How to cancel your GitHub account in nigeria and protect your repositories
Understanding GitHub and your subscription types
GitHub is a cloud-based platform where developers store code repositories, collaborate on projects, and manage version control. If you use GitHub in Nigeria, you're part of a global community of millions who rely on it for personal projects, team collaboration, and enterprise-level software development.
GitHub offers free and paid plans. Many Nigerian users subscribe to GitHub Team, GitHub Enterprise, or GitHub Copilot Pro to unlock features like increased CI/CD minutes, advanced security controls, and AI-powered code suggestions. Your subscription may renew automatically each month or year, depending on your billing cycle.
You might want to cancel for several reasons: your project is complete, you've moved to a competitor platform, your budget has tightened, or you no longer need premium features. Yafee is here to walk you through the cancellation process step by step, ensuring you understand your rights as a Nigerian consumer and avoid unexpected charges.
Why nigerian developers cancel GitHub
Many developers cancel after completing a specific project or when they realise the free tier meets their needs. Others switch to alternative platforms, face budget constraints, or discover GitHub Actions and free collaboration tools are sufficient for their workflow.
The good news: cancelling GitHub is straightforward, and you retain access to your repositories until your billing cycle ends. The challenge is understanding which subscription type you hold and knowing exactly where to cancel so you don't miss the deadline or face unexpected renewals.
How much GitHub costs in nigeria
GitHub pricing varies by subscription tier. The table below outlines the costs relevant to Nigerian users paying in Nigerian Naira (NGN) through international payment methods.
| Plan |
Cost (USD equivalent) |
Billing cycle |
Best for |
| GitHub Free |
₦0 |
N/A |
Individuals, open-source projects |
| GitHub Pro |
~₦4,000-₦5,000 |
Monthly or yearly |
Individual developers |
| GitHub Team |
~₦30,000-₦40,000 |
Monthly or yearly |
Small teams and startups |
| GitHub Enterprise |
Custom pricing |
Annual |
Large organisations |
| GitHub Copilot Pro |
~₦9,000-₦11,000 |
Monthly |
Developers using AI-assisted coding |
| GitHub Copilot Business |
~₦28,000-₦35,000 |
Per seat, monthly |
Teams requiring AI features |
Exact naira amounts depend on current exchange rates and your payment method. GitHub bills in USD, so your bank or card issuer applies the conversion rate at the time of transaction.
Your consumer rights in nigeria and what to do if GitHub refuses
Nigerian law protects your right to cancel subscriptions fairly and transparently.
Consumer protection laws that protect you
As a Nigerian consumer, you're protected under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. This legislation requires all businesses, including GitHub, to provide clear information about cancellation policies, refund terms, and billing practices before you commit to a subscription.
The FCCPA also prohibits hidden charges, unfair contract terms, and automatic renewals that don't comply with your explicit consent. If GitHub fails to honour their stated cancellation policy, charges you after you've cancelled, or refuses to stop recurring billing, you have the right to file a complaint with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Yafee recommends documenting all communication with GitHub and keeping screenshots of your cancellation confirmation, billing statements, and any support correspondence. This evidence is vital if you need to escalate to the FCCPC.
Your legal position
You have the right to cancel your GitHub subscription at any time without penalty under the FCCPA 2018. GitHub must stop charging you on or before the next billing date after you submit your cancellation request. If GitHub continues billing after you've cancelled, you can demand a refund for unauthorised charges. You are not required to provide a reason for cancellation.
Steps to escalate if GitHub doesn't cooperate
If you cancel your subscription but GitHub continues charging you, or if they don't respond to your cancellation request within 14 days, contact the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) directly.
- Gather documentation
- Collect your GitHub account email address
- Screenshot your billing history showing the charges
- Save emails or support tickets proving you requested cancellation
- Note the dates of all communication attempts
- File a complaint with the FCCPC
- Visit the FCCPC official portal at fccpc.gov.ng
- Select "Submit a Complaint" and choose the consumer category
- Provide your GitHub account details and billing evidence
- Describe the issue clearly: "GitHub continues charging after cancellation" or "GitHub refuses to cancel my subscription"
- Attach your screenshots and correspondence
- Contact the FCCPC by post if you prefer
- Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
- 5A Shodeinde Street, Ikoyi, Lagos 106104, Nigeria
- Phone: +234 (0) 1 2719400
- Include your account details, billing evidence, and a written account of the issue
- Follow up on your complaint
- The FCCPC investigates within 30 days of your complaint submission
- You will receive updates via email or post
- The FCCPC has authority to compel GitHub to issue refunds for unauthorised charges
How to cancel your GitHub subscription step by step
The cancellation process depends on your subscription type and whether you subscribed directly through GitHub or via the Apple App Store, Google Play, or another third-party platform.
Step 1: sign in to your GitHub account
Open your web browser and navigate to github.com. Enter your registered email address and password. If you have two-factor authentication enabled (which GitHub recommends for security), complete the additional verification step using your authentication app or recovery code.
Step 2: access your account settings
Once logged in, click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the page. A dropdown menu appears. Select "Settings" from this menu. You are now in your account settings dashboard.
Step 3: navigate to billing and licensing
In the left sidebar of your settings page, locate and click "Billing and licensing" or "Plans and billing" (the label may vary slightly depending on your account type). This section displays all your active subscriptions, including GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, GitHub Copilot Pro, or any other paid plans.
Step 4: identify the subscription you want to cancel
If you have multiple active plans (for example, GitHub Team for your main account and GitHub Copilot Pro for AI features), you will see each listed separately. Locate the specific subscription you want to cancel. Each subscription shows your current plan name, the billing date, and renewal cost.
Step 5: click the cancel button
Next to your chosen subscription, click the "Cancel subscription" or "Downgrade" button. GitHub may display a confirmation screen explaining what you'll lose (such as advanced features or CI/CD minutes). Read this carefully, then confirm your cancellation.
Step 6: confirm your cancellation
GitHub may ask you to select a reason for cancellation from a dropdown list (for example, "Too expensive", "Don't need the features", or "Moving to another service"). You are not obligated to provide a reason, but doing so helps GitHub improve. Click the final "Confirm cancellation" or "Cancel now" button. GitHub displays a confirmation message and may send you a confirmation email to your registered address.
Step 7: verify your cancellation
Return to your billing section to confirm the subscription no longer appears as active. Take a screenshot of this confirmation page. You should also receive a cancellation confirmation email from GitHub within a few minutes. Save this email in a folder for your records.
If you subscribed to GitHub through the Apple App Store, Google Play, or another third-party payment platform, you must cancel through that platform, not through GitHub directly.
Cancelling GitHub pro via apple app store
If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and subscribed through the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your device
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
- Select "Subscriptions"
- Find "GitHub Pro" in your active subscriptions list
- Tap "Manage subscription" or "Edit"
- Tap "Cancel subscription" and confirm
The cancellation takes effect on your next billing date. You retain access to paid features until that date.
Cancelling GitHub pro via google play
If you subscribed through Google Play (Android or web), follow these steps:
- Open Google Play Store on your device or browser
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
- Select "Payments and subscriptions"
- Tap "Subscriptions"
- Find "GitHub Pro" in your list
- Tap on it, then tap "Cancel subscription"
- Choose your reason (optional) and confirm
Your cancellation is immediate, but you retain access until your paid period ends.
What happens after you cancel your GitHub subscription
Cancelling your subscription does not delete your account or repositories.
Your access and repositories after cancellation
Your GitHub account and all repositories remain active. You retain full read and write access to your code. However, your account reverts to GitHub Free tier features. This means you lose access to premium features such as GitHub Copilot AI assistance, advanced security scanning, increased CI/CD minutes, and team collaboration tools exclusive to paid plans.
If you used GitHub Team features like team management and organisation controls, these revert to free-tier limits. Any GitHub Actions workflows you created continue to run, but free-tier users receive fewer monthly CI/CD minutes (typically 2,000 per month compared to unlimited on paid plans).
Your data and repositories remain safe
All your code, files, and project history are preserved indefinitely. You can still clone repositories, create new branches, and collaborate with others using free features. You can reactivate a paid plan at any time without losing your data or contribution history.
Billing after cancellation
GitHub stops charging you on your next scheduled billing date. If you cancelled mid-month, you are not charged a partial fee for unused time. If you want to verify your billing stopped, return to your Billing and licensing section within a few days; the subscription should no longer appear in your active plans list.
Refunds and billing disputes
GitHub's refund policy depends on your circumstances and the timing of your cancellation.
When GitHub issues refunds
If you cancel before your next billing date, GitHub does not charge you. You are not entitled to a refund for the current billing period you've already paid for, except in specific circumstances. However, if GitHub charged you after you cancelled, or if you were charged due to a system error or unauthorised transaction, you have the right to dispute the charge and request a refund under the FCCPA 2018.
Contact GitHub support through your account settings. Click "Help" or "Support" and describe the issue. Provide your billing invoice number and explain why you believe the charge was unauthorised. GitHub support typically responds within 3 to 5 business days.
Disputing charges with your bank
If GitHub does not respond to your refund request or refuses to refund an unauthorised charge, you can dispute the transaction with your bank or card issuer. This process is called a chargeback. Your bank has the authority to investigate and reverse unauthorised charges on your account.
Contact your bank's customer service and inform them that you cancelled your GitHub subscription but were charged. Provide your bank with screenshots of your GitHub account showing the cancellation and the billing statement showing the charge. Your bank will initiate a dispute with GitHub and typically resolves it within 7 to 10 business days.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling GitHub
Cancelling GitHub is usually straightforward, but a few missteps can lead to unexpected charges or lost access to important features.
Mistake 1: confusing cancellation with downgrade
GitHub offers two options: cancelling your subscription entirely or downgrading to a lower tier. If you click "Downgrade" instead of "Cancel subscription", you may move to GitHub Pro when you intended to go free, and you'll still be charged a lower amount. Always click "Cancel subscription" if you want to stop all payments and move to the free tier.
Mistake 2: forgetting to cancel third-party subscriptions
If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, Google Play, or another platform, cancelling through GitHub's website has no effect. You must cancel through the platform where you subscribed. Check all platforms where you might have a GitHub subscription active before assuming you've cancelled everything.
Mistake 3: not verifying cancellation in your billing section
After cancelling, return to your Billing and licensing section within 24 hours and take a screenshot. Confirm the subscription no longer appears as active. This proves you cancelled if GitHub later disputes your claim or continues charging you.
Mistake 4: deleting your email confirmation too quickly
GitHub sends a cancellation confirmation email. Save this email for at least 6 months. If GitHub charges you after cancellation, this email is proof of your cancellation date and time. Yafee advises creating a dedicated folder in your email for all subscription confirmations and cancellations.
Mistake 5: not checking your billing date before cancelling
If you cancel one day after being charged, you have already paid for the full month or year. GitHub will not issue a refund. Review your billing date and plan your cancellation accordingly. If you are close to renewal, consider cancelling a few days before your next billing date to avoid an extra charge.
Should you cancel or keep your GitHub subscription
This section helps you decide whether cancelling is the right choice for your situation.
| Scenario |
Keep your subscription |
Cancel your subscription |
| You actively use GitHub for work or professional projects |
✓ Keep it |
|
| You no longer code or have completed your projects |
|
✓ Cancel it |
| You use GitHub Copilot for daily coding assistance |
✓ Keep it |
|
| You need CI/CD automation for deployment pipelines |
✓ Keep it |
|
| Your freelance work has slowed and budget is tight |
|
✓ Cancel it |
| You've switched to GitLab, Bitbucket, or another platform |
|
✓ Cancel it |
Cancellation checklist for nigerian users
Use this checklist to ensure you've completed every step before considering your cancellation final.
- ✓ Signed in to your GitHub account with the correct email
- ✓ Navigated to Billing and licensing in your account settings
- ✓ Identified the correct subscription (Pro, Team, Copilot Pro, or Enterprise)
- ✓ Clicked "Cancel subscription" and confirmed the cancellation
- ✓ Received a cancellation confirmation email from GitHub
- ✓ Verified the subscription no longer appears as active in your billing section
- ✓ Took a screenshot of the confirmation for your records
- ✓ If subscribed through Apple App Store or Google Play, cancelled through that platform too
- ✓ Confirmed GitHub will not charge you on your next billing date
- ✓ Saved your cancellation confirmation email in a safe folder for at least 6 months
How yafee helps you cancel subscriptions safely
Yafee is your guide to cancelling subscriptions across hundreds of digital services and platforms. Our contract law specialists have helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions, recover unauthorised charges, and understand their consumer rights under Nigerian law.
Whether you're cancelling GitHub, streaming services, software subscriptions, or membership platforms, Yafee provides step-by-step instructions tailored to your situation. We ground every guide in the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and reference the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as your escalation route if a company refuses to cancel or continues charging you.
Yafee also helps you understand your billing cycles, spot automatic renewals, and dispute unauthorised charges with your bank. Our goal is to empower you as a Nigerian consumer to take control of your subscriptions and avoid unexpected costs.
Visit Yafee.com today to explore guides for cancelling hundreds of services. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions, recover refunds, and enforce their consumer rights under Nigerian law.
If you encounter technical issues while cancelling, GitHub support can assist you.
GitHub does not maintain a dedicated contact office in Nigeria, but you can reach their global support team through the following channels:
- Email: [email protected] (GitHub will respond within 24 to 48 hours)
- Web form: Visit github.com/contact and select "Billing" as your issue category
- Help documentation: github.com/en/support for self-service guides on cancellation and billing
When you contact GitHub support about cancellation, provide your account email, the subscription you want to cancel, and your current billing date. Be specific and include screenshots of your billing section. GitHub support can confirm your cancellation request and ensure your account is processed correctly.
If you face difficulties after cancelling-such as continued charges or loss of access-contact the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) at their Lagos office: 5A Shodeinde Street, Ikoyi, Lagos 106104, Nigeria, or file a complaint online at fccpc.gov.ng. Yafee recommends keeping all communication records with GitHub and your bank for evidence if you need to escalate your case.