How to cancel IONOS
Cancel your IONOS hosting contract to stop the recurring fee. Below: the gotcha to know first (email is the universal one), what to back up before pulling the plug, and the exact six clicks to get it done.
Read this first
If you have email like you@yourdomain.com through this provider, cancelling will switch it off. Set up replacement email first — Google Workspace ($6/user/mo), Fastmail ($3/user/mo), or Zoho Mail (free for one user) all work with your domain.
Unlike most modern hosts, IONOS often locks you into a 12- or 24-month contract with a 30-day cancellation notice. Cancelling today usually means the plan keeps charging until the end of your current term. Check the contract details before you assume cancellation is immediate.
Before you cancel
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Download a backup of your old site
Just in case. You'll never need it, but you'll wish you had it if you ever do.
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Export any contact-form submissions you want to keep
Old submissions live on the provider; once you cancel they are gone.
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Export your orders, customers and products
If you sold anything, download a CSV of your order and customer history. Most platforms have a single Export button under Commerce settings.
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Check where your domain is registered
Your domain (the name like yourbakery.com) may be registered with this provider or with a separate registrar. If it's here, decide whether to transfer it out to a cheaper registrar (Porkbun, Cloudflare Registrar) or leave it where it is — both options work with your new site.
Cancellation walkthrough
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Sign in to my.ionos.com
Use the email on your contract.
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Open Contracts → Contract Overview
Lists every IONOS product you pay for.
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Find the hosting / web-builder contract
Each row shows the contract term and next renewal date.
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Click the contract → Cancel Product
IONOS may make you confirm via email or a verification code sent to your registered address.
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Note the actual end date
It will usually be the contract anniversary, not today. The product stays active until then.
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Save the cancellation confirmation email
IONOS support disputes are common; keep the confirmation as proof.
About refunds: IONOS contracts often have minimum terms (1, 12, or 24 months). Cancellation typically takes effect at the end of the current contract term, not immediately — read the cancellation notice period carefully.
About your domain
IONOS domain transfers usually take an extra step: their support team may need to manually issue the auth code. Allow 1–2 weeks if you're transferring out.