{
 "id": "cloudways",
 "name": "Cloudways",
 "category": "developer_tools",
 "website": "https://www.cloudways.com",
 "domains": [
  "cloudways.com"
 ],
 "summary": "Delete every server (stopping one doesn't stop billing) and remove paid add-ons, then the account owner clicks Cancel My Account under Profile, Account. A final invoice for usage follows; fees aren't refundable. Gotcha: cancelling permanently deletes all servers and data and can't be undone, so download backups first.",
 "routes": [
  {
   "channel": "direct_web",
   "label": "Close the account",
   "applies_to": "Cloudways accounts with servers and add-ons (hourly usage, billed monthly)",
   "who": "The account owner only; Cloudways Support can't cancel the account for you",
   "method": "self_serve",
   "start_url": null,
   "steps": [
    {
     "do": "Download a backup of each application and database: once the account is cancelled, data can't be recovered (only the latest local backup can be downloaded)",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Open Servers in the top menu, select each active server, choose Delete Server and follow the on-screen instructions",
     "expect": "a prompt to select a reason for deletion"
    },
    {
     "do": "Open the Grid menu, click Add-ons, then for each active add-on click Edit and select Remove Subscription",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Click your Profile icon, then Account, scroll to the bottom and click Cancel My Account",
     "expect": null
    }
   ],
   "confirm_by": null,
   "effective": "All servers, applications and data are permanently deleted, and a cancelled account can't be restored",
   "notice": null,
   "refund": "None: the Terms say fees paid are non-refundable",
   "fees": "Billing is in arrears: a final invoice for usage up to the cancellation date arrives in the next billing cycle, and anything still owed at termination is due immediately",
   "source_ids": [
    "s1",
    "s2",
    "s3",
    "s4",
    "s5",
    "s6",
    "s7",
    "s13",
    "s15",
    "s16",
    "s17",
    "s18",
    "s25",
    "s27",
    "s28"
   ]
  },
  {
   "channel": "direct_web",
   "label": "Stop charges, keep the account",
   "applies_to": "Cloudways accounts you want to keep open without paying",
   "who": "The account owner",
   "method": "self_serve",
   "start_url": null,
   "steps": [
    {
     "do": "Download a full backup of each application first",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Delete each server: stopping, pausing or leaving a server inactive doesn't stop billing",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Deactivate any paid add-ons you aren't using",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Expect one final invoice next month for the usage before you deleted them",
     "expect": null
    }
   ],
   "confirm_by": null,
   "effective": "Once all servers and paid add-ons are removed you aren't billed, even if the account stays open, until you launch a new server or Autonomous plan or activate add-ons",
   "notice": null,
   "refund": "None: fees paid are non-refundable",
   "fees": "One final invoice in the next month for usage before deletion",
   "source_ids": [
    "s8",
    "s9",
    "s10",
    "s11",
    "s12",
    "s13",
    "s15",
    "s23",
    "s24",
    "s29"
   ]
  },
  {
   "channel": "direct_web",
   "label": "Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous",
   "applies_to": "A paid Cloudways Autonomous plan",
   "who": "Someone signed in to the Cloudways Platform account that holds the plan (Cloudways doesn't say which roles can do it)",
   "method": "self_serve",
   "start_url": null,
   "steps": [
    {
     "do": "Back up each application first: a deleted application can be recovered within 15 days only if a backup exists",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Log in to the Cloudways Platform, click Autonomous in the left menu, then select My Applications",
     "expect": "all applications under your Autonomous plan"
    },
    {
     "do": "Click the three-dot menu next to an application and select Delete Application",
     "expect": "a warning message and a confirmation field"
    },
    {
     "do": "Type DELETE and click Delete",
     "expect": "a request to choose up to three reasons for deleting the application"
    },
    {
     "do": "Choose up to three reasons, click Next, answer the follow-up questions, then review your responses and click Submit",
     "expect": null
    },
    {
     "do": "Repeat for every application linked to the plan; once the last one is deleted, unsubscribe from the plan",
     "expect": null
    }
   ],
   "confirm_by": null,
   "effective": "The Autonomous plan is unsubscribed immediately and its billing stops; billing continues until the plan is fully unsubscribed",
   "notice": null,
   "refund": "None: the Terms say fees paid are non-refundable",
   "fees": "Autonomous usage is charged hourly per application and billed monthly, so expect a final invoice for usage before you unsubscribed",
   "source_ids": [
    "s30",
    "s31",
    "s32",
    "s33",
    "s34",
    "s35",
    "s36",
    "s15",
    "s25",
    "s37",
    "s38"
   ]
  },
  {
   "channel": "direct_web",
   "label": "Autonomous free trial",
   "applies_to": "A Cloudways Autonomous free trial application",
   "who": "The account owner",
   "method": "self_serve",
   "start_url": null,
   "steps": [
    {
     "do": "Log in to the Cloudways Platform, open the application listing and click Delete Application",
     "expect": "a box asking you to type Delete"
    },
    {
     "do": "Type Delete and click Delete",
     "expect": "a message that the trial application was deleted"
    }
   ],
   "confirm_by": "A success message says the Autonomous Trial application was deleted",
   "effective": "Deleting the trial application ends the Autonomous trial and removes the application",
   "notice": null,
   "refund": null,
   "fees": null,
   "source_ids": [
    "s21",
    "s22",
    "s26"
   ]
  }
 ],
 "pay_less": [],
 "export": [
  {
   "data": "Application web files and database (local backup)",
   "how": "Turn on Local Backups for the server (Servers, your server, Backups, Local Backups, Save Changes), then download the backup over SFTP or SCP with the server's Master Credentials from the application's local_backups folder",
   "format": null,
   "limits": "Only the latest local backup is kept; older local backups are replaced automatically",
   "source_ids": [
    "s19",
    "s20",
    "s17"
   ]
  }
 ],
 "after_cancel": {
  "access_until": "Closing the account ends it straight away: servers, applications and data are deleted",
  "data_kept": "Nothing after closing the account: all servers, applications and data are permanently deleted and the account can't be restored. A deleted Autonomous application can be recovered within 15 days if a backup exists. The Terms make you responsible for exporting your data before closing",
  "you_lose": [
   "All servers, applications, databases and data on the account",
   "The account itself: to use Cloudways again you must sign up with a new email address",
   "Autonomous applications you delete can be recovered only within 15 days, and only if a backup exists"
  ]
 },
 "agent_notes": {
  "sign_in_needed": true,
  "phone_or_chat_only": false,
  "retention_step": "Deleting a server asks you to select a reason; deleting an Autonomous application asks for up to three reasons and follow-up questions before Submit",
  "tips": [
   "Only the account owner can cancel; Cloudways Support can't do it for you",
   "Stopping or pausing a server doesn't stop billing: delete it",
   "Paid add-ons keep billing until you remove each subscription",
   "Autonomous plans keep billing until the plan is fully unsubscribed: delete every application linked to it, then unsubscribe",
   "Expect one more invoice after you delete everything: billing is for the previous month's usage",
   "Cancelling deletes everything permanently: download backups first",
   "Ending an Autonomous free trial: delete the trial application",
   "If no servers or paid add-ons remain, an open account isn't billed"
  ]
 },
 "sources": [
  {
   "id": "s1",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Only the account owner can initiate account cancellation.",
   "supports": "who can cancel"
  },
  {
   "id": "s2",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Once your account is canceled, data cannot be recovered.",
   "supports": "back up before cancelling"
  },
  {
   "id": "s3",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Cancel My Account",
   "supports": "the final button"
  },
  {
   "id": "s4",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "You may receive a final invoice in the next billing cycle for usage until the date of cancellation.",
   "supports": "the final invoice"
  },
  {
   "id": "s5",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "All servers, applications, and data are permanently deleted due to GDPR and privacy compliance.",
   "supports": "what cancelling deletes"
  },
  {
   "id": "s6",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Canceled accounts cannot be restored",
   "supports": "no restore"
  },
  {
   "id": "s7",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "to use Cloudways again, you must sign up with a new email address.",
   "supports": "re-joining needs a new email"
  },
  {
   "id": "s8",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119650-how-do-i-stop-my-cloudways-billing",
   "title": "How do I stop my Cloudways billing?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Stopping, pausing, or leaving a server inactive does not stop billing",
   "supports": "delete servers rather than stop them"
  },
  {
   "id": "s9",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119650-how-do-i-stop-my-cloudways-billing",
   "title": "How do I stop my Cloudways billing?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "you will receive one final invoice in the next month",
   "supports": "the final invoice after deleting"
  },
  {
   "id": "s10",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119650-how-do-i-stop-my-cloudways-billing",
   "title": "How do I stop my Cloudways billing?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Billing resumes only when you launch a new server, Autonomous Plan OR activate add-ons.",
   "supports": "an empty account doesn't bill"
  },
  {
   "id": "s11",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119615-how-does-cloudways-payment-system-work",
   "title": "How Does Cloudways Payment System Work",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Invoices are generated between the 1st and 6th of each month for the prior month's usage.",
   "supports": "billing is in arrears"
  },
  {
   "id": "s12",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119615-how-does-cloudways-payment-system-work",
   "title": "How Does Cloudways Payment System Work",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "To fully stop charges, remove all servers and cancel your account.",
   "supports": "what stops the charges"
  },
  {
   "id": "s13",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119615-how-does-cloudways-payment-system-work",
   "title": "How Does Cloudways Payment System Work",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "you will receive a final invoice for any days services were used before the cancellation date.",
   "supports": "mid-month cancellation is billed for days used"
  },
  {
   "id": "s14",
   "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/terms-of-service-agreement",
   "title": "Terms of Service Agreement (DigitalOcean, which covers cloudways.com)",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "We will periodically differentiate between our websites such as digitalocean.com and cloudways.com",
   "supports": "these Terms cover Cloudways"
  },
  {
   "id": "s15",
   "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/terms-of-service-agreement",
   "title": "Terms of Service Agreement (DigitalOcean, which covers cloudways.com)",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Except as otherwise set forth herein or expressly agreed between the parties, any and all fees paid to us are non-refundable",
   "supports": "no refunds"
  },
  {
   "id": "s16",
   "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/terms-of-service-agreement",
   "title": "Terms of Service Agreement (DigitalOcean, which covers cloudways.com)",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "any and all fees still owed to us at the time of such termination shall be immediately due and payable",
   "supports": "fees owed at termination"
  },
  {
   "id": "s17",
   "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/terms-of-service-agreement",
   "title": "Terms of Service Agreement (DigitalOcean, which covers cloudways.com)",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "You are responsible for downloading or otherwise exporting your data prior to termination or closure of your respective Services or Account",
   "supports": "export before closing"
  },
  {
   "id": "s18",
   "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/terms-of-service-agreement",
   "title": "Terms of Service Agreement (DigitalOcean, which covers cloudways.com)",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "DigitalOcean shall have no obligation to make Services Content available upon closure of your Account, and will delete Services Content",
   "supports": "content is deleted on closure"
  },
  {
   "id": "s19",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5123346-how-to-download-the-backup-of-your-application",
   "title": "How to Download the Backup of Your Application",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Only the last backup will be available locally",
   "supports": "only the latest local backup can be downloaded"
  },
  {
   "id": "s20",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5123346-how-to-download-the-backup-of-your-application",
   "title": "How to Download the Backup of Your Application",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Older local backups are automatically replaced.",
   "supports": "older local backups are overwritten"
  },
  {
   "id": "s21",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/10935523-how-to-cancel-autonomous-trial",
   "title": "How To Cancel Autonomous Trial",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Navigate to application listing and click on Delete Application.",
   "supports": "where the trial is ended"
  },
  {
   "id": "s22",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/10935523-how-to-cancel-autonomous-trial",
   "title": "How To Cancel Autonomous Trial",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Deleting your trial application will also end your Autonomous Trial.",
   "supports": "deleting the app ends the trial"
  },
  {
   "id": "s23",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5116158-guide-to-billing-at-cloudways",
   "title": "Guide to Billing at Cloudways",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Cloudways follows an hourly billing model, where you are charged based on the number of hours your server is active.",
   "supports": "hourly billing"
  },
  {
   "id": "s24",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5116158-guide-to-billing-at-cloudways",
   "title": "Guide to Billing at Cloudways",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "However, all usage is summarized and billed monthly.",
   "supports": "monthly invoicing"
  },
  {
   "id": "s25",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5116158-guide-to-billing-at-cloudways",
   "title": "Guide to Billing at Cloudways",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Charges may still appear after cancellation if there was unbilled usage before the account was closed.",
   "supports": "charges after cancelling"
  },
  {
   "id": "s26",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/10935523-how-to-cancel-autonomous-trial",
   "title": "How To Cancel Autonomous Trial",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Your Autonomous Trial application has been successfully deleted.",
   "supports": "the success message"
  },
  {
   "id": "s27",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "For each active add-on, click Edit. Select Remove Subscription to deactivate it.",
   "supports": "removing add-ons"
  },
  {
   "id": "s28",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Select a reason for deletion when prompted.",
   "supports": "deleting a server asks for a reason"
  },
  {
   "id": "s29",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5119918-how-do-i-cancel-my-account",
   "title": "How Do I Cancel My Account?",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "If there are no active servers or resources, you will not be billed",
   "supports": "an empty open account isn't billed"
  },
  {
   "id": "s30",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "You must delete all applications linked to the Autonomous plan.",
   "supports": "delete every application first"
  },
  {
   "id": "s31",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "From the left navigation menu, click Autonomous. Select My Applications to view all applications under your Autonomous plan.",
   "supports": "where the flow starts"
  },
  {
   "id": "s32",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the application. Select Delete Application.",
   "supports": "deleting an application"
  },
  {
   "id": "s33",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Choose up to three reasons for deleting the application. Click Next to continue.",
   "supports": "the reasons step"
  },
  {
   "id": "s34",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Billing continues until the plan is fully unsubscribed.",
   "supports": "billing until unsubscribed"
  },
  {
   "id": "s35",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Your Cloudways Autonomous plan is unsubscribed immediately.",
   "supports": "takes effect immediately"
  },
  {
   "id": "s36",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "You can recover a deleted application within 15 days, if a backup exists.",
   "supports": "15-day recovery window"
  },
  {
   "id": "s37",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5116158-guide-to-billing-at-cloudways",
   "title": "Guide to Billing at Cloudways",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "charges you hourly per application for the exact time your app is active",
   "supports": "Autonomous hourly billing"
  },
  {
   "id": "s38",
   "url": "https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/9335180-how-to-unsubscribe-from-cloudways-autonomous-plan",
   "title": "How to Unsubscribe from Cloudways Autonomous Plan",
   "publisher": "vendor",
   "quote": "Once the last application is deleted, you can proceed to unsubscribe from the plan",
   "supports": "unsubscribe after the last application"
  }
 ],
 "verification": {
  "level": "docs",
  "checked_on": "2026-10-05",
  "by": "stackcut-research",
  "unverified": [
   "Cloudways' help pages don't say whether a confirmation email follows the account cancellation",
   "Whether the Cancel My Account step itself asks for a reason isn't documented",
   "Cloudways' Autonomous help article doesn't spell out the final unsubscribe click after the last application is deleted, or which account roles can unsubscribe"
  ],
  "review": {
   "by": "stackcut-review",
   "on": "2026-10-06",
   "result": "fixed",
   "notes": [
    "Re-read every Cloudways help article and the DigitalOcean Terms the routes cite; account cancellation, stop-billing, final invoice, no-refund and data-deletion facts confirmed",
    "Added the missing route for unsubscribing from a paid Cloudways Autonomous plan (delete every application, reasons step, unsubscribed immediately, 15-day recovery window)",
    "Add-ons step: each add-on is removed with Edit, then Remove Subscription",
    "Deleting a server asks for a reason: noted as the expected prompt and in retention_step",
    "Stop-charges route: an open account with no servers or add-ons isn't billed",
    "Export: dropped 'take a backup', which the backup article doesn't say",
    "Cloudways help pages can't be quote-checked automatically (they block scripted reads); their quotes were confirmed by reading the pages directly"
   ]
  }
 },
 "page": "https://stackcut.io/cancel/cloudways",
 "json": "https://stackcut.io/exits/cloudways.json",
 "evidence": {
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  "verification": "docs",
  "freshness": {
   "as_of": "2026-10-09",
   "status": "current",
   "checked_on": "2026-10-05",
   "age_days": 4,
   "stale_after_days": 30,
   "next_check_on": "2026-11-04"
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  "routes": [
   {
    "route_id": "cloudways--direct-web--r1",
    "channel": "direct_web",
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   {
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    "checked_on": "2026-10-05",
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    }
   },
   {
    "route_id": "cloudways--direct-web--r4",
    "channel": "direct_web",
    "checked_on": "2026-10-05",
    "freshness": {
     "as_of": "2026-10-09",
     "status": "current",
     "checked_on": "2026-10-05",
     "age_days": 4,
     "stale_after_days": 30,
     "next_check_on": "2026-11-04"
    }
   }
  ]
 },
 "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
 "credit": "Stackcut Exits (https://stackcut.io/cancel), CC BY 4.0"
}