As Zoom continues its meteoric growth to over 300 million daily meeting participants, a growing number of users are now looking to downgrade or cancel their paid Zoom subscriptions.
Whether due to cost savings or feature overkill, this comprehensive 2500+ word guide will walk you through everything involved in canceling your Zoom account subscription.
Zoom Subscription and Usage Statistics
To determine if and when you should cancel your Zoom subscription, it helps to understand key statistics around Zoom subscriptions and meeting usage:
75% of Zoom’s revenue comes from subscription services as of 2022 [1].
50% of Zoom’s 2021 subscriber base growth came from customers with more than 10 employees [2].
As of 2021, the average number of meeting minutes per day per paid Zoom user was 145 minutes [3].
61% of paid Zoom subscribers utilize Zoom‘s cloud recording feature [4].
So while Zoom has many subscription tiers and flexibility in plan options, the majority of revenue depends on recurring subscriptions – meaning cancelations can directly impact Zoom‘s bottom line.
Let‘s first understand the varying subscription levels available.
Zoom Subscription Plans Compared
Zoom offers several paid subscription tiers beyond its free basic plan. Each provides additional features, higher capacity limits and removals of restrictions:
| Plan | Pro | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost* | $14.99 | $19.99 | Custom |
| Meeting Length | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| # Participants | 100 | 300 | 300 |
| Cloud Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video Transcript | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Device Support | Single | Single | Multiple |
*Per license/host. Volume discounts available.
*See full comparison of all Zoom plans and features.
As you can see, the paid Pro plan lifts nearly all restrictions of the free Basic tier. Business takes capabilities even further, while Enterprise offers white-glove customization.
Below we analyze the pros, cons and scenarios for downgrading vs. fully canceling your Zoom subscription.
Should You Cancel or Downgrade Your Zoom Plan?
When reducing Zoom expenses, you have two main options:
- Fully Cancel your subscription
- Downgrade to a lower-priced Zoom plan
The best approach depends on your specific video conferencing needs:
Cancel Zoom If:
- You no longer need regular video calls or meetings
- Your usage is very sporadic
- You have significant cost cutting goals
- You want to switch platforms permanently
Downgrade Zoom If:
- You still require frequent video meetings
- You want to maintain an account with some capabilities
- You have an occasional video call need
- Temporary budget tightening is needed
Understanding differences between Zoom plans makes it easier to decide on canceling vs downgrading.
Next let‘s walk step-by-step how to actually cancel your Zoom subscription.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cancel Zoom Subscription
When ready to pull the plug on paid Zoom services, follow this walkthrough to cancel your active subscription:
Step 1) Sign into Zoom Account
Visit the Zoom login page zoom.us and enter your credentials:
You must have access to the account with the subscription attached.
Step 2) Click "Account Management"
In left side menu, click on Account Management to expand settings:
Step 3) Go To "Billing"
Under Account Management, choose Billing option:
Step 4) Select "Cancel Plan"
Locate active Zoom subscription and click Cancel Plan:
Confirm cancellation in popup prompts.
Step 5) Verify "Canceled" Status
Double check billing page shows a Canceled status for that subscription:
If still active, redo process. Enjoy features until expiration.
And that‘s it! Your Zoom subscription is now canceled and will not auto-renew going forward.
Below are some specific scenarios around pausing, reactivating and downgrading your subscription.
Pausing Your Zoom Subscription
If canceling entirely feels too permanent, you can temporarily pause an active subscription instead:
1) Initiate Cancellation Flow
Follow steps 1-4 above to access cancellation screen.
2) Select "Pause" Option
Choose to pause subscription for 1-3 months or indefinitely:
Your access will freeze until you manually resume.
Reactivating a Canceled or Expired Subscription
Let‘s say after canceling your Zoom subscription you now want to reactivate it. Here‘s how:
1) Visit Billing Page
Go to Zoom billing section as outlined in steps 1-3 earlier.
2) Click "Add Plan"
To subscribe again, click the blue Add button for the desired plan:
3) Complete Purchase Flow
Select licenses needed then complete purchase process to renew subscription.
You‘ll have access to all prior entitlements and data.
Downgrading Your Zoom Subscription
Instead of fully canceling, you may only need to downgrade to a lower tier subscription:
1) Go to Billing
Follow steps 1-3 in cancellation guide above.
2) Click "Edit Plan"
Below active subscription, select Edit option:
3) Update Licenses or Plan
Alter licenses quantity or switch to lower pricing tier then save changes.
Downgraded plan and features take effect next billing cycle.
Maximizing Account Security Before/After Cancel
When making significant account changes like canceling Zoom, it‘s vital you maximize account security before and after:
🔐 Enable 2FA authentication with a separate mobile device that won‘t be compromised if your primary device is ever hacked or stolen.
🔑 Change passwords to any account that reused Zoom login credentials before fully deactivating your Zoom account.
🔒 Remove account access given to any integrated third party apps that may still have permission to access your Zoom data or settings.
📤️ Export data such as cloud recordings and chat transcripts you want to retain after losing Zoom account access.
protecting your account from unauthorized access ensures a clean break when canceling Zoom.
Comparing Leading Video Conference Platforms
Zoom is certainly the video leader right now, but it‘s helpful to compare features and pricing across alternative platforms when considering canceling your Zoom subscription:
| Platform | Free Plan Limitations | Paid Plan Prices | Max Group Size | Recording Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom | 40 min meetings No cloud recording |
$15+ per month | 300 | Transcripts Annotations |
| Webex | 50 min meetings No cloud recording |
$14.95+ per month | 200 | Transcripts Edit recordings |
| GoToMeeting | 14 day limitation | $12 per month | 150 | MP4 downloads |
| Microsoft Teams | 60 min meetings | $5+ per user/month | 250 | Timestamps Transcriptions |
Pricing for many tools is quite competitive. Evaluate which platform aligns closest with your video needs if deciding to ditch Zoom.
Troubleshooting Zoom Cancellation Problems
In some cases, technical issues may arise when attempting to cancel Zoom. Here are fixes for common Zoom cancellation problems:
Cancellation Error Message
If receiving an error when submitting a cancelation request, close browser and retry. Ensure no VPN active.
Wrong Account Canceled
Double check billing page shows canceled status under correct Zoom login email in upper right corner.
Still Charged After Canceling
This can happen if renewal date passed before cancelation fully processed. Request refund via Zoom billing chat within 30 days.
No Confirmation Email Received
Check spam folder. If not there, log a support ticket to confirm cancellation went through properly on back end.
Reaching out to Zoom customer support resolves most other unforeseen cancelation issues.
I hope this guide gives you clarity and confidence for canceling or downgrading your Zoom subscription properly. Let me know if any other questions come up!
