Stop, terminate or delete an app
What each action removes, what it keeps, and when billing stops.
These actions live in the app's Sensitive tab. They differ in what they remove and in whether you keep paying.
| Action | What happens | Billing | Available when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop | The app stops and its public URL is cleared. The app record is kept so you can redeploy later. | Continues | The app is running |
| Terminate | Runtime resources and the deploy key on GitHub's side are removed. Environment variables are kept and marked pending. | Stops | The app is running, stopped or failed |
| Destroy | The app is deleted for good, including its environment variables and deploy keys. | None | Before the first deploy, or after terminating |
Which one do I want?
- Taking a break but coming back soon: Stop. Remember that you're still billed.
- Not using it for a while: Terminate. You stop paying, and your variables are kept for when you deploy again.
- Never need it again: Terminate, then Destroy.
Billing details
When you terminate, the final partial hour is charged as a full hour. Redeploying a terminated paid app needs 72 hours of credit again. See Sizes, free apps and billing.
Terminating or destroying a free app also frees one of your 2 free app slots.
Last updated 19 October 2026 · Something missing or wrong? Tell us