Why am I still being billed after I cancelled?

Almost always because a resource is still running. Deactivating the account doesn't auto-destroy Droplets, Spaces, snapshots, reserved IPs, or load balancers, they keep accruing charges. Check the Resources tab for *anything* with a green dot and Destroy it. Reserved IPs are charged when not attached to a Droplet. If the charges continue after every resource is destroyed, open a billing ticket with the invoice and your destroy timestamps.

How do I delete my Droplet so I stop getting charged?

From the control panel, find the Droplet, click the **More** menu (three dots) → **Destroy** → **Destroy this Droplet**, then confirm by typing the Droplet's name. Billing stops at the second of destruction (60-second minimum). Powering off does **not** stop billing, DigitalOcean charges for the reserved infrastructure either way. Don't forget to destroy attached volumes and snapshots separately.

Can I get a refund if my DigitalOcean account was hacked and ran up charges?

Yes, this is one of the cases support reviews favourably. Open a ticket immediately with: the unauthorised invoice numbers, the date you noticed, evidence of compromise (unfamiliar IPs, Droplets you didn't create), and confirmation you've rotated your password and enabled 2FA. DigitalOcean has a Trust & Safety team that issues credits for compromised accounts, especially when crypto-mining Droplets were spun up by an attacker.

How do I cancel a DigitalOcean team account?

Team accounts have to be wound down before the owner can deactivate. From the team's control panel: destroy every resource, remove or transfer all members, then open the team's **Settings → Edit Information → Deactivate Team**. The team's payment method is charged for the final balance. Once the team is gone, you can deactivate your personal owner account through *Profile → My Account → Deactivate*.

What if DigitalOcean ignores my refund request?

Reply on the same ticket asking for escalation to the billing manager and cite the specific invoice and dates. If still no resolution, dispute the charge with your card issuer, under UK Section 75 or US/EU chargeback rights, the bank can claw back the disputed amount. EU/UK users buying as a consumer can also raise it via their card scheme's dispute process. Keep all ticket correspondence as evidence.

Is there a cancellation fee for DigitalOcean?

No cancellation fee for standard pay-as-you-go usage, you simply stop being charged once resources are destroyed and the account is deactivated. The exception is multi-month **GPU Droplet contracts** (starting at $1.88/GPU/hour), where the commitment is contractual; early termination typically isn't refunded. Cloudways managed plans also have their own terms.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Get a DigitalOcean Refund on Pay-As-You-Go.

Here's what DigitalOcean actually owes you, what their policy quietly says, and how to escalate if they ignore the request.

Last verified 16 Jun 2026 against DigitalOcean’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

DigitalOcean operates on a pay-as-you-go model with no published money-back guarantee or formal refund window. You're charged for the resources you used up to the moment you destroy them, and unused time inside a billing month is generally not refunded. Refunds for billing errors, duplicate charges, or compromised accounts are handled case-by-case if you open a support ticket with the invoice details.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails DigitalOcean, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

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What DigitalOcean actually says

Pro-rata refund: noStatutory cooling-off: 14 days in UK + EU on new subs

How long does a DigitalOcean refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a DigitalOcean charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.
California ARL refund right
Refund if cancel was blocked or unclear.
If DigitalOcean made it hard to cancel under California ARL, you’re entitled to a refund of charges taken since the obstruction. Multiple class actions (including against Adobe + Hulu) have set the precedent.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, DigitalOcean has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where DigitalOcean is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United Kingdom, European Union)

United Kingdom

Section 75, Consumer Credit Act
Credit card issuer is jointly liable. £100-£30,000.
For UK credit-card charges between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with DigitalOcean for any breach. Call your bank, say “Section 75 claim”, send evidence. Usually resolved in 2-4 weeks.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
Full refund within the 14-day window.
Inside 14 days of starting any DigitalOcean subscription, you’re entitled to a full refund of any payment taken, no questions, no policy override.
Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail DigitalOcean can’t ignore.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day withdrawal across all EU member states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw and recover any payment within 14 days of subscription start. Mirrored in local law in every EU country.
ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If DigitalOcean is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

The 4-step refund email

Email the right address
Use contact@digitalocean.com, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for DigitalOcean.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi DigitalOcean team,

I'm requesting a refund of the recent charge on my subscription, account [your account email].

Under the FTC's Click-to-Cancel rule, cancellation must be available through a channel as simple as the one I signed up through. Please confirm by reply that the refund will be processed to my original payment method.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for DigitalOcean

There's no published money-back guarantee. DigitalOcean uses a pay-as-you-go model, so you're charged for the resources you used up to the moment they were destroyed and unused time inside a billing month is not refunded automatically. Billing errors, duplicate charges, or charges after you migrated away are reviewed case-by-case if you open a ticket at do.co/support with the invoice number and dates.