Cancelling your subscription with HostGator is easy. Nonetheless, you must do it the proper way to avoid data loss and paying for more fees. Here’s a step-by-step guide of the whole cancellation process.
Although its primary service is web hosting, it has other services that you might want to cancel. It offers domain web registration, for example, which is a separate service.
If you have both, you can cancel one or the other. You don’t have to transfer your domain even if you’re switching hosting companies.
If you want to cancel both, you’ll have to do a separate process for each. Cancelling one doesn’t cancel the other on automatic, so make sure to do both.
Furthermore, you may have different packages under HostGator. You want to make sure you’re cancelling the right package when you send the cancellation form.
To make sure you have the right one, go to the customer portal and look at the ID of your packages. Check which is which by checking the domain, renewal date, and price associated with it.
Note that add-ons like HostGator SEO Tools and such have different cancellation processes. You’re able to cancel a specific add-on without cancelling your HostGator service. goMobi, for instance, is quick to cancel from your cPanel.
Before proceeding with the process, make sure to back up your website first. You might lose important data if HostGator receives and confirms the cancellation right away. Note that once you cancel HostGator plans, your website backups with the hosting service will also disappear.
You can, however, download a home directory backup and a full backup from your account. All you have to do is to log into cPanel and navigate to the Backups section. Choose the backups you want to download and click the Generate button or similar.
We recommend using a third-party service, though. These will usually give more control over your backups. You also have more control over the restoration process.
It can allow you to back up your cPanel accounts, too. This isn’t possible through HostGator as it goes over the backup limits.
If you’re using WordPress, you’ll also be able to find plugins that can back up your data with ease.
You may use an FTP client to download all your websites and databases on your computer. You’ll then transfer these files to your new host provider. Make sure to change the DNS information to your new web host; this is usually available on the welcome email.
Wait for a confirmation email about the DNS change. Then, wait for up to 48 hours for your site to transfer to the new web host.
Note that HostGator requires that you cancel “in writing.” This means you can’t cancel over the phone and other methods. This protects you from other people cancelling your account without your knowledge.
“In writing” means you’ll have to fill out their cancellation form and send it to their live chat agent. It’s a must for cancelling your hosting plan or your domain name registration. In the case of the latter, however, you may also contact HostGator over the phone to cancel.
Filling up the cancellation form means you allow the company to delete your website. This includes any data and any files you may have with them. This will also stop the issuing of further invoices on your account.
Getting it in writing and confirming the cancellation is crucial. Once HostGator deletes your data, it’s next to impossible to get it back.
This is also a measure to protect the hosting company itself. In case a client raises a storm about it, it will have the records that they authorized the process.
To start, log into your account and use their cancellation form to start the process. The form will ask you a bunch of questions, including the reason why you’re cancelling your account.
Once you’ve provided the required answers, make sure the check the box giving HostGator the permission to terminate your subscription plan. Then, click the “Start Live Chat” button, which will take you to a live chat agent.
Note that you’ll need to get in touch with the website you subscribed for or signed up. If you signed up first with HostGator.com, go to this website and search for their contact information here. If you opted for HostGator India, for example, make sure to go to their website instead.
According to HostGator, you should receive a confirmation email stating they have your request to cancel within an hour. Check your inbox and spam folder to make sure it’s there. If you don’t receive one, that means they did not receive your email.
In this case, contact the billing department and re-send the form using the email you used to sign up. You’ll have to initiate the process again as HostGator might charge you renewal fees if you weren’t able to cancel before the renewal date.
The website claims it won’t be responsible for the charges. Make sure you have a confirmation before waiting for your account cancellation.
Once you’ve received the confirmation email, it will take HostGator up to 72 hours to cancel the account. They will have to verify your identity first and confirm the cancellation with you.
During this time, your account will remain active and until the next renewal date. In essence, it would only cancel your next renewal.
If you want to close your account on another date, make sure to tell that to HostGator. They’ll then contact you further to confirm your intent to cancel.
The waiting period is also a form of security so you’ll get notified if someone else tried to cancel your account. If you weren’t trying to cancel, you’ll then be able to contact the website before the cancellation.
If you used your PayPal account with HostGator, you’ll have to do this step, too. The hosting company will also remind you to do so within the email.
First, go to your account, and then click the Settings icon on the upper right-hand corner. Go to the Payments tab and navigate towards the Automatic Payments. You should find your HostGator subscription as a merchant here.
Click the “Cancel” button and then “Cancel Profile” to confirm the action. After doing this and after a few days, your HostGator account should be no more.
HostGator has a 45-day money-back guarantee for all its new customers. If you’re a first-time customer and you cancel within this window, you can get a refund by requesting for it. Reply to the confirmation email with your request, and then wait for another email.
The company will respond with an email stating the amount of your refund. If you don’t receive one, contact the billing department.
It will take up to 15 days for the refund to reflect on your PayPal account or the credit card you used when signing up. Any payments made through check, money order, or bank wire transfers are not eligible for refunds. You might also have to pay a fee for the domain name if it’s included for free in your plan.
You don’t have to do this step if you’re deleting your website for good, but if you’re only switching to another hosting company, you’re going to have to migrate your website.
In most cases, the hosting company you’re switching to can migrate your website for you for a fee. Some companies also offer this service for free if you choose a particular plan.
If you have the technical know-how, migrating your data is pretty simple. It will involve some copying and pasting of some codes; don’t worry, there are tools to help you with that.
We recommend having the hosting company do it, though. This will ensure the process goes without a hitch and to avoid errors and losing valuable data.
If you’re happy with your domain with HostGator and you don’t have any issues, there’s no reason to transfer your domain, too. If you still want to do it, though, make sure you choose a reliable domain registrar.
Ensure that you have enough time to set up your domain in another registrar, as well. Since your domain will usually remain active until the next renewal date, you have until then to choose a domain registrar company and set up your domain.
You’ll have to first get an authorisation code from your registrar and unlock your domain. The initiation of the transfer is usually easy to do within your account in the new registrar. If you’re unsure of the process, contact a support agent from the new registrar.
Last updated Jun 24, 2022
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