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API & Subscription Cancellation Guide

How to Cancel OpenAI API Billing

Easy - online

Cancel ChatGPT Plus, stop API billing, or close your OpenAI account entirely

Updated June 2026
Cancel ChatGPT Plus subscriptionMost common
Cancel OpenAI API billing (pay-as-you-go)
Close your OpenAI account entirely
API credits are non-refundable

Prepaid API credits are generally non-refundable. If you have unused credits and want to close your account, contact OpenAI support at help.openai.com before deleting your account.

Set a $0 usage limit instead of removing your card

If you want to pause API usage temporarily without deleting your payment method, set a monthly usage limit of $0 in platform.openai.com/account/billing/limits. This blocks usage without affecting your account.

Charged after canceling?

Generate a free dispute letter to send to your bank or the company directly.

Get dispute letter →

ChatGPT Plus vs OpenAI API - which do you have?

ChatGPT Plus is the $20/month consumer subscription at chatgpt.com. The OpenAI API is a developer pay-as-you-go service at platform.openai.com. They are separate products with separate billing. You may have both if you use ChatGPT personally and build with the API.

What happens to your data after closing your account

OpenAI deletes your conversation history and personal data per their data retention policy after account closure. Downloaded conversation exports are yours to keep. API keys are immediately revoked.

Frequently asked questions

I was charged for OpenAI API usage I didn't authorize. What do I do?
First, check platform.openai.com/usage for a detailed breakdown. If an API key was compromised, revoke it immediately at platform.openai.com/api-keys and contact OpenAI support. If usage appears fraudulent, dispute the charge with your bank after contacting OpenAI.
Does canceling ChatGPT Plus affect my API access?
No. ChatGPT Plus and OpenAI API are independent. Canceling Plus removes the GPT-4 access in ChatGPT, but your API account and any prepaid credits remain active.
Can I get a refund on ChatGPT Plus?
OpenAI does not typically offer prorated refunds for ChatGPT Plus. If you were charged in error or immediately after signing up without using the service, contact help.openai.com - they've been known to issue courtesy refunds in clear-cut cases.