Cancelling your 1Password subscription is a straightforward process that can be done directly through your 1Password account. However, before canceling it’s important to understand the implications of doing so.
When you cancel your 1Password subscription, you will lose access to certain features that require an active subscription, such as syncing across devices and accessing your vault on 1Password.com. Your data will be saved locally on any devices where 1Password is installed, but you won’t be able to access or sync that data across devices.
According to 1Password, cancelling will also switch your account to a “frozen” state until you decide to reactivate your subscription. During this frozen state, you won’t be able to add new items to your vault or invite new people to share items. However, you will still have read-only access to your existing vault data locally.
The actual process of cancellation only takes a few clicks, but carefully consider the impacts first. Also be aware that your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing period. Here are the step-by-step instructions for cancelling:
- Sign in to your 1Password account on the website (1password.com).
- Click on “Billing” in the sidebar menu.
- Under the “Billing Settings” section, click the “Unsubscribe” button.
- A popup will appear asking you to confirm cancellation. Click “Unsubscribe” again to confirm.
- Your cancellation is now complete. Your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing cycle.
If you change your mind and want to reactivate the subscription later, simply return to the billing page and choose a subscription plan to restart your service. All your data will still be available locally during the canceled period.
Consider Downgrading vs. Canceling Completely
Rather than canceling your 1Password subscription entirely, another option is to downgrade to a cheaper plan. For example, you could switch from a 1Password Families plan to an individual plan.
Downgrading allows you to retain core 1Password functionality at a lower cost. And it’s easy to upgrade again later if your needs change.
To downgrade, follow these instructions:
- Sign in to your 1Password account and go to the billing page.
- Under “Change Plan”, choose the cheaper plan you want to downgrade to.
- Confirm the downgrade when prompted.
Your lower-cost plan will take effect at the beginning of your next billing cycle. You won’t lose any data or vault access in the meantime.
Consider Pausing Sync Instead of Canceling
If you only need to temporarily suspend syncing across devices, there’s an option to “Pause Sync” for up to 12 months while retaining your plan and data.
Pausing sync suspends access to your vault on 1Password.com and across linked devices, but maintains your full subscription benefits. Follow these steps:
- Go to the billing page in your 1Password account.
- Click “Pause Sync” and confirm when prompted.
- Choose the number of months (up to 12) to pause sync for.
- Click “Pause Sync” again to confirm.
When ready to resume sync, simply return to the billing page and click “Resume Sync”. This instantly reactivates sync across your devices without losing any data.
Pausing sync allows you to temporarily reduce 1Password usage without fully canceling your plan. For example, you could pause during extended travel periods when you won’t need mobile access.
Export Your 1Password Data Before Cancelling
If you do decide to fully cancel your 1Password subscription, you should export and save a local copy of your vault data first. This provides a backup if you ever want to migrate your data into a new password manager later.
Follow these steps to export your full 1Password vault:
- Sign in to your 1Password account on the web app.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Export vault.
- Choose a password to protect the exported file.
- Select the CSV or 1PIF format. 1PIF retains more metadata.
- Click “Export” and save the file locally.
Store this exported 1Password data file somewhere secure like an encrypted external drive. You can also print out any critical information like passwords or software licenses you may need ongoing access to.
While exporting data takes some manual effort, it ensures you retain control of your valuable information if fully canceling the service.
Alternatives to Cancelling 1Password Completely
Switching to a free password manager is another option if you want to reduce costs. For example, open source options like Bitwarden offer core password management for free. However, advanced features usually require a paid plan.
Before cancelling 1Password altogether, look at what free alternatives can actually provide compared to your current 1Password plan:
- Number of device syncs
- Cloud backup and storage
- Advanced 2FA and breach alerts
- Secure document storage
- Customer support options
The free tiers of other password managers also display occasional ads, which some users may find disruptive. There are pros and cons to switching from a premium service like 1Password.
If you have a family account, switching services may also be disruptive for other family members. Consider whether alternatives align with all of your family’s needs before making a change. Migrating vault data to a new platform takes effort as well.
Another option is switching to a cheaper 1Password plan like the individual plan instead of a competitor. This allows you to keep using the same service you’re familiar with while paying less per month. You retain access to your existing data vault without migrating platforms.
Finally, you can extend your current 1Password subscription by redeeming gift card codes. For example, purchasing a 1 year 1Password gift card at a discount from a reseller cuts your effective annual cost. Redeeming gift cards pushes your renewal date further into the future. Just make sure to redeem before canceling your subscription completely.
Cancelling your 1Password subscription takes just a few clicks, but carefully weigh the alternatives before pulling the plug. Downgrading plans, redeeming gift cards, exporting data, and assessing competitors like Bitwarden can keep your data safe while cutting costs. With the right preparation, you can reduce your password management expenses without starting from scratch.
Sources:
https://support.1password.com/manage-subscription/
In summary, cancelling 1Password is straightforward but has downsides like losing access and sync. Consider alternatives like downgrading plans, pausing sync temporarily, or exporting data before fully canceling. Assess free options as well, but migrating vaults takes effort. With some planning, you can reduce costs without losing access to your valuable password data.
