How Do I Cancel My Subscription?

Step-by-step instructions for cancelling artist or shop subscriptions on Apprentice.

Overview

Apprentice subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. Whether you're an artist on a paid plan or a shop owner with a team subscription, this guide explains how to cancel your subscription, what happens to your data, and how to manage the cancellation process.

Before You Cancel

Understand What Happens When You Cancel

Immediate Effects:

❌ Subscription will not renew at next billing date
❌ Access to paid features ends at end of current billing period
✅ Data remains accessible until end of billing period
✅ No partial refunds for unused time in current period

After Billing Period Ends:

⚠️ Account downgrades to Free plan (artists) or is paused (shops)
⚠️ Premium features disabled
⚠️ Some data may be archived or limited
✅ Account and basic features remain active
✅ You can resubscribe at any time

Consider Downgrading Instead

If you're cancelling due to cost:

✅ Downgrade to a lower-tier plan instead of cancelling completely
✅ Pause subscription temporarily (shop owners) if taking a break
✅ Switch to annual billing for discounted rates (if available)

Artist plans:

Free: Basic features, limited AI generations, no pricing tools
Starter: $15/month - More AI generations, pricing features
Professional: $30/month - Full features, unlimited AI, analytics

Shop plans:

Starter: Small teams (1-3 artists)
Professional: Medium teams (4-10 artists)
Enterprise: Large teams (11+ artists)

Backup Your Data Before Cancelling

Export important information:

✅ Portfolio images: Download your tattoo portfolio
✅ Client list: Export client contacts and notes
✅ Design files: Save AI-generated designs and collaborations
✅ Payment history: Export revenue reports for tax records
✅ Appointment history: Download past appointment records

See What Happens to My Data If I Delete My Account for data retention details.

How to Cancel Your Subscription

For Artists

Step 1: Navigate to Subscription Settings

Sign in to your Apprentice account
Go to Settings → Subscription or Billing
Or navigate directly to /dashboard/artist/settings/subscription

Step 2: Access Cancellation Options

Scroll to the "Current Plan" section
Look for "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription" button
Click the button to open cancellation flow

Step 3: Choose Cancellation Reason (Optional)

You may be asked why you're cancelling:

Feedback helps improve Apprentice
Select reason from dropdown or write custom feedback
This step is optional—you can skip it

Common reasons:

Too expensive
Not using features enough
Switching to different tool
Taking a break from tattooing
Other (specify)

Step 4: Review Cancellation Details

Confirm understanding:

When access to paid features ends (end of current billing period)
What happens to your account after cancellation
No refund for current billing period
You can resubscribe anytime

Step 5: Confirm Cancellation

Click "Cancel Subscription" or "Confirm Cancellation"
Enter password to confirm (security verification)
You'll see a confirmation message

Confirmation email:

You'll receive an email confirming cancellation
Email includes date when paid access ends
Includes link to reactivate if you change your mind

Step 6: Continue Using Until End of Period

What you can still do:

Use all paid features until billing period ends
Access your data and account
Manage existing projects and appointments
Reactivate subscription anytime before period ends

After period ends:

Account downgrades to Free plan
Limited AI generations (e.g., 10/month on Free vs. unlimited on Pro)
Some advanced features disabled (pricing tools, analytics, etc.)
Core features remain (portfolio, booking, chat)

For Shop Owners

Step 1: Navigate to Shop Subscription Settings

Sign in with shop admin account
Go to Dashboard → Shop Settings → Subscription
Or navigate to /dashboard/shop/settings/billing

Important: Only shop owners/admins can cancel shop subscriptions.

Step 2: Review Team Impact

Before cancelling, understand impact on team:

⚠️ All artists in the shop lose team features
⚠️ Reception board and team management disabled
⚠️ Team analytics and reporting disabled
⚠️ Artists can continue with individual accounts (Free plan)

Notify your team:

Send message to team members about cancellation
Give them time to export data if needed
Discuss alternative arrangements

Step 3: Access Cancellation Flow

Find "Cancel Shop Subscription" button
Click to begin cancellation process
You may be prompted to confirm team notification

Step 4: Select Cancellation Option

Options for shop owners:

Cancel Immediately: Access ends at end of billing period
Pause Subscription: Temporarily pause for 1-3 months (if available)
Downgrade Plan: Switch to lower-tier plan with fewer artists

Recommendation: Choose "Pause" if you're temporarily closing or taking a break, rather than full cancellation.

Step 5: Provide Feedback (Optional)

Shop cancellation may prompt for feedback:

Reason for cancellation
What could improve Apprentice for shops
Feature requests or pain points

Step 6: Confirm Cancellation

Review cancellation summary
Confirm you understand team impact
Enter password to verify
Click "Confirm Cancellation"

Confirmation:

Confirmation email sent to shop admin
Team members notified of subscription cancellation
Date when shop features end is provided

Step 7: Plan for Transition

After shop subscription ends:

Shop members revert to individual artist accounts
Team collaboration features disabled
Artists can subscribe to individual plans to continue with premium features
Shop admin retains ownership of shop data

Data preservation:

Shop data archived (not deleted)
Can be restored if shop subscription is reactivated
Individual artists retain their own project data

Cancelling Through Stripe (Alternative Method)

If You Subscribed via Stripe

Some subscriptions are managed directly through Stripe's billing portal:

Step 1: Access Stripe Billing Portal

Go to Settings → Subscription in Apprentice
Click "Manage Billing" or "Update Payment Method"
You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure billing portal

Step 2: Locate Subscription

View your active subscriptions
Find your Apprentice subscription
Click "Cancel Plan" or similar option

Step 3: Confirm Cancellation

Stripe will show cancellation details
Confirm cancellation
Receive email confirmation from Stripe

Note: Cancelling via Stripe has the same effect as cancelling within Apprentice.

What Happens After Cancellation

Immediate Changes (During Current Billing Period)

No change in access:

✅ All features remain active until period ends
✅ Data fully accessible
✅ Can use premium features
✅ Can reactivate subscription without penalty

Billing:

❌ No new charges after current period ends
❌ No refunds for unused time in current period
✅ No cancellation fees

After Billing Period Ends

For Artists:

Account downgrades to Free Plan
Limited AI generations (e.g., 10/month)
Pricing and analytics features disabled
Portfolio, booking, and chat remain active
Historical data preserved (projects, appointments, etc.)

For Shops:

Shop subscription paused
Team features disabled
Reception board and analytics inaccessible
Artists revert to individual accounts
Shop data archived (can be restored)

Data Retention

What's preserved:

✅ Your account and profile
✅ Portfolio images
✅ Project history
✅ Client relationships and notes
✅ Payment history (for tax records)
✅ Chat history

What's limited:

⚠️ Access to AI-generated designs (may be archived)
⚠️ Access to advanced analytics (visible but not updated)
⚠️ Custom branding (reverts to default)

Nothing is deleted unless you separately delete your account.

Reactivating Your Subscription

If You Change Your Mind

During current billing period:

Go to Settings → Subscription
Click "Reactivate Subscription" or "Undo Cancellation"
Subscription will continue as normal at next billing date

After subscription expired:

Go to Settings → Subscription
Click "Subscribe" or "Upgrade to [Plan Name]"
Choose plan and payment method
All previous data and features restored immediately

No penalty: You can reactivate at any time without fees or data loss.

Promotions for Returning Users

Apprentice occasionally offers promotions for users who reactivate subscriptions:

Discounted rates for first month back
Extended trial period
Free add-ons

Check email or in-app for promotional offers.

Troubleshooting Cancellation Issues

Can't Find Cancel Button

Possible causes:

Subscription already cancelled
Subscribed through external platform (Apple App Store, Google Play) - must cancel there
Using Free plan (no active subscription to cancel)

Solution:

Check subscription status in Settings
If subscribed via app store, cancel through Apple/Google account settings

Cancellation Fails or Shows Error

Possible causes:

Network connectivity issue
Browser compatibility issue
Payment provider (Stripe) maintenance

Solution:

Try again in a different browser
Clear browser cache and cookies
Contact support if error persists

Can't Cancel During Billing Dispute

Issue: Subscription locked during chargeback or payment dispute.

Solution:

Resolve dispute with payment provider first
Contact Apprentice support for manual cancellation
Provide dispute resolution documentation

Charged After Cancellation

Issue: Charged after subscription was supposedly cancelled.

Possible causes:

Cancellation didn't process correctly
Cancelled after billing date passed
Recurring charge from separate subscription or add-on

Solution:

Check email for cancellation confirmation
Verify cancellation date vs. billing date
Contact support immediately for refund if charged in error

Getting Help with Cancellation

Contact Support

When to contact support:

✅ Can't cancel subscription through normal flow
✅ Charged after cancellation
✅ Questions about data retention
✅ Technical issues preventing cancellation
✅ Need to dispute charges

What to include:

Account email address
Subscription plan name
Screenshot of error message (if applicable)
Billing date and amount
Reason for cancellation (optional)

See Contacting Support for contact information.

Contact Artist or Shop (If Billed by Shop)

If you're an artist in a shop:

Shop subscription is controlled by shop owner, not individual artists
Contact shop owner to discuss subscription status
You cannot cancel shop subscription yourself

Alternatives to Cancellation

Pause Subscription (Shop Owners)

Temporary pause instead of full cancellation:

Pause for 1-3 months
No charges during pause
Features disabled during pause
Automatically resume at end of pause period
Data preserved

Use cases:

Shop renovation/relocation
Seasonal closure
Maternity/paternity leave

Downgrade Plan

Switch to lower-tier plan:

Keep core features at lower cost
Avoid data limitations of Free plan
Easy to upgrade again later

Artist downgrade:

Professional → Starter (keep some premium features at lower cost)
Starter → Free (lose paid features but keep account)

Negotiate with Support

If cancelling due to cost:

Contact support to discuss options
May be eligible for discount or extended trial
Custom plan arrangements for special circumstances

FAQs

Q: Will I get a refund for unused time?

A: No. Subscriptions are non-refundable. You retain access until the end of your current billing period.

Q: Can I cancel anytime?

A: Yes. There are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees.

Q: What happens to my clients and projects?

A: They remain in your account. You can still access them on the Free plan, though some features may be limited.

Q: Can I reactivate after cancelling?

A: Yes. Reactivate anytime and your data/features are restored immediately.

Q: Will my portfolio be deleted?

A: No. Your portfolio remains intact even on the Free plan.

Q: Do I have to re-enter payment info if I reactivate?

A: If you reactivate during the current billing period, no. If after expiration, you may need to re-enter payment method.

Q: Can I switch plans instead of cancelling?

A: Yes. Downgrade to a lower-tier plan instead of cancelling completely.

Q: How do I cancel if I subscribed through the mobile app?

A: Cancel through Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) settings, not within Apprentice.

Updated on: 16/01/2026

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