CONTENT FINISHING CHECKLIST

– IS THE TITLE SHORT AND TO THE POINT

– AI SCORE BELOW 30%

– PLAGIARISM BELOW 3%

– CONTENT FLOWS WELL

– GOOD USE OF TABLES

– KEY POINTS

– JOHNSON BOXES

– IS THE ARTICLE INTENT-BASED

Method	Description	Impact on Data	Recommended For
Downgrading Plan	Switch to a cheaper plan while staying active	Funnels and contacts remain intact if within limits	Businesses seeking to reduce cost without risk
Canceling Account	Stop subscription and deactivate account	Data may be deleted after a short period	Users planning a longer break from ClickFunnels
Exporting Assets	Manually download contacts, emails, funnel pages, and scripts	Preserves key business assets	Anyone considering cancellation or long pauses
Reactivating Account	Resume subscription and regain access	Data restored if still within retention window	Returning users within a few weeks
Using Maintenance Pages	Keep funnel live with limited functionality	Funnels remain accessible without active campaigns	Seasonal or temporary downtimes

Understanding Account Options in ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels does not provide a built-in “pause” feature. Instead, users must choose between canceling their account or downgrading to a more affordable plan. These two paths serve different needs—downgrading allows continued limited use of the platform, while cancellation stops access entirely and may lead to permanent data loss.

The right decision depends on whether the user intends to return soon or needs to fully step away for a while. In both cases, preserving data beforehand is critical to avoid disruptions when reactivating later.

What Happens to Funnels, Contacts, and Data

• Canceling your account: When a user cancels, they lose access to their funnels, contacts, and all ClickFunnels tools. The company does not guarantee indefinite data storage. Some users report their information was retrievable up to 30 days after cancellation, but this is not an official policy. It’s risky to assume data will remain intact for long.
• Downgrading your plan: Downgrading keeps the account open and data preserved, as long as it fits within the limits of the new subscription tier. For example, moving from ClickFunnels Platinum to Basic may require deactivating or deleting excess funnels and contacts.

How to Pause Without Losing Data

There are two safe approaches: downgrade the account or cancel after exporting all important data.

Downgrading Your ClickFunnels Plan

Downgrading reduces monthly costs while keeping the core of the business intact. Here’s how to do it:

• Log in to the ClickFunnels account.
• Go to the Account Settings section.
• Click on Billing.
• Select Manage Account or Change Plan.
• Choose the Basic or lowest-priced plan available.
• Confirm the downgrade and review the features included.

Note: Users should check their funnel, contact, and automation counts to ensure they fall within the new plan’s limits. Any overages may result in disabled features or lost functionality.

Canceling Your Account Safely

Users who plan to leave ClickFunnels for an extended time should follow a structured process before canceling:

• Download contacts from Actionetics or integrated CRM as a CSV file.
• Document or save funnel pages, either through HTML downloads, screenshots, or manual text/image capture.
• Backup emails and automations by saving email content and workflow logic.
• List and document all third-party integrations, including payment systems, autoresponders, and analytics tools.
• Save custom scripts and styling, especially if custom JavaScript or CSS was used.

After all critical data is secured, the user can cancel:

• Go to Account Settings.
• Click on Billing.
• Choose Cancel Account.
• Follow the on-screen steps to finish canceling.

Backing Up Your Data Properly

• Exporting contact lists: Users should export all lead and customer data in CSV format. This is important for both marketing continuity and record-keeping.
• Saving funnel content: There is no official ClickFunnels tool to download entire funnels. Users may need to manually save text, take screenshots of design layouts, and note URLs.
• Preserving automation flows: Automation settings such as email sequences or delays should be documented or copied into another platform if the user intends to continue marketing operations elsewhere.
• Logging integrations: Third-party apps like Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, or Zapier may not automatically reconnect upon reactivation. Keeping a written log of these integrations prevents configuration issues later.
• Backing up scripts and styles: Any embedded scripts or custom styling must be copied and stored in a secure location outside ClickFunnels.

Why Downgrading Is the Safer Option

Downgrading is typically better than canceling because it maintains access to funnels, contacts, and core ClickFunnels features while reducing expenses. The Basic Plan still supports:

• Funnel creation and editing
• Lead and contact collection (within plan limits)
• Email connections via third-party apps
• Basic automations
• Hosting for key funnel pages

By staying active under a smaller plan, users avoid reactivation headaches, data loss, or the need to rebuild funnels from scratch.

Resuming a ClickFunnels Account Later

Reactivating is simple if the user canceled recently:

• Log into the ClickFunnels account.
• Visit the Billing section.
• Click Reactivate Account or select a new plan.
• Enter billing details and confirm.

After reactivating, users should test all funnels, integrations, and email flows to ensure everything works correctly. Some settings may need to be manually reset.

Keeping Your Domain and SSL in Good Shape

Custom domains that were connected to ClickFunnels may disconnect after cancellation or long downtimes. DNS records should be preserved during the pause to prevent errors. Upon returning, users may need to:

• Reconnect the domain inside ClickFunnels.
• Reissue or renew SSL certificates if expired.
• Test for broken links or redirects.

Preserving these technical settings ensures a smoother relaunch.

Mistakes to Avoid When Pausing or Canceling

• Not backing up data: Funnel designs, leads, and automations are not automatically preserved after cancellation.
• Ignoring plan limits: Downgrading without checking usage may lead to missing content or features.
• Assuming integrations will reconnect: Many tools require manual reconnection.
• Forgetting to save scripts: Custom code must be manually copied or it will be lost.
• Relying on support to retrieve data: After a certain period, support cannot recover deleted content.

Other Temporary Alternatives

Not everyone needs to downgrade or cancel. Some users may want to cut costs while keeping operations on standby.

• Set up a maintenance page: This keeps the funnel accessible to visitors but disables lead generation or checkout functionality.
• Pause ad campaigns: By pausing Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or other traffic sources, users can stop spending without deactivating the funnel.
• Reduce automation volume: Turning off emails or slowing sequences lowers engagement temporarily without needing a downgrade.

These methods keep ClickFunnels active with minimal cost or disruption.

Conclusion

Pausing a ClickFunnels account isn’t as simple as hitting a button—but with a little planning, users can still take a break without losing everything. Downgrading is the smartest choice for most, allowing continued access while cutting costs. For those who need to cancel, manual backups of contacts, funnels, and workflows are essential.

Being prepared ensures that data remains safe, domains stay functional, and relaunching later takes hours—not weeks.

Key Takeaway: ClickFunnels doesn’t offer a traditional pause button, but downgrading your plan or canceling after backing up all essential data allows users to step away without losing funnels, leads, or settings.

FAQs

Can I collect leads while on a lower-tier ClickFunnels plan?

Yes, as long as the number of leads and funnels stays within the limits of the selected plan, lead collection continues to function normally.

Does ClickFunnels save my funnel designs if I cancel?

There is no official data retention policy. It’s recommended to back up funnel content manually before cancellation to avoid permanent loss.

Can a maintenance page be used while the account is active but not in use?

Yes, users can set up a simple maintenance or holding page that displays while ads and automation are paused.

Are domains automatically reconnected when I reactivate?

No. Domains must be reconnected manually in many cases. It’s best to keep DNS records safe during a pause.

Will my email sequences still be intact when I reactivate my account?

If reactivation occurs soon after cancellation, email sequences may still be intact. However, users should always back up this data to ensure it can be restored.