How to cancel Bubble and protect your no-code project in new zealand
What is Bubble and why cancellation matters
Bubble is a visual web application builder that lets you create functional web apps without writing code. You get hosting, a drag-and-drop editor, workflows, databases, and integrations all in one platform. Many New Zealand entrepreneurs and developers use Bubble to prototype products, build internal tools, or launch customer-facing applications quickly.
The platform offers a Free tier with basic features and several paid plans that unlock custom domains, higher capacity, and advanced functionality. But if your project has stalled, you've found a better alternative, or your business priorities have shifted, you need to cancel before the next billing cycle charges your account.
Cancelling a SaaS subscription involves more than clicking a button. You must understand your billing cycle, export your data, and verify the cancellation succeeded. Yafee has guided thousands of New Zealand users through this process, ensuring they avoid unexpected charges and retain access to their work.
Common reasons to cancel Bubble
You might cancel because your project is complete, you've switched to a competitor like Webflow or FlutterFlow, your usage no longer justifies the monthly cost, or you're consolidating your software stack. Some users cancel after discovering Bubble's steep learning curve or realising their needs outgrew the visual builder approach. Others downgrade when development slows and Free tier features become sufficient.
What you must do before cancelling
Before you cancel, export any code, databases, custom workflows, and design assets you've built. Certain export features may become unavailable once you downgrade to the Free plan, and you'll lose access to custom domain functionality once your paid period expires. Yafee recommends spending one hour documenting your app's architecture and backing up your data, especially if you plan to move your project elsewhere.
Log into your Bubble account and navigate to the app's Settings page. Download all available exports-this includes your app JSON file, workflows, and database records. Take screenshots of your current plan, billing cycle, and renewal date. This documentation protects you if Bubble charges you after cancellation or if you need to dispute a transaction.
Your legal position under new zealand consumer law
Your right to cancel stems from the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, which protect you against unfair contract terms and hidden charges. Bubble must provide you with clear cancellation instructions, honour your cancellation request, and cease billing immediately once you've cancelled.
Under New Zealand law, subscription services must disclose all material terms-including cancellation methods, billing dates, and the cost to cancel-before you agree to the contract. If Bubble continues to charge you after you've cancelled, that constitutes a breach of contract. The Commerce Commission and your bank's dispute resolution team are your escalation routes if Bubble refuses to refund you.
Your legal position: You have the right to cancel at any time. Bubble may not impose unreasonable cancellation fees. If Bubble charges you after you've cancelled, you can dispute the transaction through your bank or lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission.
Cancellation methods for Bubble subscriptions
Bubble offers two cancellation routes: via the web editor (if you subscribed directly) or via your app store account (if you purchased through iOS, Android, or a third-party marketplace). The method you use depends on where you initiated your subscription.
How to identify your subscription method
Check your billing receipts or bank statement. If the charge reads "Bubble Inc" or "Bubble.io", you subscribed directly through the web platform. If the charge shows "Apple App Store", "Google Play Store", or another third-party service, you're subscribed via that platform and must cancel there instead.
You can also log into your Bubble account and navigate to Settings. Your billing page will show who processes your payment. Direct subscribers see Bubble's payment processor; app store subscribers see a message directing them to cancel via that store.
If you subscribed directly through Bubble.io, you cancel through your account settings in the editor.
Step 1: log in to your Bubble account
Open bubble.io in your web browser. Enter your registered email address and password. If you've forgotten your password, click "Forgot password?" and follow the reset email Bubble sends you. Wait for the editor interface to load completely-this typically takes 10 to 15 seconds.
Step 2: open your app's settings
- From your dashboard, select the app attached to your paid plan.
- If you have multiple apps, hover over each one to see which plan tier is active.
- Click the app name to enter the editor.
- Once the editor loads, locate the menu icon (usually a gear or three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
Step 3: navigate to your billing page
- Click Settings or the gear icon.
- From the dropdown menu, select "My plan", "Billing", or "Subscription"-the exact label varies by Bubble's current interface.
- This page displays your current plan tier, monthly or annual billing cycle, renewal date, and payment method.
Step 4: initiate cancellation
- On the Billing page, scroll to the bottom or look for a red "Cancel plan" button or link.
- Some users see the option to "Downgrade to Free" instead-choosing this has the same effect as cancelling; you lose paid features at the end of your current billing month.
- Click the cancellation button.
- Bubble will display a survey asking why you're leaving. You can complete it or skip it-your response doesn't affect cancellation.
Step 5: confirm cancellation and verify
- Click "Confirm cancellation" or "Yes, cancel my plan" when prompted.
- You'll see a confirmation message on screen.
- Check your email inbox (including spam folders) for a confirmation email from Bubble within 5 minutes.
- This email confirms your cancellation date and when your paid access ends.
- Log out and log back in after 10 minutes. Navigate to Settings again to verify your plan now shows "Free" and no renewal date appears.
Critical step: Screenshot your plan page before and after cancellation, clearly showing the date, plan tier, and status. Save these images and the confirmation email. If Bubble charges you again, you'll need this proof to dispute the transaction.
Timeline and what happens after you cancel
Understanding your billing cycle determines when your cancellation takes effect and when you lose access to paid features. Yafee has helped thousands of New Zealand subscribers avoid confusion by mapping out their post-cancellation timeline before they cancel.
How your billing cycle affects cancellation
If you subscribed on a monthly plan and cancel mid-month, you retain paid access until the end of that month. Bubble does not pro-rate refunds for unused days. If you subscribed on an annual plan and cancel before your renewal date, you retain access for the remainder of that year-again, with no refund for unused months.
For example, if you're billed on the 15th of each month and you cancel on the 5th, you keep your paid plan until the 15th. Bubble will not charge you on the 15th. Your access then downgrades to Free tier features on the 16th.
What you lose immediately after cancellation
- Custom domain functionality-your app reverts to a bubble.io subdomain.
- Advanced privacy and security features available only on paid tiers.
- Increased capacity and database size limits-you're capped at Free tier limits.
- Priority support-you lose access to faster response times or dedicated support channels.
- Export options may become restricted-verify you've downloaded everything before the billing period ends.
What you retain after cancellation
You keep all your app data, workflows, design assets, and user records. The Free tier allows you to view and edit your app indefinitely. However, Bubble states that Free tier apps may be paused if unused for an extended period (typically several months). Keep logging in occasionally to prevent this.
Refund policy and dispute resolution
Bubble's standard refund policy does not offer pro-rata refunds for cancellations mid-billing-cycle. However, under New Zealand law, you may have grounds to dispute a charge if Bubble fails to honour your cancellation request or continues charging after you've cancelled.
Requesting a refund through Bubble
- Contact Bubble's support team via their in-app chat or email support.bubble.io (if this address is available) or the contact form on bubble.io.
- Explain your cancellation date and any unexpected charges after that date.
- Attach screenshots of your cancellation confirmation, billing page before cancellation, and your bank statement showing the disputed charge.
- Request a refund and specify whether you're asking for a pro-rata refund (unused days) or a full reversal of post-cancellation charges.
- Bubble typically responds within 5 to 10 business days.
Disputing the charge through your bank
If Bubble refuses your refund request or doesn't respond within 14 days, contact your bank and lodge a dispute. Provide your bank with your cancellation confirmation email, screenshots, and copies of all correspondence with Bubble. Your bank will investigate and either reverse the charge or request that Bubble provide evidence of your consent to continued billing.
New Zealand banks must respond to dispute claims within 20 working days. If the bank finds in your favour, you'll receive a refund and the charge will be reversed.
Escalation to the commerce commission
If your bank dispute fails or Bubble's conduct breaches the Fair Trading Act 1986, lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz). The Commission investigates unfair contract terms, hidden charges, and misleading cancellation procedures. You can file a complaint at no cost, and the Commission may take enforcement action against Bubble if it finds systematic breaches.
Pricing tiers and what you're cancelling
Bubble offers multiple subscription tiers, each with different features, capacity, and costs. Understanding what you're paying for helps you decide whether to cancel, downgrade, or switch plans.
| Plan |
Monthly NZD |
Key features |
Best for |
| Free |
$0 |
Bubble subdomain, 100 database rows, basic workflows |
Learning, prototyping |
| Starter |
$29 |
Custom domain, 5,000 database rows, priority support |
Small projects, early MVPs |
| Growth |
$99 |
Unlimited database rows, advanced API access, staging environments |
Most production apps |
| Team |
$239 |
Team collaboration, version control, advanced permissions |
Agencies, larger teams |
| Professional |
$499 |
Dedicated infrastructure, custom SLA, white-label options |
Enterprise, high-traffic apps |
If you're on Growth or Team plans and only need basic features, downgrading to Starter may be cheaper than cancelling entirely, especially if you plan to resume development later.
Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them
Cancelling a subscription should be straightforward, but confusion about billing cycles, export options, and platform interfaces can lead to costly oversights. Yafee has seen recurring patterns in how users accidentally keep paying or lose data during cancellation.
Mistake 1: deleting your account instead of cancelling your plan
Simply deleting your Bubble account does not cancel your subscription. Many users believe that removing their login credentials stops billing-it doesn't. Your paid plan continues, and Bubble charges you at the next renewal date.
To cancel correctly, you must access your Billing settings and click the cancellation button. Only then does Bubble stop charging you. Account deletion is a separate action you can perform after cancellation if you want to erase your apps and data.
Mistake 2: not exporting data before downgrading to free
When you cancel and downgrade to Free, Bubble restricts export options and limits database capacity. If your Free tier app exceeds the row limit (100 rows), you cannot add data without upgrading again. Download all exports before your paid plan expires.
Mistake 3: assuming immediate refunds
Bubble does not offer automatic refunds. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you lose the unused portion with no reimbursement. Read Bubble's terms carefully before cancelling to confirm this policy applies to your account.
Mistake 4: ignoring the confirmation email
Bubble sends a confirmation email when you cancel successfully. This email is your proof. If you don't receive it within 5 minutes, log back into Bubble and verify cancellation. If the plan still shows as active, repeat the cancellation steps.
After cancellation: maintaining access and preventing re-subscription
Once your paid plan expires, you transition to Free tier. To keep your app accessible and avoid accidental re-subscription, follow these steps.
Update payment information
Log into your Bubble account and remove your payment method from your billing profile. This prevents Bubble from charging you if you accidentally click an "upgrade" button or if a bug reactivates your subscription. Bubble must request explicit consent before charging you again, but removing your card is an additional safeguard.
Keep your free tier app active
Log in to your app at least once every three months. Bubble may pause Free tier apps that show no activity for extended periods (typically six months or longer). Regular login activity signals that your app is in use and prevents automated pausing.
Monitor your bank statement
Check your bank statement monthly for the next three months after cancellation. If Bubble charges you again, immediately dispute the transaction through your bank. Keep all cancellation confirmation emails and screenshots for documentation.
Checklist for cancelling Bubble safely
Use this checklist to ensure you've completed every step and protected your data and finances.
| Task |
Completed |
| Logged into my Bubble account and confirmed I'm on a paid plan |
☐ |
| Downloaded all app exports, workflows, and database backups |
☐ |
| Took screenshots of my billing page showing plan tier, renewal date, and amount |
☐ |
| Clicked "Cancel plan" or "Downgrade to Free" in Settings |
☐ |
| Confirmed cancellation on screen and checked email for confirmation within 5 minutes |
☐ |
| Logged out and logged back in after 10 minutes to verify plan shows "Free" |
☐ |
| Removed my payment method from billing profile |
☐ |
| Scheduled a calendar reminder to check my bank statement in 30 days |
☐ |
Bubble alternatives and comparison
If you're cancelling Bubble, you may be considering a competitor. This table compares key features to help you evaluate whether you need a transition plan.
| Platform |
Starting price (monthly NZD) |
Custom domains |
Database capacity |
Learning curve |
| Bubble |
$29 |
Yes (Starter+) |
5,000-unlimited rows |
Moderate to steep |
| Webflow |
$49 |
Yes (Starter+) |
100-unlimited items |
Moderate |
| FlutterFlow |
$70 |
Yes |
Unlimited |
Moderate (mobile-first) |
| Adalo |
$0-$50 |
Yes (paid tiers) |
Unlimited |
Lower than Bubble |
| Airtable + custom code |
$20-$50 |
Requires hosting |
Unlimited |
High (requires coding) |
Adalo tends to offer a gentler learning curve than Bubble, while Webflow excels at design-heavy apps. Yafee recommends testing each platform's Free tier for one to two weeks before migrating your data from Bubble.
Bubble is incorporated as Bubble Group, Inc., and operates internationally. If you require postal cancellation notice or wish to escalate a dispute, use the following address:
Bubble Group, Inc. (registered office for cancellation notices)
540 Market Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, California 94102
United States of America
New Zealand users should first attempt cancellation through the web platform (as outlined above) or contact Bubble's support team via bubble.io. If Bubble fails to honour your cancellation or disputes arise, lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) or your bank.
Yafee specialises in helping New Zealand consumers navigate SaaS cancellations, refund disputes, and subscription billing issues. Whether you're cancelling Bubble, negotiating with Bubble support, or disputing post-cancellation charges, Yafee has helped thousands of consumers protect their data and finances. Visit yafee.com to explore your options and get personalised guidance on your cancellation rights.