Quick Summary

Step-by-Step Cancellation Methods

Method 1: Web Browser (Recommended)

         
1. Log into github.com
         
2. Click your profile picture in top right
         
3. Select Settings from dropdown
         
4. Click Billing and plans in left sidebar
         
5. Under "Plans", click Change plan
         
6. Select Free plan
         
7. Click Downgrade account
         
8. Confirm downgrade when prompted
       

Method 2: GitHub Mobile App

         
1. Open the GitHub mobile app
         
2. Tap your profile picture
         
3. Go to Settings
         
4. Select Billing
         
5. Tap Change plan
         
6. Choose Free and confirm
       

Method 3: Contact GitHub Support

         
1. Visit support.github.com
         
2. Click Contact Support
         
3. Select Billing as category
         
4. Choose Subscription cancellation
         
5. Fill out the support form
         
6. Include your GitHub username and billing email
         
7. Response time: 24-48 hours
       

Method 4: Email Support

         
• Email: support@github.com
         
• Subject: "GitHub Pro Subscription Cancellation"
         
• Include: GitHub username, billing email, account details
         
• Mention specific reason for cancellation
       

Important Information

GitHub Plan Types and Pricing

         
• Free: Public repositories, basic features
         
• Pro: $4/month per user - Private repositories, advanced tools
         
• Team: $4/month per user - Team collaboration features
         
• Enterprise Cloud: $21/month per user - Enterprise features
         
• Enterprise Server: Self-hosted solution
       

What You'll Lose After Downgrading

         
• Private repositories may become public (if exceeding free limits)
         
• Advanced insights and analytics
         
• Protected branches on private repos
         
• Multiple assignees and reviewers
         
• Advanced code scanning features
         
• Priority support access
         
• Wiki pages on private repositories
       

Repository and Data Impact

         
• Public repositories: No impact, remain accessible
         
• Private repositories: Limited to 3 with Free plan
         
• Collaborators: Limited to 3 per private repo
         
• Code and commits: All preserved and accessible
         
• Issues and PRs: Remain available and functional
       

Refund Policy

         
• Monthly subscriptions: No refunds, service continues until end of billing cycle
         
• Annual subscriptions: Prorated refund available within 30 days
         
• Unused credits: May be eligible for refund on case-by-case basis
         
• Enterprise plans: Custom refund terms based on contract
       

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

         
• Repository limits: Private repos exceeding limit may become public
         
• Team access: Collaborators may lose access to private repos
         
• Advanced features: Code scanning and insights become unavailable
         
• Integration dependencies: Some CI/CD features may be affected
         
• Data export: Consider backing up important insights before downgrade
       

Timeline

         
• Immediate: Plan downgraded to Free
         
• Pro features: Advanced features become unavailable immediately
         
• End of billing cycle: No future charges
         
• Repository limits: Enforced immediately (may prompt for action)
       

Alternative Options

         
• Free Git hosting: GitHub Free, GitLab Community, Bitbucket Free
         
• Premium alternatives: GitLab Premium ($19), Bitbucket Standard ($3), Azure DevOps
         
• Self-hosted options: GitLab CE, Gitea, SourceForge, GitKraken Glo
         
• Code collaboration: VS Code Live Share, CodeSandbox, Replit