How to Cancel Heroku and Stop Billing

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Download what you need

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   1. Back up databases: heroku pg:backups:capture then heroku pg:backups:download
   2. Download invoices from the Billing page; you lose access to them after closing a Personal account
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Delete every app

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   1. CLI: heroku apps:destroy -a <app> --confirm <app>
   2. Or dashboard: App > Settings > Delete app
   3. Deleting an app removes its dynos and attached add-ons; destroyed data cannot be restored
   4. Remove DNS records pointing at deleted apps to avoid subdomain takeover
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Check current usage

   1. Dashboard > Account Settings > Billing > Current Usage > View Details to confirm nothing is still running
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Pay past-due invoices

   1. Use Pay Now on the Billing page; unpaid invoices block closing and card removal
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Remove the credit card (Personal accounts)

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   1. Billing page > Remove Credit Card, which speeds up final payment
   2. You cannot add another card or re-verify for a period afterwards
   3. Teams cannot remove the card: downgrade paid services and delete the team
   Did this fix it? Yes No

6. 6. Close the account

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   1. Avatar > Account Settings > Close this account
   2. If you also own a team, delete the team first, then your personal account
   3. Closing is irreversible
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

You want to stop being charged by Heroku, or you were charged after deleting something.

Why it happens

• Apps, dynos and add-ons (Postgres, Redis) keep billing until deleted
• Team accounts must keep a card on file
• Unpaid invoices block closing the account
• Billing is monthly, with the final partial period charged afterwards

This guide also covers

• cancel heroku
• how to cancel heroku subscription
• delete heroku account
• heroku remove credit card
• heroku refund

The same problem in other apps

All billing, cancellation & refunds guides →

• DigitalOcean Unexpected Bill: Charged for Deleted or Powered-Off Droplets (DigitalOcean)
• Vercel Unexpected Bill: Why Usage Charges Spiked (Vercel)

Other Heroku errors

• Heroku H10 App Crashed Error
• Heroku H12 Request Timeout Error
• Heroku R14 Memory Quota Exceeded Error
• Heroku Application Error Page
• Heroku Build Failed Error
• Heroku Git Push Rejected / Remote Rejected
• Heroku H14 No Web Dynos Running
• Heroku R10 Boot Timeout / H20 App Boot Timeout