Updated: May 2026
People worry about lock-in. It is a fair concern. Here is exactly what happens to your mailboxes if you cancel ColdSend, and what you should do beforehand.
What You Actually Own
ColdSend uses a BYOA model: Bring Your Own Azure. You create the Azure account. Microsoft bills you directly. ColdSend just automates the setup on top of it.
This means:
- The Azure tenant is yours.
- The domains are yours (you bought them).
- The inboxes live in your Azure account.
ColdSend does not own your infrastructure. We cannot delete your Azure account. We cannot take your domains. We cannot lock your inboxes.
What Stops Working
When you cancel ColdSend, the following stops:
- ColdSend's sequencer. You can no longer log into coldsend.pro to send campaigns.
- Automation. Inbox creation, DNS management, and bulk provisioning stop.
- SMTP Export relay and bulk CSV credentials that route through smtp.coldsend.pro. These are deactivated for any inbox we provisioned for you. The gateway will reject authentication after cancellation.
- Support. We no longer answer your questions.
What Keeps Working
What keeps working depends on your inbox type:
For imported Workspace inboxes (Gmail, Outlook, SMTP):
- Your inboxes remain fully functional in their original provider.
- Your SMTP and IMAP access continue to work directly with Google, Microsoft, or your SMTP host.
- ColdSend was only the sequencer — removing it does not touch your inboxes.
For ColdSend-provisioned inboxes (Mailcow on our infrastructure):
- The mailboxes themselves still exist on our Mailcow server.
- You can still access them via IMAP at mail.coldsend.pro if you have valid credentials.
- However, the SMTP relay (smtp.coldsend.pro) is gated by your subscription. You cannot send through our relay after cancellation.
- The bulk CSV export and SMTP Export credentials both route through this relay and will fail auth.
For BYOA Azure ACS inboxes (if applicable):
- Your inboxes remain in your Azure Communication Services resource.
- You can manage them directly in the Azure portal.
- Your Azure tenant stays active as long as you pay Microsoft.
- Your domains and DNS records remain configured as you set them.
How to Export Before Canceling
Do this before you cancel. Afterward, you lose access to ColdSend's export tools.
Step 1: Bulk export all inboxes
- Go to Sender Accounts in ColdSend.
- Select all inboxes.
- Click Actions → Export.
- Save the CSV file securely.
The CSV contains different fields depending on inbox type:
For ColdSend-provisioned inboxes:
- Email address
- App password (freshly generated for SMTP export, shown once)
- SMTP server:
smtp.coldsend.pro - SMTP port:
587(STARTTLS) - IMAP server:
mail.coldsend.pro - IMAP port:
993(SSL/TLS)
For imported Workspace inboxes:
- Email address
- Mailbox password (decrypted stored password)
- SMTP server: provider-specific (e.g.,
smtp.gmail.com) - SMTP port:
587(STARTTLS) - IMAP server: provider-specific (e.g.,
imap.gmail.com) - IMAP port:
993(SSL/TLS)
Step 2: Save SMTP Export credentials
If you enabled SMTP Export on individual inboxes, save those credentials for reference. Note: these are relay passwords for smtp.coldsend.pro and are only usable while your subscription is active. Exporting them is useful for backup or audit, not for continued sending after cancellation.
Step 3: Note your DNS settings
If you plan to manage the domains yourself later, record your current SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. These are configured at your registrar or DNS provider, not in ColdSend.
How to Keep Using Your Inboxes
Option 1: Use imported inboxes in another sequencer
If you imported Gmail, Outlook, or SMTP inboxes, you can reconnect them to Smartlead, Instantly, or any other tool immediately. Use the provider-specific SMTP/IMAP settings from your export.
Option 2: Use ColdSend-provisioned inboxes in an email client
Configure Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Outlook with the IMAP settings from your CSV (mail.coldsend.pro, port 993). You can read replies this way. However, you cannot send through smtp.coldsend.pro after cancellation because our relay requires an active subscription.
Option 3: Manage BYOA inboxes directly in Azure
If you set up BYOA with your own Azure ACS tenant, you can access your Azure Communication Services resource directly in the Azure portal and manage inboxes there. This requires Azure knowledge but gives you full control.
Option 4: Let them sit
If you are done with the inboxes entirely, just stop paying Azure (for BYOA) or let the ColdSend-provisioned accounts go inactive. There is no penalty for inactive inboxes.
If You Used Starter (Imported Inboxes)
If you were on the Starter plan and imported your own Gmail, Outlook, or SMTP inboxes, nothing changes when you cancel ColdSend. Those inboxes were always yours. ColdSend was just the sequencer.
You can reconnect them to any other tool immediately.
Bottom Line
Canceling ColdSend does not delete your infrastructure. It removes our automation layer and our SMTP relay access.
Your Azure account, your domains, and your imported inboxes stay yours. For ColdSend-provisioned inboxes, the mailboxes still exist but you cannot send through our relay without an active subscription. Export your credentials before canceling, understand which parts depend on our gateway, and plan accordingly.
This is the point of BYOA. You are not renting our infrastructure. You are automating yours. Our relay is a convenience feature tied to your subscription — your data and your provider inboxes remain fully yours.
Questions about migration or account ownership? Contact us before you cancel and we will walk you through the export process.
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