Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 3 minutes to read
Why the order matters so much
With many providers, website, domain and mailbox sit in the same contract. Whoever cancels first risks gaps: the old site is gone and the new one is not there yet, or email stops arriving. In our moves in October 2026, two customers wanted to cancel everything with the old provider straight after saying yes, including domain and email. Since then every welcome from us says: don't cancel anything yet, especially not domain and email.
The plan in 8 steps
- 1
Read the contract. Look up the end of the term and the notice period in your customer account and put it in your calendar. According to their help pages, Jimdo and STRATO usually require one month's notice.
- 2
Secure what you have. Texts, images, data, DNS records, invoices. See Back up your old website.
- 3
Have the new website built. The old one stays online meanwhile.
- 4
Plan domain and email. Do they stay with the old provider, or do they move? If they move: new mailboxes first, then the domain, then the old contracts.
- 5
Switch the website. Change only the entry for the website, not the email entries. See Change a DNS record.
- 6
Check. Watch for a few days: website, forms, receiving and sending email.
- 7
Cancel the website package. Normally at the end of the term, no immediate termination.
- 8
Clean up the rest. Cancel add-on products, apps and old domains you no longer need, one by one.
What applies with each provider?
| Provider | Where to cancel | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | Premium subscriptions | Domain is not cancelled along with it, 14 days money back on first purchase |
| Jimdo | Subscription | usually one month's notice, add-on products separately |
| IONOS | Contracts and subscriptions | whole contract or single service, export no longer possible after cancellation |
| STRATO | Customer login, cancellation and immediate termination | Cancelling the package cancels domains too, immediate termination takes effect at once |
| Squarespace | Billing, Subscriptions | Domain and Workspace are separate subscriptions |
Details in the articles on Wix, Jimdo, IONOS, STRATO and Squarespace.
What if my contract still has a long time to run?
That is no reason to wait with the switch, but it is a reason to plan the costs. Some providers of new websites only start billing when the old contract ends. Ask about it before you say yes. If you have just renewed for two years, it can make sense to finish the new site and only switch shortly before the end.
What if something has already gone wrong?
- Domain cancelled: report it to the provider immediately. As long as it has not been deleted, it can usually be rescued.
- Email not arriving: check the MX records and compare them with the ones you saved.
- Old site already gone, new one not finished: put a simple holding page with your contact details online until the new one is ready.
At freeehouse we tell you exactly when you can cancel what. Until then everything stays as it is, and the first invoice only comes when your old contract ends, at the latest 5 months after you say yes. Claim your spot on the waiting list
How do I plan the switch with a long remaining term?
An example: your website builder is paid until the end of next year. Then you can have the new site built now, check and prepare it, but only switch a few weeks before the term ends. You cancel the renewal in good time beforehand. That way you do not pay twice and are still in no rush. With providers that only bill from the end of your old contract, you can switch earlier too.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to cancel my website builder?
Once the new website is online and has run stably for a few days, and in good time before the next renewal.
Can I cancel the domain first?
No. You always cancel domain and email last, and only if they have safely moved first.
What is the difference between cancellation and immediate termination?
A cancellation takes effect at the end of the term. With some providers an immediate termination takes effect at once, and according to STRATO that includes the domain.
Do I have to do the cancelling myself?
Yes, only the contract holder can. A service provider can tell you exactly what and when, though.
Sources
- Wix Hilfe: Ein Premiumpaket von Wix kündigen, accessed 23 October 2026
- Jimdo Help: How do I cancel my subscription, accessed 23 October 2026
- IONOS Hilfe: Gesamten IONOS Vertrag kündigen, accessed 23 October 2026
- STRATO FAQ: Wie kann ich kündigen?, accessed 23 October 2026
- STRATO FAQ: Wie kann ich eine Bestellung stornieren?, accessed 23 October 2026
- Squarespace Help: Cancel your website subscription, accessed 23 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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