Canceling a Service: Options, Refunds, and What Happens to Your Data
You can cancel any DartNode service from your dashboard at any time, with no phone call and no retention offer to sit through. Before you cancel, it helps to know a few things. Different service types cancel in different ways. Some credit goes back to your balance. Once a cancellation takes effect, your data is gone for good. This guide covers all of it, so you can choose the option that fits and avoid surprises.
Before you cancel: back up anything you need
DartNode virtual servers are unmanaged. We don't have access to your operating system or files, and we keep no copies of your data. When a cancellation takes effect, we permanently destroy the service's disks, and staff cannot recover that data afterward, even on request.
If anything on the server matters, copy it off before you confirm. Common approaches:
- Copy files to another machine with
rsyncorscp. - Dump databases with
mysqldumporpg_dumpand download the dump. - Note any DNS records, reverse DNS (PTR) entries, or firewall rules you'll need to recreate elsewhere.
Snapshots are tied to the server, so they are deleted along with it. A snapshot is not a backup once you cancel.
Choosing a cancellation type
When you cancel, you'll be offered one or both of the options below, depending on the service type.
| Cancel at End of Billing Cycle | Cancel Immediately | |
|---|---|---|
| When the service stops | On your next billing date (the 1st of the month) | Right away |
| Credit for unused time | None. You've used the period you paid for. | Unused time is prorated and credited to your account balance (virtual services) |
| Can you undo it? | Yes, until the cancellation date | No |
| Extra confirmation | None | Requires your account password |
| Best for | Wrapping up a project, migrating off gradually | Services you're completely done with |
How it works by service type
Virtual services (VPS, VDS, and block storage) can be canceled immediately or at the end of the cycle. If you cancel immediately, the unused part of the month is calculated the same way as our proration credit and added to your account balance.
Dedicated servers and other physical services are built to order. They can only be scheduled to cancel at the end of the current billing cycle. Early cancellation isn't available unless the service qualifies for the 7-day money-back guarantee (see below).
How to cancel
- Open the service's detail page in the dashboard. You can also go to Billing > Cancel Service.
- Open the Cancel tab (labeled Destroy on some service types).
- Choose Cancel at End of Billing Cycle or Cancel Immediately.
- If you chose immediate cancellation, enter your account password.
- Confirm.
Changed your mind?
If you scheduled an end-of-cycle cancellation, go back to the service page before the cancellation date and click Re-Activate Service. The service then continues as normal and renews on the 1st. Immediate cancellations can't be reversed.
What happens after cancellation
- Disks and snapshots are permanently destroyed.
- IP addresses assigned to the service are released. If you need to keep an address, move workloads off it before canceling.
- Account credit remains on your balance for future DartNode services. Credit can't be withdrawn as cash.
- Your account stays open. Canceling a service doesn't close your account, and you can deploy new services at any time.
7-day money-back guarantee
If a service is less than 7 days old, it may qualify for a full refund instead of a prorated credit. To use it, open a support ticket within the first 7 days, tell us which service it is and why you're canceling, and we'll take it from there. Keep in mind:
- The guarantee can be used once per account.
- Payments made in cryptocurrency are refunded as account credit.
Full details are in the 7-Day Money Back Guarantee article.
Cancellation not working?
If the cancel option is missing or blocked, it's usually for one of these reasons:
- The service is under a service agreement. Contracted services can't be canceled from the dashboard before the agreement term ends. Open a ticket and we'll go over your options.
- The account is locked because of a payment dispute. Cancellation is blocked until the dispute is resolved. If you have a billing concern, contact us first. Most issues are resolved faster through support than through your bank.
- The service is part of a bundle. Child services can't be canceled on their own. Cancel the parent (master) service instead, which cancels everything in the bundle.
Still need help?
Open a ticket from your dashboard or email [email protected]. If you're unsure which option fits your situation, ask before you confirm. Once data is destroyed, we can't bring it back.