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Cancel Wordpress: The Right Way
How to cancel WordPress.com and avoid losing your site data
Understanding WordPress.com and what you're cancelling
WordPress.com (operated by Automattic) is a hosted website and blogging platform available as a subscription service with integrated hosting, domains, and premium features. When you subscribe to WordPress.com, you're paying for managed hosting, design tools, and ongoing support - all bundled together in your account.
It's critical to understand that WordPress.com is different from WordPress.org. WordPress.com is the hosted service where Automattic manages everything for you. WordPress.org is free, open-source software that runs on third-party hosting providers. If you use WordPress.org, you'll need to cancel with your hosting provider instead, not with Automattic.
What you get with WordPress.com
Your WordPress.com subscription includes website hosting, automatic backups, SSL certificates, customer support, and access to premium themes and plugins depending on your plan level. You also get domain registration services bundled into many plans, though domains follow separate renewal and refund rules.
Why cancellation can feel complicated
WordPress.com doesn't make it obvious that you have different cancellation pathways depending on where you bought your subscription. If you purchased through the web, you cancel on the web. If you bought through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms, not through WordPress.com itself. This separation catches many people out.
When you should cancel WordPress.com
Cancelling WordPress.com makes sense in specific situations where the platform no longer serves your needs or budget.
Good reasons to cancel
You might cancel if you've moved your site to a different platform (like Wix, Squarespace, or self-hosted WordPress.org), if you no longer need a website, if you're downsizing to a free plan, or if the subscription cost no longer fits your budget. You should also cancel if you're consolidating multiple sites and only need one WordPress.com subscription moving forward.
Before you cancel: critical steps
Export your site content, download your images and posts, and save copies of your site elsewhere before you cancel. If you own a custom domain, decide whether you want to keep it or transfer it. Check your current refund eligibility based on when you purchased or last renewed. Understanding these factors before you start the cancellation process will save you stress and data loss.
How to cancel WordPress.com on the web
The most straightforward cancellation path is through your WordPress.com account dashboard. This method gives you full control and allows you to choose between stopping auto-renewal or removing your plan immediately.
- Log into your WordPress.com account at wordpress.com using your email and password.
- If you've forgotten your password, click "Lost your password?" and reset it before proceeding.
- Click on your profile image or initials in the top left corner, then select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
- On mobile, you may need to tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) instead.
- Navigate to "Purchases" or "Manage purchases" in the left sidebar.
- This section lists all your active subscriptions and domains.
- Find the WordPress.com plan you want to cancel and click on it to open the subscription details.
- If you have multiple sites, each may have a separate subscription listed.
- Look for a "Cancel plan" or "Cancel subscription" button and click it.
- You'll be asked to confirm your cancellation and may see a brief survey about why you're leaving.
- Confirm the cancellation in the popup window.
- Warning: If you see a "Remove plan" option and click it, your site will be immediately deactivated. Only choose this if you want to delete your site right now. To keep your site running until your paid period ends, select "Cancel plan" instead.
- You'll receive an email confirmation of your cancellation within minutes.
- Keep this email for your records in case you need to dispute charges later.
Pro tip: If you can't find the "Purchases" section, you may be looking at the WordPress.com editor view rather than your account settings. Log out completely, clear your browser cache, and log back in to ensure you're in the correct account dashboard.
Cancelling WordPress.com on your mobile device
If you purchased your WordPress.com subscription through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms, not through the WordPress app or website.
Cancelling on iOS (Apple app store)
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad (not the WordPress app).
- Scroll down and tap "Subscriptions" (you may need to tap your name at the top first, then select "Subscriptions").
- Find "WordPress.com" in your active subscriptions list.
- Tap on the WordPress.com subscription and select "Cancel Subscription".
- Choose your cancellation reason from the dropdown menu.
- Confirm that you want to cancel immediately.
- Warning: Apple will give you the option to "Continue Free Trial" or similar messaging. Ignore this and select only "Cancel Subscription" to ensure your subscription ends.
- You'll receive an email confirmation from Apple within a few minutes.
Cancelling on android (Google play)
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select "Manage subscriptions" or "Payments and subscriptions".
- Find "WordPress.com" in your list of subscriptions.
- Tap on it and select "Cancel subscription".
- Choose your cancellation reason.
- Confirm the cancellation.
- Pro tip: Google Play may offer you a discount to keep your subscription. You can decline this and proceed with cancellation if you're certain.
- You'll receive an email confirmation from Google Play.
Warning: Cancelling within the WordPress app itself will not cancel your subscription if you purchased through Apple or Google. You must use the method above. Many people make this mistake and wonder why they're still being charged weeks later.
What happens after you cancel WordPress.com
Understanding what occurs after your cancellation is confirmed will help you manage your site and avoid surprises.
Access and features immediately after cancellation
When you cancel your WordPress.com plan, your site access depends on whether you chose "Cancel plan" or "Remove plan". If you selected "Cancel plan", your site remains fully accessible and operational until your paid subscription period ends. All features - storage, premium themes, premium plugins, and support - continue working normally.
If you selected "Remove plan" to delete immediately, your site becomes inaccessible right away. You'll have a brief grace period (usually 30 days) to restore it, but after that, your site and all data are permanently deleted. This is why "Remove plan" should only be used if you genuinely want your site gone.
What happens to your custom domain
If you own a custom domain through WordPress.com (for example, yoursite.co.nz), your domain registration continues separately from your website plan. Cancelling your website plan does not automatically cancel your domain. Your domain will renew on its annual schedule unless you separately cancel it in the "Domains" section of your WordPress.com account.
If you want to keep your domain but cancel the website, you can do this. If you want to cancel both, you'll need to cancel the domain separately and within a refund window if you want your money back. Stopee recommends exporting your domain's DNS records and contact information before cancelling, in case you need to transfer it to another provider.
Data, backups, and exports
WordPress.com provides automatic daily backups of your site. After you cancel, these backups are retained for a limited time (typically 30 days for standard plans). Before your cancellation date, download a full export of your site by going to "My WordPress.com Account" > "Manage sites" > selecting your site > "Export" to save all your content, images, and posts locally.
You can also manually download individual media files and pages. Once your paid period expires and your subscription fully ends, your backups may be deleted, and you'll lose your ability to restore content if you haven't downloaded it.
Will you get a refund when you cancel WordPress.com
WordPress.com operates on strict refund windows, and your eligibility depends entirely on your plan type and how long ago you purchased or renewed.
Refund windows explained
WordPress.com offers full refunds (not prorated refunds) only within specific timeframes. You cannot receive a partial refund for unused time - it's either a full refund within the window or no refund at all.
| Plan type | Refund window | Refund amount |
|---|---|---|
| Annual WordPress.com plan | 14 days from purchase or renewal | Full refund if within window |
| Monthly WordPress.com plan | 7 days from purchase or renewal | Full refund if within window |
| Custom domain (.nz, .co.nz, etc.) | 96 hours (4 days) from registration or renewal | Full refund if within window |
| Premium themes and plugins | 14 days (annual) or 7 days (monthly) | Full refund if within window |
| Google Workspace for email | 14 days (annual) or 7 days (monthly) | Full refund if within window |
| Express Website Design service | 14 days from purchase | Full refund if within window |
How to claim your refund
If you're within the refund window, your refund is typically processed automatically when you cancel your plan. Check your original payment method (credit card, PayPal, or Apple/Google account) for the refund within 5 to 10 business days.
If you cancelled within the refund window and don't see a refund after 10 business days, contact WordPress.com support immediately through your account dashboard. Provide your cancellation email confirmation and your original receipt. You can escalate to Stopee if WordPress.com refuses to process your refund without valid reason.
Your consumer rights in new zealand
As a consumer in New Zealand, you have statutory protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986.
What the consumer guarantees act protects
The Consumer Guarantees Act gives you the right to cancel digital products within a specific timeframe if they're faulty or if they don't deliver what was promised. If WordPress.com fails to provide the service you paid for - such as persistent downtime, loss of data due to a failure on their part, or unavailability of advertised features - you have grounds to demand a refund regardless of WordPress.com's stated refund window.
However, if you simply change your mind and cancel after the statutory refund window, you may not be entitled to a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act alone. This is why Stopee emphasizes cancelling early if you're unsure about the service.
Escalation through the commerce commission
If WordPress.com refuses to honour a refund you believe you're entitled to, and they ignore your complaint, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission (the New Zealand regulator). The Commerce Commission investigates unfair trading practices and can force companies to refund consumers if they breach the Fair Trading Act.
Document everything: your purchase date, your cancellation date, emails from WordPress.com, and screenshots of your account showing the refund window. Send a formal written request for a refund to WordPress.com support first, giving them 14 days to respond. If they refuse, lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission at comcom.govt.nz.
Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them
Cancelling WordPress.com can go wrong in surprisingly specific ways, and most mistakes are completely avoidable with the right knowledge.
Mistake 1: cancelling through the app instead of the proper platform
If you purchased your WordPress.com subscription through the WordPress mobile app, you might assume you can cancel inside the app as well. You can't. You must cancel through your web account or through Apple Settings / Google Play, depending on your device. Many people cancel inside the app, see a confirmation, and then continue being charged because the in-app cancellation doesn't actually process.
Always verify your cancellation by checking your purchases list the next day and confirming that "Auto-renewal: Off" is displayed.
Mistake 2: confusing "Remove plan" with "Cancel plan"
WordPress.com offers two cancellation options: "Cancel plan" (stops auto-renewal but keeps your site live until the end of your paid period) and "Remove plan" (deletes your site immediately). Clicking "Remove plan" by accident is devastating if you weren't ready to lose your site right then.
Pro tip: If you accidentally clicked "Remove plan", contact WordPress.com support immediately and request restoration. They can usually restore your site within a grace period, but you must act fast.
Mistake 3: forgetting about your domain renewal
Cancelling your WordPress.com website plan does not cancel your domain. Your domain will renew automatically on its anniversary unless you separately cancel it. Many people receive a surprise charge for domain renewal a month after they thought they'd cancelled everything.
Before you finish cancelling, go to "My WordPress.com Account" > "Domains" and either cancel each domain separately (if you want a refund within the 96-hour window) or note the renewal dates so you can manually cancel them later.
Mistake 4: not exporting your content before the cancellation date
After your paid period expires, WordPress.com will not preserve your backups indefinitely. If you want your content later, you must download it before your plan expires. Download your site export, your images, and any other files before the final day of your subscription.
Mistake 5: missing the refund window by cancelling too late
If you purchased a monthly plan 8 days ago and cancel today, you're outside the 7-day refund window and won't get a refund. Stopee recommends cancelling as soon as you're sure you don't want to continue, especially within the first week of a new subscription.
Checklist: before you hit cancel
Use this checklist to ensure you've covered everything before you complete your WordPress.com cancellation.
- Check your purchase date to confirm whether you're within the refund window (7 or 14 days depending on plan type).
- Download a full site export from "My WordPress.com Account" > "Manage sites" > "Export".
- Download all media files and any custom content not captured in the export.
- Decide what to do with your custom domain (keep it, transfer it, or cancel it separately).
- Note the domain renewal date so you don't get charged unexpectedly.
- Check if any add-ons (Google Workspace, Jetpack, premium themes) are attached and whether you want to cancel those separately.
- Screenshot or print your current site so you have a record of how it looked.
- If you're transferring your domain to another registrar, initiate the domain transfer before you cancel.
- Send a final backup email to yourself with your export file attached.
- Confirm you understand whether you're clicking "Cancel plan" (site stays live) or "Remove plan" (site deleted immediately).
What to do after you cancel WordPress.com
Cancellation is not the end of your relationship with the platform - there are several actions you should take immediately after.
In the first 24 hours
Verify your cancellation by logging back into your WordPress.com account and checking your "Purchases" section. You should see that "Auto-renewal: Off" is displayed next to your plan. If you see "Auto-renewal: On", your cancellation didn't process, and you need to contact WordPress.com support immediately.
Check your email for the cancellation confirmation from WordPress.com (or from Apple / Google Play if you cancelled through those platforms). Save this email somewhere safe; you may need it later if you need to dispute a charge.
In the next 5 to 10 days
If you cancelled within the refund window, monitor your original payment method for the refund. Credit card refunds typically appear within 5 business days. If you paid via PayPal or another method, check that account too.
If you don't see a refund after 10 business days and you were within the refund window, log into your WordPress.com account, go to "Help", and contact support with your cancellation confirmation number and original receipt.
In your final month of access
If you cancelled with a future end date (your plan expires in 30 days, for example), log in periodically and download any content you haven't yet backed up. As your final day approaches, take a screenshot of your entire site as a final backup.
On your final day, your site will move to a "site expired" state. You'll have a short grace period (usually 30 days) to restore it by renewing your plan, but after that, the site is inaccessible and eventually deleted.
Contacting WordPress.com support if cancellation fails
If you've followed the steps above and your cancellation hasn't processed, or if you're experiencing unexpected charges, you can contact WordPress.com support directly.
How to reach WordPress.com support
Log into your WordPress.com account, click your profile image, select "Help", then click "Contact support". You'll be directed to a support form where you can describe your issue. WordPress.com typically responds within 24 to 48 hours.
Be specific: provide your site URL, your account email, the date you attempted to cancel, and any screenshots showing the issue. If you cancelled through Apple or Google and weren't charged, explain that clearly so they can investigate the right platform.
What to include in your support message
Write: "I cancelled my WordPress.com plan on [date] through [web / Apple App Store / Google Play]. I received a confirmation email on [date], but I still see [describe the issue - e.g., 'the plan listed as active' or 'I was charged again']. Please either process my cancellation or issue the refund I'm entitled to. My cancellation confirmation number is [include if available]."
Escalation through stopee
If WordPress.com's support team doesn't respond within 5 days or refuses your legitimate refund request, Stopee can escalate on your behalf. Stopee maintains relationships with major subscription platforms and can apply pressure through formal consumer complaint channels. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions when companies try to stall or deny valid refunds.
Comparison: WordPress.com versus other website platforms
If you're cancelling WordPress.com because you want a different platform, here's how WordPress.com cancellation compares to alternatives.
| Platform | Refund window | Cancellation difficulty | Data portability |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com (Automattic) | 7-14 days | Easy (2-3 minutes online) | Full export available |
| Wix | 14 days (some plans) | Moderate (requires email to support) | Limited export options |
| Squarespace | 14 days | Moderate (form submission) | Limited export options |
| Shopify | None stated | Easy (account settings) | Data export available |
| GoDaddy Website Builder | 30 days | Moderate (phone or support) | Limited |
WordPress.com actually offers one of the cleanest cancellation experiences and the easiest data export process. If you're frustrated with WordPress.com's features or pricing, the actual cancellation itself is straightforward - it's the data preparation that takes time.
Postal address for formal complaints or mail cancellations
WordPress.com does not publish a New Zealand office address. All mail correspondence for WordPress.com (operated by Automattic) must be sent to Automattic's corporate headquarters in the United States.
If you need to send a formal written cancellation notice (which is rarely necessary in New Zealand), you can use this address:
Automattic Inc.
132 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
USA
Important note: Email and online account cancellation are the standard methods and are far more reliable than postal mail. Stopee does not recommend using postal mail unless you're sending a formal legal dispute letter. If you're cancelling because of a refund dispute, use your WordPress.com support dashboard first, and escalate through the New Zealand Commerce Commission if WordPress.com ignores your complaint.
The absence of a local New Zealand address is actually a strength: it means WordPress.com's policies apply consistently across all regions, and you have clear consumer protections under New Zealand law regardless of their US headquarters. Stopee recommends using email trails and your support dashboard history - these create the strongest evidence if you ever need to prove your cancellation attempt to a regulator.
Summary: cancel WordPress.com with confidence
Cancelling WordPress.com is a straightforward process when you follow the right steps for your subscription method (web, Apple, or Google Play). The key is to cancel within the refund window if you want your money back, export your site content before your plan expires, and manage your domain separately to avoid surprise renewals.
Your consumer rights in New Zealand protect you if WordPress.com fails to deliver the service or refuses a legitimate refund. Document everything, give support time to respond, and escalate through the Commerce Commission if necessary.
Whether you're switching platforms, downsizing, or simply moving on, Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel WordPress.com subscriptions smoothly and recover refunds they didn't think they could claim. If you run into resistance from WordPress.com support or need guidance on your specific situation, Stopee is here to help you navigate the cancellation process and ensure you get every refund you're entitled to.