Does Hetzner have a refund policy?

Yes, but it's narrow: a **14-day withdrawal right** from the day the contract was concluded, mandated by German/EU consumer law. Cancel the **order** inside that window and Hetzner refunds every cent to the original payment method within 14 days — no fees, even if you used the server heavily. After day 14, there is no refund of paid months; you simply serve out the 30-days-to-end-of-month notice. Cloud resources bill hourly so you never overpay.

How do I cancel a Hetzner Cloud server?

Open the **Hetzner Console**, find the server and click **Delete**. Cancellation is effective immediately, you lose access the same second, and you only pay for the hours the server existed. The 30-days-to-end-of-month policy does **not** apply to Cloud. Remember to also delete Snapshots, Backups, Volumes, Networks and Floating IPs separately — each is a billable object that keeps charging until you delete it. A final invoice arrives after deletion.

Will I be charged if I cancel Hetzner within 14 days?

No — as long as you click **'Cancel order'** (not 'Cancel server') inside 14 days of ordering, Hetzner refunds in full, no questions asked. This is the German *Rückgaberecht* / EU Consumer Rights Directive right and it applies to every product line except domains, which are always billed for the full year. Do this repeatedly and Hetzner will flag your account for abuse and refuse future orders.

Why is Hetzner asking me to pay an additional month after I cancelled?

Because you likely clicked **'Cancel server'** instead of **'Cancel order'**, which puts you on the 30-days-to-end-of-month track. Order on 18 October and cancel mid-October and the effective date becomes 18 November — the following month is billable. Reply in the ticket, cite §12.1 of the T&Cs and ask them to reclassify it as an order cancellation under your 14-day withdrawal right. This usually works if you're still inside the 14 days.

If I want to stop paying for a product, do I need to cancel it?

Yes — in almost every case you must actively cancel or delete the product. Hetzner products renew automatically and keep being billed as long as they exist, **even if powered off or idle**. For Cloud servers, the server object itself is billable; you must click Delete in the Hetzner Console. For dedicated servers, Managed and Web Hosting, cancellation is via Robot/konsoleH under the Cancellation tab. Powering off never stops billing.

Is annual payment possible at Hetzner?

No. Hetzner bills strictly monthly (with hourly rounding for Cloud), and does **not** accept annual, semi-annual or any advance prepayments. Everything is invoiced retroactively at the end of the month. That means there's nothing prepaid to refund if you cancel — you only ever owe up to your effective cancellation date, which is either immediate (Cloud) or the end of the 30-day notice window (dedicated, hosting, storage).

Can I get a refund on a Hetzner domain?

No. Domains are always billed for a full year and Hetzner explicitly states that if you cancel shortly after registering, you still pay for the full year. Cancellation via Robot → Domains → Cancellation only stops the *next* year's renewal. The 14-day EU withdrawal right does not restore a domain fee once the registry has processed the registration, because it counts as a service that has already been fully performed.

What happens to my data when I cancel Hetzner?

Hetzner deletes it **immediately** after the cancellation takes effect — their own docs warn 'you should assume that deletion will be immediate.' Take a full backup before you click Cancel: Hetzner's T&Cs explicitly place the backup obligation on you and say that if data is lost, it's on you to re-upload it free of charge. For dedicated servers you get the 30-day notice window to migrate; for Cloud, once you click Delete the disk is gone.

How do I cancel a Hetzner colocation contract?

There is no self-serve button. Log into **Robot → Support → Create ticket** and open a request titled 'Cancellation of colocation', stating the exact date you want the cancellation to take effect. Colocation billing is per **day** (not per hour like Cloud) and the notice period depends on your individual contract, so read the paperwork before you set the date. Support will confirm the effective date in the ticket.

What if Hetzner ignores my cancellation request?

First, escalate inside the same ticket — Hetzner asks you to reply in-thread rather than call. If that stalls, email `info@hetzner.com` with a dated withdrawal notice citing §12.1 of the T&Cs and Art. 9 of EU Directive 2011/83/EU. Still nothing? EU consumers can file with the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform (referenced in Hetzner's own legal notice) or their national consumer authority. UK cardholders can pursue Section 75 or a bank chargeback as a last resort.

Does Hetzner offer a free trial?

No formal free trial — but the 14-day EU withdrawal right functions as one for new orders. Order a server, use it, then click **'Cancel order'** (not 'Cancel server') within 14 days and Hetzner refunds in full. This is a legal right, not a marketing promo, and it exists because Hetzner is a German (Bavaria-registered) company subject to §355 BGB. Repeated abuse will get your account suspended for future orders.

UNRATED TO CANCEL

How to Cancel Hetzner Inside the 14-Day Window.

Hetzner typically charges £27.59/mo. Here's the fastest way to cancel and what to expect.

Last verified today · data refreshes daily · 4 sources cited

The fastest way

To cancel Hetzner, log into the Console (Cloud), Robot (dedicated) or konsoleH (web hosting) and click Cancel on the product. Cloud servers stop billing immediately on delete; dedicated servers follow a 30-days-to-end-of-month notice. Lost account access? Email info@hetzner.com with subject 'Contract cancellation – customer #<number>'. Confirmations typically arrive within 1–2 business days.

£27.59/motypical charge

£331/yrif you keep paying

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The 4-step cancellation

Email the verified address
info@hetzner.com — yoink-verified working email for Hetzner (confirmed by tracked cancellations).
Use a precise subject
Subject: Cancellation Request — [your account email]

Send this template

Hi Hetzner team,

I'm writing to request the immediate cancellation of my subscription tied to this account, effective today.

Under applicable consumer-protection law (UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, EU Directive 2011/83/EU, or the FTC's Click-to-Cancel rule depending on your jurisdiction), I'm entitled to terminate this continuous service contract through the same channel it was formed in — please confirm by reply that no further charges will be made.

If your policy permits, I'd also appreciate a pro-rata refund for any unused portion of the current billing period.

Best,
[your name]

Wait for confirmation
Wait 24 hours. If there's no response, send a polite one-line follow-up referencing the original request.

Hetzner plans you can cancel

Cloud (hourly/monthly)
Delete the server/resource in the Hetzner Console — cancellation is effective immediately and billing stops the same hour.
Dedicated Server (EX/AX/RX/SX/GPU/DX)
Cancel via Robot → Server → Cancellation tab. Standard notice is 30 days to the end of the month. Use 'Cancel order' (not 'Cancel server') inside the first 14 days for a fee-free withdrawal.
Web Hosting (Level 1 / 4 / 9 / 19)
Cancel via konsoleH. 30-days-to-end-of-month notice applies unless cancelled within the 14-day withdrawal window.
$1.60/mo
Managed Server
Cancel via konsoleH/Robot; 30-days-to-end-of-month notice applies.
Storage Box
Cancel via Robot; standard 30-days-to-end-of-month notice.
Colocation
No self-serve button — open a Robot ticket titled 'Cancellation of colocation' and state the effective date. Notice period per individual contract; billed per day.
Domain
Cancel via Robot → Domains → Cancellation.

Hetzner’s refund policy

Hetzner honours a 14-day withdrawal right on the first order of every product — cancel the ORDER (not the server) inside 14 days and you get a full refund with no questions asked. After day 14, dedicated servers, hosting and Storage Boxes fall under a 30-days-to-end-of-month notice: you keep paying until that date and no partial refund is given for unused time. Cloud resources are the exception — delete them in the Hetzner Console and hourly billing stops the same hour, so no refund is required. Domains are always billed for the full year and are non-refundable.

“The Customer has the right to cancel this contract within fourteen days after the conclusion of the contract without providing any reasons.”
— Hetzner terms

14-day cancellation windowPro-rata refund: yes

Asking specifically for money back, not just a cancellation? See the dedicated Hetzner refund guide — same data, but framed around the policy + escalation paths.

What doesn’t work for cancelling Hetzner

Based on 4 sources — Reddit, app reviews, and direct testing. Skip these and save yourself the loop.

✕ Just powering the server off — Hetzner bills as long as the resource object exists — a powered-off cloud server still accrues charges until you Delete it in the Console.
✕ Clicking 'Cancel server' inside the 14-day window — That triggers the 30-day-to-end-of-month notice and you owe the first month. To get a free withdrawal you must click 'Cancel order' instead.
✕ Cancelling retroactively via ticket — Hetzner explicitly refuses backdated cancellations on Robot — the effective date can only be today or later.
✕ Cancelling a domain to get money back — Domains are invoiced for a full year up front and Hetzner does not refund the remainder even if you cancel the day after registering.
✕ Requesting annual-prepayment refunds — Hetzner does not accept annual or advance prepayments in the first place, so there is nothing prepaid to refund.
✕ Repeatedly ordering and cancelling within 14 days — Long-time users report Hetzner will suspend or refuse further orders from accounts that abuse the withdrawal right.

How Hetzner will try to keep you

Hetzner may respond with a retention offer — a discount, a free month, or a downgrade to a cheaper tier. Don't engage with the counteroffer. Restate that you want a full cancellation and cite the consumer law again if they push back.

They’ll say: “Support replies with generic doc links instead of processing the cancellation”
You say: Reply in the same ticket citing §12.1 of the T&Cs — 'right to cancel within fourteen days without providing any reasons' — and explicitly ask them to cancel the ORDER, not the server, and confirm zero charges.
They’ll say: “Ticket is left open past the 14-day window while support asks clarifying questions”
You say: Send a dated withdrawal notice today: 'I hereby withdraw from contract #<order> under §12.1 of your T&Cs and Art. 9 EU Directive 2011/83/EU. Timestamp this ticket as the withdrawal date.' The right is exercised the moment the notice is sent, not when they reply.
They’ll say: “Billing insists you owe an 'additional month' because you clicked Cancel server”
You say: Point out you cancelled within 14 days of the order confirmation email and reference the Robot page copy: 'the order may be cancelled free of charge by support request via the Robot'. Ask them to switch it from server-cancellation to order-cancellation.
They’ll say: “Chargeback threat with a €40 fee added to your invoice”
You say: Do not initiate a chargeback until Hetzner has refused your written 14-day withdrawal in writing — otherwise they'll levy the €40 processing fee and dunning. Escalate through info@hetzner.com first; only then file with your bank citing §12.2 of the T&Cs.
They’ll say: “Account closed for suspected abuse before your data is exported”
You say: File a GDPR Article 15 access request to info@hetzner.com — Hetzner is a German controller and must provide a copy of your personal data within one month, which in practice unlocks a short migration window.

Your rights when cancelling

Consumer law varies by where you live. The strongest hook for your country is the one to lead with when you contact the company — pick the one that applies and quote it in your email.

United States

FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (2024+)
Cancel must be as easy as sign-up.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Click-to-Cancel rule requires Hetzner to make cancelling at least as simple as signing up — same channel, same number of clicks. If they buried the cancel button or forced a phone call, they’re in violation; report to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
California ARL (auto-renewal law)
Renewal must be cancellable online.
California Business & Professions Code §17602 forces any company billing California residents on auto-renewal to provide an online cancel mechanism. Lawsuits have been won on this; companies often refund quickly when it’s cited.
Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA)
Negative-option billing must be clearly disclosed.
Federal law (15 U.S.C. §8401) requires Hetzner to clearly disclose any negative-option / auto-renewal terms before charging. Buried terms = potential federal violation. Report to the FTC alongside any FTC complaint.

United Kingdom

Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
14-day cooling-off on new subscriptions.
You can terminate any continuous service contract within 14 days of starting it and recover any payment, no questions asked. Applies regardless of Hetzner’s own policy.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Services must be as described.
If Hetzner’s service was misrepresented or didn’t deliver what was promised, you have a statutory right to remedy (repair, refund, or price reduction) regardless of their terms.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day right of withdrawal across all EU states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw from any distance-sold contract within 14 days. Mirrored into local law in every member state. Hetzner must honour it regardless of where they’re headquartered.
Digital Content Directive (EU) 2019/770
Refund rights for digital content failures.
Specific to digital subscriptions — gives you the right to a price reduction or contract termination when Hetzner’s digital service is not as advertised, with no time limit beyond the contract period.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Your bank can reverse the charge.
Visa, Mastercard, and Amex all run chargeback schemes — “goods/services not as described” or “subscription not cancelled” are valid reason codes everywhere they operate. Your bank handles the dispute; Hetzner has ~45 days to defend.

Common questions about cancelling Hetzner

Log into **Robot**, open the server, click the **Cancellation** tab and pick a date. Standard notice is **30 days to the end of the month** — cancel on 17 May and you'll pay through 30 June. If you're inside the first 14 days after ordering, click **'Cancel order'** (not 'Cancel server') to trigger the fee-free EU withdrawal instead. Locked out of Robot? Email `info@hetzner.com` with your customer number and last invoice number.