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What Happens if I Stop Paying for DNSimple?

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If DNSimple cannot collect your monthly subscription payment, DNSimple retries it for 21 days. If payment still fails, DNSimple deactivates your account: your domains on DNSimple name servers stop resolving, auto-renewal and WHOIS privacy are turned off, and your domains stay in your account.

For the full renewal and retry process, see Subscription Renewals.

Failed payment and the 21-day window

When a renewal payment fails, DNSimple retries the card on file for 21 days from the first failed attempt. Each failure email gives the date of the next attempt, and payment status updates go to your account notification email. You can also manually retry renewal payments - see Account Invoice History.

During this period, your account stays active, and your domains continue to resolve.

When your account is deactivated

If payment cannot be collected after 21 days, DNSimple deactivates your account and notifies you by email. All services provided by DNSimple stop at that point.

What happens to your domains after deactivation

  • DNS resolution: DNSimple name servers stop answering for your zones, so domains pointing to them no longer resolve. Lookups fail, and resolvers usually return a SERVFAIL error. Domains that use other name servers continue to resolve.
  • Registered domains: You can still manage domains registered with DNSimple. They are not deleted or removed from your account.
  • Auto-renewal and privacy: Auto-renewal and WHOIS privacy are turned off for your domains, so they will not renew automatically.

Deactivation stops DNSimple services. It does not delete your account or remove your domains. See Unsubscribe From Your DNSimple Plan for how to cancel billing intentionally.

Billing contacts and account access

If you are a billing contact but not an authorized user, you cannot reactivate the subscription yourself. Contact an account administrator to restore service or update payment details. Authorized users can update the card on file in Changing Payment Details. If you cannot log in, see Forgot Password.

Reactivating your subscription

You can restore service by reactivating your subscription. Reactivating means subscribing again and choosing a plan. When your account is reactivated, DNSimple turns resolution back on for the zones that were active, and restores auto-renewal and WHOIS privacy. See Reactivate Your Subscription for the steps. For a broader path that covers failed invoices, card updates, and deactivated accounts, see Troubleshoot Billing and Payment Failures.

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions or need any assistance with your subscription payments, contact support, and we will be happy to help.