Imagine you’ve been running your website for a while now, but lately, you’ve started questioning your web hosting provider. Maybe your website’s performance isn’t as great as it once was or perhaps you’ve found a new web host that offers better features at a lower cost. It’s a common scenario.
Users sometimes face specific issues with their hosting service, whether it’s about pricing, performance or the support team. If you have Hostinger as your partner and you’re tired of your Hostinger subscription and want to explore new web hosting options, we’re here to help you through the process.
This guide will take you through every step to cancel your hosting plan, request a full refund and migrate your website to a new host. We’ll cover everything from accessing your Hostinger dashboard to managing your hosting services and ensuring that you don’t lose any data during the transition.
Why might you want to cancel Hostinger?
There are many reasons you might decide to cancel Hostinger and move on to a new provider. It’s not always about the price. Sometimes, the hosting services just don’t meet your needs. With the web hosting industry growing rapidly, it’s no surprise that you might feel the need to explore alternatives.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for web hosting surged, contributing to an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18% from 2020 to 2027 (Global Industry Analysts; PRNewswire). Today, there are over 1.1 billion websites worldwide and more than 330,000 web hosting providers to choose from. With so many options available, it’s easier than ever to find a hosting service that better aligns with your specific requirements.
Reasons for cancellation
- Performance issues: You’ve noticed your website’s speed has slowed down. Maybe your site crashes more often than it should or your VPS hosting fails to deliver the promised uptime. If you run a business or rely on your site for traffic, poor performance can hurt your reputation.
- Pricing concerns: Maybe you’ve realized you’re paying more than you need to. Hostinger provides affordable plans, but as your needs grow, shared hosting or VPS plans may no longer be the best fit. You might find a competitor offering a better price for the same or even more features.
- Support issues: You reached out to the support team, but they respond slowly or fail to resolve your issues. A reliable web host should have great support. If that’s not the case, it can be a dealbreaker.
- Limited features: As your website grows, your hosting services might not be enough. If you’re looking for more control or flexibility, you might need to upgrade to VPS hosting or switch to a provider that offers more advanced tools, like staging environments for WordPress.
Alternatives to Hostinger
If you’re ready to cancel Hostinger, you’re probably thinking about what comes next. There are plenty of great web hosting providers that might better suit your needs.
- Bluehost is one popular choice. They offer a variety of hosting plans, from shared hosting to VPS and dedicated servers. Their plans come with excellent uptime, customer support and easy-to-use tools for managing your hosting account. Plus, they offer a money-back guarantee, so if you’re not happy with the service, you can always get a full refund.
- SiteGround is often considered a solid option for users looking for reliable web hosting. It’s known for its customer support and stable servers, making it a good choice for websites that require a dependable hosting environment.
- A2 Hosting offers more powerful hosting solutions, focusing on speed and performance. For those with growing websites that need more resources, VPS hosting or dedicated servers might be the next step.
If you’re ready to leave Hostinger, there’s a whole world of alternatives that might suit you better. But before you make the jump, we’ll walk you through how to cancel your hosting plan and migrate your site smoothly.
How to cancel your Hostinger account in 3 easy steps?
Canceling your Hostinger account is straightforward. Follow these simple steps to cancel your hosting plan.
Log in to your Hostinger dashboard
- Start by logging in to your Hostinger account. Open your browser and go to the Hostinger website. Click on the login button at the top-right corner of the page. Enter your username and password to access the Hostinger dashboard.
- After you log in, the main dashboard appears, allowing you to manage all your hosting services and account settings.
Navigate to the hosting plan
- Next, find the hosting plan you want to cancel. From the dashboard, go to the “Hosting” section. This will show all your hosting plans under your Hostinger account. Select the one you wish to cancel.
- For VPS hosting, you’ll find your VPS plans listed here. If you have shared hosting, look for the shared plan you are using.
- Click on the plan to open its management settings.
Cancel the hosting plan
- Once you’re in the plan management section, look for the “cancel” option. Your plan determines the label, which may appear as “cancel hosting plan” or “cancel subscription.””
- Click on the cancellation option. Hostinger may ask you a few questions to understand why you’re canceling. You can skip these if you prefer.
- After you confirm the cancellation, the system marks your hosting plan for termination. If your plan renews automatically, turn off auto-renew to prevent charges for the next billing cycle.
Once you’ve canceled, Hostinger will stop billing you for that plan. You’ll also receive a notification confirming the cancellation.
How to migrate away from Hostinger
Before you cancel Hostinger, it’s important to back up your website and ensure a smooth transition to your new hosting provider. Here’s how to make sure everything is in order.
Backup your data
Before canceling your hosting account, it’s essential to back up your website, emails and databases. Here’s how to do it:
- Backup your website:
- Log in to your Hostinger dashboard.
- Go to the “Files” section and select “File Manager.”
- From there, download all your website files, including images, documents and scripts. You’ll need these for your new hosting service.
2. Backup your emails:
- If you have email accounts linked to your Hostinger hosting, it’s important to back up your emails.
- You can do this by exporting your emails via an email client (like Outlook or Thunderbird). Alternatively, you can use Hostinger’s Webmail interface to manually download the email data.
3. Backup your database:
- For WordPress or database-driven sites, go to the “Databases” section in the Hostinger dashboard.
- Use phpMyAdmin to export your MySQL database. Save the file so it can be imported to your new provider later.
These backups will ensure you don’t lose any critical data during the migration process.
Migrating from Hostinger to Bluehost
Once you’ve backed up all your data, you’ll need to choose the right hosting provider for a smooth transition. While SiteGround and A2 Hosting are strong alternatives, Bluehost stands out for reliability, performance, and ease of migration. Our one-click WordPress installation, free domain for the first year, and 24/7 customer support make it a compelling choice. If you’re looking for a hassle-free move with minimal downtime, Bluehost is an excellent option.
Now, let’s walk through the steps to transfer your website seamlessly with Bluehost. Here’s a quick overview:
- Sign up for a Bluehost account: Choose the plan that best fits your needs and complete the sign-up process.
- Install WordPress (if applicable): If you’re running a WordPress site, Bluehost has a one-click WordPress installation available. You can easily set up WordPress through their control panel.
- Transfer your website files: Use the File Manager in Bluehost’s cPanel to upload your website files from your backup.
- Import your database: For WordPress or database-driven websites, you can use phpMyAdmin in Bluehost’s cPanel to import your MySQL database.
- Recreate your email accounts: Set up any email accounts you were using on Hostinger within Bluehost. You can then import your emails if you backed them up earlier.
- Test your site: After the migration is complete, test your website to ensure everything is working as expected. Check for any broken links, missing images, or other issues that might have occurred during the migration.
With Bluehost’s 24/7 support team, if you run into any issues during migration, we are available to help you troubleshoot and ensure a smooth transition.
Transferring domains
If you also want to move your domain to a new domain registrar, here’s how to do it:
- Unlock your domain:
- Go to the “Domains” section in the Hostinger dashboard.
- Find the domain you want to transfer and make sure it is unlocked. This will allow you to transfer it to another domain registrar.
2. Obtain the EPP code:
- You’ll need an EPP (Authorization) code to transfer your domain.
- Request the EPP code from Hostinger. It will be sent to your registered email address.
3. Initiate the transfer:
- Choose a new domain registrar.
- Follow their instructions to transfer your domain and provide the EPP code when asked.
- Complete the transfer and verify ownership at the new registrar.
Remember, domain transfers can take several days, so plan ahead.
Choosing a new hosting provider
Selecting the right hosting provider is crucial for ensuring your website’s performance, security, and scalability. The best choice depends on factors such as speed, uptime reliability, customer support, pricing, and additional features like free domain registration or website migration assistance. Based on these key criteria, we’ve shortlisted four reliable alternatives that cater to different needs. Here’s a quick comparison of some alternatives:
Feature | Bluehost (best choice) | SiteGround | A2 Hosting | Hostinger |
Hosting types | Shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress hosting | Shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress hosting | Shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress hosting | Shared, VPS, cloud hosting |
Free domain for 1 Year | Yes (exclusive offer) | No | No | Yes |
Free SSL certificate | Yes (included with all plans) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
24/7 customer support | Yes (award-winning support team) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day |
Website builder | Yes (free with all plans) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Email hosting | Yes (free email accounts included) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Performance (speed & uptime) | Excellent (99.99% uptime, fast load times) | Excellent (99.99% uptime) | Very good (99.9% uptime, speed-optimized) | Good (upto 99.9% uptime) |
Free backups | Yes (daily backups included) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Security features | Free Cloudflare CDN, advanced security, free SSL | Advanced security, daily backups | Advanced security, free SSL | Basic security features, free SSL |
Ease of use | Extremely user-friendly (beginner to pro) | Easy, but slightly more complex than Bluehost | User-friendly, but geared towards advanced users | Simple interface, but limited for large sites |
Pricing | Affordable (best value for features) | Higher pricing for similar features | Moderate pricing, focused on speed | Low cost, but lacks advanced features |
Why choose | Best for beginners and growing businesses | Great performance, but at a higher cost | Ideal for performance enthusiasts, moderate price | Affordable, but limited advanced options |
Bluehost hosting plans offer various options, from shared to VPS and dedicated servers, with specialized WordPress hosting. Our plans include:
- Free domain: Get a complimentary domain for the first year, making it easier to establish your online presence.
- SSL: Secure your website with a free SSL certificate, ensuring encrypted connections and user data protection.
- Email hosting: Enjoy professional email hosting with your domain name, enhancing credibility and communication.
- 99.99% uptime: Experience near-perfect uptime, ensuring your website always stays accessible and operational.
- Fast load times: Benefit from optimized servers and caching technology for quick page loading and better user experience.
- 24/7 support: Get round-the-clock customer assistance via chat, phone, or email to resolve issues anytime.
- Free backups: Protect your data with automated backups, allowing easy recovery in case of accidental loss.
- Enhanced security (Cloudflare CDN): Safeguard your site from cyber threats with DDoS protection and faster content delivery.
You can also learn more about Bluehost vs Hostinger, where we cover plans, pricing and features in far more detail.
Hostinger refund policy and how to get your money back
If you’re considering canceling your Hostinger account and requesting a refund, it’s important to understand the refund policy and the steps involved. Here’s what you need to know:
Eligibility for a refund
Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for most of its hosting plans. This means that if you’re not satisfied with their services within the first 30 days of your Hostinger subscription, you can cancel your plan and request a full refund. However, this policy applies only to shared hosting, VPS hosting and cloud hosting plans. If you have any additional services, like domain registration or website builder purchases, these may not be covered under the money-back guarantee.
Refund process
To request a refund after canceling your Hostinger hosting account, follow these simple steps:
- Log in to your Hostinger account: Go to the Hostinger dashboard and log in with your credentials.
- Navigate to the billing section: Once logged in, go to the “Billing” section of your account.
- Click on “Request Refund”: Find the option that says, “Request Refund” and click on it. This will initiate the refund process for your plan.
- Select the hosting plan to cancel: Choose the plan you wish to cancel and request a refund for. If you have multiple plans, make sure you select the correct one.
- Fill out refund request form: You’ll be prompted to provide some details for the refund request. Follow the on-screen instructions and submit the form.
- Confirm the refund: After submitting the request, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Hostinger’s support team will process your request and the refund will typically be issued within 7–10 business days.
Important considerations
- Prorated refunds: Hostinger may not offer a full refund for plans that have been used beyond the 30-day period. In such cases, refunds are prorated, meaning you’ll only get back a portion of the amount based on the unused time of your hosting plan.
- Domains purchased separately: If you’ve purchased a domain name separately from your Hostinger hosting account, it is non-refundable. Domain registrations are handled differently and any domain transfer fees or registration costs are not included in the money-back guarantee.
- Exclusions to refunds: Certain services and add-ons like SSL certificates, website migrations or custom email services may not be eligible for a refund, depending on the specific terms and conditions. Always double-check the specifics of your plan before requesting a refund.
Final thoughts
Canceling your Hostinger subscription can be a straightforward process if you follow the correct steps. However, remember that after cancelation, your website and email services will be deactivated, so be sure to back up all your data and set up a new hosting provider before you cancel. If you’re considering a new host that offers reliable services, Bluehost could be a great option for your needs. With affordable pricing, excellent customer support and advanced security features, it’s a top choice for both beginners and growing businesses.
First, we are officially recommended by WordPress, making us an ideal choice for WordPress users. Our one-click WordPress installation and automatic updates ensure your site is always up to date and secure.
Moreover, Bluehost also offers unique features like free SSL certificate, unlimited website hosting, integrated content delivery network, free domain for the first year, etc. Ready to make the switch? Choose Bluehost today and experience top-tier hosting services.
FAQs
The Hostinger cancellation process typically takes a few minutes to complete. However, the actual cancellation may take up to 24 hours for all services to be fully terminated.
Yes, you can cancel Hostinger after the 30-day period, but refunds will no longer be applicable. If you cancel after this period, you will still be able to cancel your hosting plan, but you may not receive a refund unless it falls under prorated conditions.
When you cancel your Hostinger account, any email services linked to your hosting plan will be deactivated. Be sure to transfer your emails to another provider before cancellation to avoid losing access to your inbox.
Yes, you can cancel Hostinger’s hosting services and keep your domain name. If your domain is registered separately with Hostinger, it will remain yours, but you’ll need to transfer the domain to another domain registrar if you no longer wish to use Hostinger for domain management.
To cancel auto-renewal, follow these steps:
Log in to your Hostinger account.
Go to the Billing section.
Find the “Auto-Renewal” option and turn it off. This will ensure that Hostinger does not automatically renew your hosting plan for the next billing cycle.