🔍 Overview
When you stop using OTTO on a site, you have two options: Deep Freeze and Remove. These work very differently — one pauses OTTO activity while the recurring top-up charge continues, and the other permanently deletes the project. In both cases, the OTTO top-up (add-on) keeps billing on its normal cycle until you cancel it separately. Understanding the distinction helps you avoid unexpected charges and know exactly what happens to the fixes OTTO already deployed.
❄️ What Is Deep Freeze?
Deep Freeze pauses all active OTTO automation on a site without permanently deleting it. Here is what happens when you Deep Freeze a site:
- Automation is turned off and the project becomes read-only — no new scans run and no automation quota is used.
- The project's OTTO site slot is released automatically after a 14-day hold period.
- The recurring OTTO top-up (add-on) charge is NOT cancelled by freezing — it keeps billing on its normal cycle until cancelled separately.
- Pixel-served changes stop showing while the site is frozen because the OTTO pixel no longer serves OTTO's changes; any changes written directly into your CMS remain in place.
- You can reactivate the site within the 14-day window without losing your project data.
Use Deep Freeze when you want a temporary pause and plan to return to active optimization soon.
🗑️ What Is Remove?
Remove permanently deletes the OTTO project for that site. Here is what happens when you remove a site:
- The project is deleted immediately and permanently — it cannot be recovered.
- The OTTO slot is released and becomes available for a new site.
- The recurring OTTO top-up (add-on) charge is not cancelled automatically by removing a site. To stop it, cancel the top-up in the dashboard at Profile avatar → Billing → Services → ⋮ menu on the top-up → Cancel, or ask support.
- Any optimizations OTTO wrote directly into your CMS (for example through the WordPress plugin) remain on your site. Pixel-served changes, however, stop showing once the OTTO project is deleted or the pixel is removed.
Use Remove when you no longer need OTTO on that site, then cancel the top-up separately to stop charges.
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
- Deep Freeze — Billing: The recurring top-up charge continues on its normal cycle until cancelled separately.
- Deep Freeze — Project data: Preserved; site can be reactivated within the 14-day hold period.
- Deep Freeze — Deployed fixes: Pixel-served changes stop showing while frozen; CMS-written changes remain in place.
- Deep Freeze — OTTO activity: Automation off; project is read-only; no scans run and no automation quota is used.
- Remove — Billing: The recurring top-up charge continues until cancelled separately in Billing → Services or via support.
- Remove — Project data: Permanently deleted; cannot be restored.
- Remove — Deployed fixes: CMS-written changes remain; pixel-served changes stop showing once the project is deleted.
- Remove — OTTO activity: Ends permanently.
⚙️ What Happens to Deployed Optimizations After Removal?
A common concern is whether removing a site will undo all the SEO work OTTO performed. It will not. OTTO applies most changes through the OTTO pixel script at page load. If the pixel is removed or the OTTO project is deleted, pixel-served changes stop showing on the site. Changes that were written directly into the site's CMS (for example through the WordPress plugin) can remain in place. If you want to reverse any specific CMS-written change, you would need to do so manually through your CMS or website editor.
🚀 How to Remove an OTTO Site
- Open OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation) from the left sidebar.
- Locate the site you want to remove.
- Click the options menu next to the site name.
- Select Remove and confirm the action when prompted.
Removing the site does not cancel the recurring OTTO top-up charge — you must cancel the top-up separately at Profile avatar → Billing → Services → ⋮ menu on the top-up → Cancel, or by asking support.
💳 Cancelling the OTTO Top-Up After Removal
Because removing (or freezing) a site does not automatically cancel the recurring OTTO top-up, you need to cancel it yourself:
- Click your avatar in the top-right corner of the platform.
- Select Billing.
- Open the Services tab, find the OTTO top-up, click the ⋮ menu, and choose Cancel. You can also ask support to cancel it for you.
💡 Which Option Should You Choose?
- Choose Deep Freeze if you need a short break but want to keep your project data and return within the 14-day hold period. Remember to cancel the top-up separately if you also want billing to stop.
- Choose Remove if you are done with OTTO on that site, and cancel the top-up separately to stop the recurring charge.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.