Pokemon HOME is now available for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and while that’s nice, there are undoubtedly plenty of people looking to cancel their Premium Plan subscription.
Hardcore Pokemon fans can get a lot of value out of Pokemon HOME thanks to its ability to bridge the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Switch family. The trouble is that the overwhelming majority of fans likely need just one month of the Premium Plan in order to migrate their Pokemon and do some upkeep. Premium Plan subscriptions are still set to automatically renew upon expiration, and The Pokemon Company doesn’t make it easy to stop it.
While the method for ending a Pokemon HOME subscription isn’t easy to find, it isn’t hard to do. Here’s how to stop auto-renewal for your subscription.
What is Pokemon HOME?
Pokemon HOME is an app on Nintendo Switch that allows players to move Pokemon between different games on the Nintendo Switch. There is also a mobile version that ties into Pokemon GO, allows users to collect gifts, and enables the GTS feature. The app launched in 2020 as a successor to the Nintendo 3DS’s Pokemon Bank.
Using Pokemon HOME lets players gain access to Pokemon in games that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to. The app can be downloaded and used for free, but has features locked behind a subscription.
What games work with Pokemon HOME?
Pokemon HOME has functionality with Pokemon GO as well as all Nintendo Switch Pokemon titles from Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee through Scarlet and Violet.
Here’s the full list of games that work with Pokemon HOME:
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- Pokemon Sword and Shield
- Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee
- Pokemon GO
All these games are capable of transferring Pokemon into the app, but not all can receive Pokemon. Pokemon GO cannot receive any Pokemon, while Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee can only receive a limited number of Pokemon from Pokemon GO.
Do Pokemon Scarlet and Violet work with Pokemon HOME?
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are now compatible with Pokemon HOME.
Pokemon HOME version 3.0 launched in May 2023, adding new features alongside compatibility with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This allowed players to move a number of new Pokemon into Scarlet and Violet that weren’t previously available, including all of Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ regional variants and cross-gen evolutions.
Transferring Pokemon from other Nintendo Switch games does not require a subscription. A subscription allows players to import Pokemon like Zapdos and Hoopa that previously weren’t available on any Nintendo Switch Pokemon game. Odds are that the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC will be immediately supported, allowing for many returning Pokemon to be imported.
Do this to cancel your Pokemon HOME subscription on Nintendo Switch
Players can cancel a Premium Plan subscription in Pokemon HOME on their user profile in the Nintendo Switch eShop.
While one might expect that a Pokemon HOME subscription would be managed through the app, that’s not actually the case. Instead, subscriptions are handled directly through the Nintendo account. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to end a Premium Plan subscription:
- Open up Nintendo eShop
- Open up user profile, which can be done by pressing A on the user avatar in the top right corner of the screen
- Go to “Your Subscriptions” section
- Select Pokemon HOME Premium Plan, opt out of automatic renewal
While users can end their subscription’s renewal, there isn’t an option to abruptly cancel it. As such, there’s no ability to demand a refund through the eShop. This means players should make sure that they only get as much time as they think they need.
Do I need Pokemon HOME subscription to move Pokemon to Scarlet and Violet?
Players do not need to purchase a Pokemon HOME subscription in order to move Pokemon into Scarlet and Violet, but there are some benefits to a subscription.
With the free version of Pokemon HOME, players have the ability to store and move 30 Pokemon at a time. This is more than enough for players who want to move over a handful of their favorite Pokemon from other Nintendo Switch Pokemon titles. For Scarlet and Violet players who are just looking to add powerful Pokemon like Regieleki from Sword and Shield, the free version should be enough to move those powerful Pokemon over.
The subscription offers more boxes to work with, as well as the ability to import Pokemon from Pokemon Bank on the Nintendo 3DS. This could be useful for those who still have powerful Pokemon left behind on Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS games, and those who want to have multiple builds for Pokemon like Heatran, Cresselia, or Landorus.
The Pokemon HOME Premium Plan subscription enables the judge function to check IVs. This is an enormous quality of life improvement for those who regularly use Pokemon HOME and enjoy competitive battling.
Is a Pokemon HOME subscription worth it?
A Pokemon HOME subscription isn’t worth maintaining for anyone other than competitive Pokemon diehards or those who are committedly using the Global Trade System.
The primary feature of Pokemon HOME is its ability to transfer Pokemon between different games, and this can be done without a subscription. Moving Pokemon from Pokemon Bank to Pokemon HOME requires a subscription, but players can move all their Pokemon at once. This makes maintaining a subscription beyond one month unnecessary for the overwhelming majority of players.
There are only a few specific situations where people would need to have an active subscription in perpetuity. The most likely would be competitive Pokemon players who have a large stable of battle-ready Pokemon. On top of that, the judge function is locked behind the subscription paywall and tracking IVs is hugely important.
Another possible use case is someone who still actively play and replay Pokemon games on the Nintendo DS or 3DS, and want to retain all the Pokemon they raise. Finally, those who actively use the GTS may want to take the plunge.
