It depends on how your account was created. Accounts registered on the SparkReceipt website use a free-trial model and do not include a free plan — but when your trial or paid subscription ends, the account switches to read-only mode, not a lock-out. You can still sign in, browse everything, and export it all; only adding new documents pauses until you subscribe again. Accounts created in the iOS or Android apps include a free plan with monthly scanning credits.
Accounts created on the web
Web signups start with a free trial of the paid features rather than a free plan. Because of that, there is nothing to downgrade to — instead, the account becomes read-only when the trial ends without subscribing, or when a paid subscription lapses or is cancelled. Your data is always yours:
- You keep full read access, with no time limit. Sign in as usual, open any receipt, invoice, or statement, and browse all your documents and records exactly as before.
- You can export everything, for free. Reports, spreadsheets (CSV/XLSX), PDFs, and image downloads all keep working, so you can hand your books to an accountant or take them elsewhere whenever you like.
- What pauses is adding new documents. Recurring automations and automatic scanning of connected Gmail or IMAP inboxes stop the moment read-only mode begins. Uploads, receipt scanning, email forwarding, and connected Outlook inboxes keep working only while you still have extra scanning credits you previously purchased — they draw down those credits and then pause once the credits run out (or straight away if you have none). Subscribe again to lift the pause.
- Nothing is deleted, and re-subscribing restores everything instantly. Subscribe again at any time and full access comes back exactly as you left it — see How to cancel your subscription.
Accounts created in the mobile apps
Accounts created by signing up in the iPhone or Android app have a free plan with a monthly scanning allowance:
- Cancel your paid subscription and the account reverts to the free plan at the end of the billing period — see How to cancel your subscription.
- On the free plan you receive monthly credits for scanning — see How does the monthly credit system work?
- All your existing documents remain accessible.
Switching plans instead of cancelling
If a paid plan is still right for you but the tier is wrong, you do not need to cancel:
- On the web, go to Account settings → Subscription & Billing and use Adjust plan to switch between plans, billing periods and seat counts.
- The change applies right away. Moving to a lower plan turns the unused part of what you paid into a credit on your next invoice or invoices. See How do I upgrade to Elite or change my plan?
Downgrading vs. deleting your account
Cancelling keeps your account and all data stored. If you want your data removed entirely, that is a different, permanent action — see Deleting your account and data. If you have an active paid subscription, cancel it before deleting the account.