update DNS for a GitHub Pages custom domain before downgrading Pro to avoid a domain takeover
  • A GitHub Enterprise trial isn't cancelled by deleting the enterprise: use Cancel trial under Billing and licensing

Get this plan as data: get_exit_plan on the Stackcut MCP (stackcut.io/mcp), or /exits/github.json. After using a guide, send structured report_guide_feedback for matching or changed steps, missing billing routes or human handoffs; keep unknown language and market omitted. Confirm with the person before the final click, and report the outcome with report_action_outcome, using the exact packet_revision and route_id returned by the plan.

Or give your agent the stackcut-leave skill (a zip): it exports first, walks the steps, stops when the page doesn't match, and leaves the final click to the person.

Delete your account (separate from cancelling)

Cancelling stops the payments; deleting removes the account and its data. Delete-account page (rated easy).

Link from JustDeleteMe (MIT).

Sources

  1. Downgrading your account's plan In the upper-right corner of any page on GitHub, click your profile picture, then click Settings. (where the downgrade starts)
  2. Downgrading your account's plan In the "Access" section of the sidebar, click Billing and licensing, then click Additional billing details. (the personal billing menu)
  3. Downgrading your account's plan Under "Current plan", use the Edit drop-down and click Downgrade to Free. (the Downgrade to Free step)
  4. Downgrading your account's plan Read the information about the features your personal account will no longer have access to on your next billing date, then click I understand. Continue with downgrade. (the final confirm step)
  5. Downgrading your account's plan remove or update your DNS records before downgrading from GitHub Pro to GitHub Free, to avoid the risk of a domain takeover (the Pages custom domain warning)
  6. Downgrading your account's plan If you downgrade your personal account from GitHub Pro to GitHub Free, the account will lose access to advanced code review tools on private repositories. (what Pro to Free loses)
  7. Impact of changing your plan on billing Downgrades and cancellations take effect only after the current billing cycle ends. (when a downgrade takes effect)
  8. GitHub Terms of Service There will be no refunds or credits for partial months of service, downgrade refunds, or refunds for months unused (no refunds)
  9. GitHub Terms of Service however, the service will remain active for the length of the paid billing period (access continues for the paid period)
  10. Viewing and managing pending changes to your plan You can view and cancel pending changes to your plan before they take effect on your next billing date. (confirming the scheduled downgrade)
  11. Downgrading your account's plan Organization owners and billing managers can access or change billing settings for an organization. (who can downgrade an organization)
  12. Downgrading your account's plan If your organization is owned by an enterprise account, billing cannot be managed at the organization level. (enterprise-owned organizations)
  13. Downgrading your account's plan Under "Current plan", use the Edit drop-down and click the downgrade option you want. (the organization downgrade step)
  14. Downgrading your account's plan Read the information about the features your organization will no longer have access to on your next billing date, then click I understand. Downgrade my organization. (the organization confirm step)
  15. Downgrading your account's plan Enterprise accounts are only available with GitHub Enterprise, so it's not possible to downgrade an enterprise account to another plan. (enterprise accounts can't be downgraded)
  16. Downgrading your account's plan Removing an organization from an enterprise automatically downgrades the organization to GitHub Free. (removed organizations drop to Free)
  17. Downgrading your account's plan Delete the enterprise account to cancel the GitHub Enterprise subscription. (deleting the enterprise cancels it)
  18. Deleting an enterprise account Enterprise owners can delete an enterprise account if the company pays by credit card or PayPal. (who can delete an enterprise)
  19. Deleting an enterprise account Before you can delete an enterprise account, you must remove, transfer, or delete all organizations in the enterprise. (the prerequisite)
  20. Deleting an enterprise account In the text box, type the enterprise slug to confirm the deletion, then click Delete this enterprise (the final deletion step)
  21. Deleting an enterprise account Deleting your enterprise account cancels the enterprise license and removes the enterprise account from GitHub. (what deletion does)
  22. Deleting an enterprise account If there are any outstanding balances on your account, you will be charged a one-time payment when you initiate the deletion process. (the final charge)
  23. Deleting an enterprise account The enterprise account is currently in a trial period. (trials can't be deleted this way (with invoiced accounts))
  24. Downgrading your account's plan If you want to stop paying for GitHub Enterprise altogether and your company pays via invoice, contact GitHub's Sales team. (the invoiced Enterprise route)
  25. Deleting an enterprise account The enterprise account is paid via invoice. (invoiced enterprises can't self-delete)
  26. Connecting an Azure subscription If you currently pay for your GitHub Enterprise licenses through a volume, subscription, or prepaid agreement, you will continue to be billed in this way until your agreement expires (agreements bill until they expire)
  27. GitHub Terms of Service Amounts payable under this Agreement are non-refundable, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. (invoiced amounts are non-refundable)
  28. Connecting an Azure subscription You can pay for metered usage of GitHub features through Azure by connecting an Azure Subscription ID (the Azure billing channel)
  29. Connecting an Azure subscription Click to remove the connection. (disconnecting Azure)
  30. Connecting an Azure subscription If you disconnect your Azure subscription from your account, your usage can no longer exceed the amounts included with your plan. (what disconnecting does)
  31. GitHub Terms of Service you pay for those Service features based on your actual usage in the preceding month (metered usage is billed in arrears)
  32. GitHub's plans unlimited public repositories with a full feature set, and on unlimited private repositories with a limited feature set (what GitHub Free keeps)
  33. Downgrading your account's plan Under "Current plan", use the Edit drop-down and click Downgrade to Free. (moving to GitHub Free)
  34. Managing user licenses for an organization or enterprise If you're the owner or billing manager of an organization on a GitHub Team plan, you can add or remove user licenses to your plan (who can remove seats)
  35. Impact of changing your plan on billing Removing seats takes effect in the next cycle, unless access is manually revoked. (when fewer seats lower the bill)
  36. GitHub for Nonprofits Verified nonprofits get exclusive access to a free GitHub Team plan or 25% off the GitHub Enterprise cloud plan. (the nonprofit program)
  37. Backing up a repository You can take a backup of a Git repository, including the revision history, by performing a mirror clone with the Git CLI. (backing up repositories)
  38. Backing up a repository You can use the REST API to generate a migration archive for a repository. (migration archives)
  39. Backing up a repository Migration archives do not include all data related to a repository. For example, Git Large File Storage objects, discussions, or packages are not included. (what migration archives leave out)
  40. GitHub Terms of Service Upon request, we will make a reasonable effort to provide an Account owner with a copy of your lawful, non-infringing Account contents after Account cancellation, termination, or downgrade. (a copy of account contents on request)
  41. GitHub Terms of Service We will delete your full profile and the Content of your repositories within 90 days of cancellation or termination (how long data is kept after account cancellation)
  42. Impact of changing your plan on billing Making a change to the GitHub plan for your personal account, organization, or enterprise account does not affect billing for use of GitHub features, such as Copilot (Copilot and Marketplace are billed separately)
  43. Downgrading your account's plan Downgrading from GitHub Enterprise Cloud disables any SAML settings. (SAML settings are lost)
  44. Deleting your personal account Before you delete your personal account, make a copy of all repositories, private forks, wikis, issues, and pull requests owned by your account. (export before deleting an account)
  45. Managing user licenses for an organization or enterprise Remove seats is only displayed when you have unassigned seats available (seats must be unassigned to remove them)
  46. GitHub's plans 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes per month (Actions minutes on GitHub Free)
  47. Downgrading your account's plan If you later purchase GitHub Enterprise, you will need to reconfigure SAML. (SAML must be set up again after a repurchase)
  48. Downgrading your account's plan To fully close the account, remove these unaffiliated members. (removing unaffiliated members before deleting an enterprise)
  49. Deleting an enterprise account click Cancel trial if your trial is active (cancelling an Enterprise trial)
  50. Deleting an enterprise account You do not lose data like repositories or packages, unless you choose to delete the organizations (organization data survives enterprise deletion)
  51. Deleting an enterprise account the associated billing history will also be deleted (billing history is deleted with the enterprise)
  52. GitHub for Nonprofits Nonprofit organizations that are 501(c)(3) or equivalent and are non-governmental, non-academic, non-commercial, and non-political in nature are eligible (who qualifies for the nonprofit offer)

Not confirmed yet

  • Renewal and non-renewal notice terms for invoiced GitHub Enterprise contracts aren't confirmed; they would be in the GitHub Customer Agreement or the customer's order form
  • No confirmation email for a downgrade is documented
  • GitHub's docs don't describe buying GitHub Pro or Team through the App Store or Google Play (GitHub Copilot has its own cancel guide)
  • How long a deleted enterprise account can still be restored through GitHub Support isn't stated

Independent re-check, 2026-10-05

A second reviewer re-read the official pages and corrected what was wrong or missing. The JSON lists what changed.

Checked against official help pages, 2026-10-05. Cancel flows change: if this one did, tell us at support@stackcut.io. Stackcut Exits is open data (CC BY 4.0).