How to Cancel GitHub
Quick process
Cancel before renewal date
Important Warnings
- Cancellation takes effect at end of current billing period - no immediate refund
- Private repositories remain accessible but advanced features are lost
- Team members may lose access to organization resources
- CI/CD minutes and storage limits reduced immediately or at cycle end
- Free account has significant limitations on private repository collaborators
Step-by-step instructions
Sign in to your GitHub account at github.com
Click on your profile photo in the upper-right corner of any page
Select 'Settings' from the dropdown menu
In the left sidebar, click 'Billing and plans' or navigate to github.com/settings/billing
Find your paid plan section (Team or Enterprise)
Click 'Edit' or 'Change plan' next to your current subscription
Select 'Downgrade to Free' or 'Cancel plan'
Confirm the cancellation and follow any remaining prompts
Tips & Things to Watch For
No early termination fees - cancel anytime
Pro TipGitHub's Terms of Service state 'You may cancel this agreement and close your Account at any time' under section L. Unlike services like Adobe, there are no early termination fees or penalties for canceling monthly or annual subscriptions mid-term.
Downgrade to Free tier to preserve your data before canceling
Pro TipInstead of immediately canceling a paid account, downgrade to the Free tier first. This preserves your repositories, issues, and projects while eliminating costs. You can continue accessing everything on the Free tier indefinitely with unlimited public/private repos.
What to Expect
Dark Patterns to Watch
- Cancellation is called 'downgrade' rather than cancel
- No clear 'Cancel' button in main billing interface
- Cancellation option hidden within 'Edit plan' workflow
Retention Tactics
- Shows features you'll lose when downgrading
- Emphasizes loss of CI/CD minutes and storage
- May offer to keep features until end of billing period
Cancel via Email
Send this pre-written email to support@github.com Sign up to auto-fill your details.
GitHub Plans & What You'll Lose
What you'll lose access to
After You Cancel
Reactivation
You can reactivate your account later
Content Access
Your content remains accessible after cancellation
Not ready to fully cancel?
Downgrade available
Switch to a cheaper plan instead
Was this guide helpful?
Related services
Track your GitHub subscription
Get payment reminders, track spending, and manage all your subscriptions in one place.
Get Started — Free