The terms in one table
These are taken from SiteGround's refund policy and cancellation articles, both showing a last update of 7 October 2026 when checked on 29 October 2026. Check them again before you buy; the policy is a knowledge base article, not a contract summary.
| Situation | What SiteGround says | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| New shared hosting order | Covered within thirty days from activation | Cancel within 30 days for a refund of hosting fees |
| New cloud hosting order | Covered within fourteen days from activation | Half the window of shared hosting |
| Domain registration | Not refundable; may be due upon cancellation even if waived as part of a promotion | A "free domain" can become a charge if you cancel |
| Paid support, third-party services | Not covered by the money-back guarantee | Add-ons bought from third parties stay paid |
| Renewal, term not yet started | Full refund if cancellation is requested within 30 days of the renewal payment | Applies when the renewal is charged before the new term begins |
| Renewal, term already started | Partial refund: renewal fees less the first month of the renewal term | You pay for one month of the new term |
| How to request | Refund requests are made by cancelling the service in the Client Area | No separate refund form |
Worked example: StartUp bought on the introductory price
StartUp was listed at $2.99 a month prepaid for 12 months, so the first invoice is $35.88 before tax, with a free domain promotion shown on the WordPress hosting page. Cancel on day 20: the hosting fee is covered by the 30-day guarantee, but the policy says domain fees may be due upon cancellation even if waived. Ask the Client Area or support what the domain fee would be before cancelling, so the refund amount is not a surprise.
Now the renewal. The WordPress hosting page lists StartUp as renewing at $17.99 a month. Assume auto-renewal charges a 12-month term for illustration: $215.88. If you cancel within 30 days of that payment and before the new term has started, the policy provides a full refund. If you cancel within 30 days of the payment but after the new term has started, the refund is the renewal fee less the first month, $215.88 minus $17.99, or $197.89. The policy pages checked do not say how many days before expiry the renewal is charged, so check the renewal date shown in your Client Area.
Longer terms and the 30-day window
The guarantee is tied to the time since activation, not to the length of the term you prepaid. A 12-month prepayment and any longer term offered at checkout share the same 30-day window for shared hosting. After day 30, the policy pages checked do not describe a prorated refund of the unused part of an initial term; the proration described applies to renewals within 30 days of the renewal payment.
That makes the first month the time to test properly. If you are moving a course site to SiteGround, complete the migration rehearsal, test checkout and student logins, and send a full set of notification emails within the first 30 days, not the last week of the window.
How cancellation works, and what it deletes
The cancellation article gives the steps: Client Area, Services, Hosting, Settings next to the plan, the menu on the right, Cancel, then choose to cancel at expiration or immediately. If you cancel immediately, the websites on the account and all their data are removed at once. Domain names and domain-related services remain active.
If you only want to stop the next charge, you do not need to cancel: switch off Autorenewal under Renewal Settings for the plan. SiteGround says stopping automatic billing means the plan will not be renewed. Domains cannot be cancelled outright; you stop their auto-renewal and they stay active until they expire.
Checklist before buying a multi-year term
- Write down the activation date and the 30-day (shared) or 14-day (cloud) deadline in your calendar.
- Note whether the domain is a free promotional registration, and ask what fee would be due if you cancel.
- Price the renewal at the regular rate ($17.99, $29.99 or $44.99 a month for StartUp, GrowBig or GoGeek) before comparing with other hosts.
- Finish migration testing, including checkout, logins and email, inside the guarantee window.
- Decide whether to turn off auto-renewal now and re-enable it deliberately later.
- Avoid buying paid support or third-party add-ons until you know you are staying; they are not covered.
Checklist before cancelling
- Download a full backup of files and databases; immediate cancellation removes them.
- Move or repoint the domain and DNS first if they are managed at SiteGround, and confirm email MX records.
- Choose "at expiration" unless you need the refund; it keeps the site available until the paid term ends.
- Screenshot the cancellation confirmation and the refund amount shown.
- If cancellation fails or the amount looks wrong, contact SiteGround support, which the policy says can help.
Questions before you decide
How long is the SiteGround money-back guarantee?
30 days from activation for shared hosting and 14 days for cloud hosting, per SiteGround's refund policy article checked on 29 October 2026.
Are domain fees refunded?
No. SiteGround says domain name fees are not refundable and may be due upon cancellation even if the domain was free as part of a promotion.
Can I get money back on a renewal I forgot to cancel?
Yes, within 30 days of the renewal payment: in full if the new term has not started, or minus the first month of the new term if it has.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- SiteGround KB: What is your refund policy? Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: How do I cancel my hosting? Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: How to stop the automatic billing for my hosting plan Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: How to cancel my domain Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: WordPress hosting plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: Cloud hosting plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.