How to Cancel Google Workspace

Whether you’ve outgrown Google Workspace, signed up by mistake, or simply want to switch providers, cancelling Google Workspace isn’t always as simple as pressing a button. The process depends on whether you’re ending a paid subscription, stopping a free trial, cancelling through a reseller, or permanently deleting your account.

Before you start, one important warning: cancelling Google Workspace can mean permanent data loss. Emails, files, and contacts may be unrecoverable once your account is gone. That’s why we strongly recommend making a backup first with a solution like Google Workspace Backup.

How to Cancel Google Workspace Subscription (Direct with Google)

If you’re billed directly by Google, you can cancel your subscription through the Admin Console:

1. Sign in to admin.google.com with an administrator account.
2. Go to Billing > Subscriptions.
3. Select your active Google Workspace plan.
4. Click More > Cancel Subscription.
5. Pick a cancellation reason from the options provided.
6. Confirm and re-enter your Google account details.

Once cancelled, your data and services remain accessible during a grace period. Depending on your billing setup, this may last anywhere from 7 to 51 days. After that, user accounts and data will be permanently deleted.

How to Cancel Google Workspace Free Trial

Google Workspace free trials typically last 14 days. If you don’t confirm your domain or set up billing before the trial ends, no charges will apply.

To cancel during the trial:

1. Sign in to the Admin Console.
2. Go to Billing.
3. Select your trial subscription and click Cancel.

If you don’t cancel, you may automatically be moved onto a paid plan. Once the trial ends, Google will delete your data unless you’ve backed it up.

How to Cancel Workspace Through a Reseller

If you purchased Google Workspace through a reseller like Squarespace or IONOS, the cancellation process is slightly different.

• Squarespace – Cancelling your subscription transfers billing back to Google automatically. You’ll then manage cancellation directly with Google.
• IONOS – You must cancel via the IONOS control panel. Once cancelled, you can either transfer the subscription back to Google or let the service end.

⚠️ Note: You cannot transfer directly between resellers. To switch, you must first move your subscription back to Google.

How to Permanently Delete a Google Workspace Account

It’s important to understand the difference between cancelling a subscription and deleting a Google Account entirely.

• Cancelling a subscription means you stop paying for Workspace. After a grace period, user access is suspended and data may be deleted. However, the account itself (your Google identity) can still exist.
• Deleting a Google Account is permanent. It removes your identity and access to all linked Google services, including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Contacts, Meet, Docs, and even YouTube or Google Photos associated with that account. Once deleted, recovery is not possible.

This step is often used when:

• A business has closed and no longer needs any of its Google services.
• An employee account must be erased permanently for compliance reasons.
• An individual wants to completely remove their Google presence.

Steps to delete a Google Account permanently:

1. Sign in to your Google Account.
2. Go to Data & Privacy from the account settings menu.
3. Scroll down to More Options > Delete your Google Account.
4. Carefully review what will be deleted, including associated subscriptions or linked services.
5. Follow the prompts and confirm deletion by entering your password.
6. Optionally, download a copy of your data first using Google Takeout.

⚠️ Warning: This process is irreversible. Once confirmed, all Gmail addresses, Drive files, and associated services will be permanently lost. If you still need the data for compliance, audits, or future reference, ensure you back up with a solution like Google Workspace Backup before proceeding.

What Happens to Your Data After Cancellation?

When you cancel Google Workspace, your data doesn’t vanish instantly—but access is restricted and eventually removed. The exact outcome depends on whether you cancelled a monthly plan, an annual plan, or a free trial.

Here’s what typically happens:

• Drive files – All files stored in Google Drive and Shared Drives become inaccessible once the grace period ends.
• User accounts – Accounts under your Workspace domain are disabled. After deletion, they cannot be used to sign in or retrieve emails.
• Gmail – Incoming emails will bounce back to senders with a delivery error. Outgoing emails can no longer be sent.
• Calendars – Calendar events and reminders are lost. Meeting links in Google Meet will stop working.
• Contacts – Address books tied to Workspace accounts are deleted.
• Other services – Linked services such as Google Chat, Meet recordings, Sites, and Keep are also deleted.

Google does provide a grace period—ranging from 7 to 51 days—where data is recoverable if you change your mind. However, once this period passes, recovery is impossible.

If you need to recover files or emails after cancellation, it may already be too late. That’s why we recommend following our guide on how to recover Google Drive files while the account is still active—or setting up a backup before cancelling.

Cancellation Periods & Refund Policy

The amount of time you have to recover data or claim a refund depends on your billing arrangement:

• Monthly plans – When you cancel a monthly plan, service continues until the end of the billing cycle. You won’t be charged again, but you also won’t receive a refund for unused days in that cycle. Data remains available until the end of the period, after which the grace period (7–30 days) begins.
• Annual plans – Annual commitments are less flexible. Once you sign up, you’re locked in for the full term. If you cancel early, you’ll still be billed until the end of the contract. The only exception is the 14–15-day renewal window at the start of each new term, when cancellations may qualify for a refund. Outside of that, no refunds are given, and your account remains active until the prepaid year ends.
• Free trial – Trials last 14 days. If you cancel during the trial, no charges are applied. If you don’t cancel, the account automatically moves to a paid plan and billing begins. Data is removed when the trial ends unless you set up billing or back it up separately.

Key takeaway: Cancellation timelines are strict, and refund policies are limited. If you’re unsure whether you’ll need your Workspace data again, it’s safer to back it up first. With Google Workspace Backup, you can secure your data before the grace period ends and retain it for as long as your business requires.

Before You Cancel, Protect Your Data

Cancelling Google Workspace without a backup can mean losing everything—from years of business emails to critical project files. For businesses, this isn’t just inconvenient; it’s a compliance risk.

We recommend creating a secure backup before you cancel. With Google Workspace Backup from BackupVault, you can automatically protect:

• Gmail
• Google Drive and Shared Drives
• Contacts
• Calendars
• Google Meet recordings

Even if you move away from Google, you’ll retain access to your historical data for compliance, audits, or business continuity.

BackupVault also protects Microsoft 365, Dropbox Business, and other SaaS platforms—so you can maintain secure, UK-based backups no matter where your business data lives.

👉 Explore our full range of cloud backup solutions to keep your data safe during and after cancellation.

Final Thoughts

Cancelling Google Workspace in 2025 requires careful planning. Whether you’re ending a subscription, trial, or reseller plan, the biggest risk is losing valuable data. By taking a backup first, you protect your organisation against disruption and ensure compliance long after cancellation.

If you’re planning to cancel Google Workspace, make sure your data is safe. Start a free trial of Google Workspace Backup today.