diff --git a/app/controllers/api_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api_controller.rb
index 74848252..01bd1b61 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api_controller.rb
@@ -27,13 +27,24 @@ class ApiController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def authenticate_active_api_user!
-    render json: { error: 'User is not active' }, status: :unauthorized unless current_api_user&.active_until&.future?
+    if current_api_user.nil?
+      render json: { error: 'User account is not active or has been deleted' }, status: :unauthorized
+      return false
+    end
+
+    unless current_api_user.active_until&.future?
+      render json: { error: 'User subscription is not active' }, status: :unauthorized
+      return false
+    end
 
     true
   end
 
   def current_api_user
-    @current_api_user ||= User.find_by(api_key:)
+    @current_api_user ||= begin
+      user = User.active_accounts.find_by(api_key:)
+      user if user&.active_for_authentication?
+    end
   end
 
   def api_key
diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index bdf00702..26ba29e8 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
 
   rescue_from Pundit::NotAuthorizedError, with: :user_not_authorized
 
+  before_action :sign_out_deleted_users
   before_action :unread_notifications, :set_self_hosted_status, :store_client_header
 
   protected
@@ -72,6 +73,13 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
 
   private
 
+  def sign_out_deleted_users
+    if current_user&.deleted?
+      sign_out current_user
+      redirect_to root_path, alert: 'Your account has been deleted.'
+    end
+  end
+
   def set_self_hosted_status
     @self_hosted = DawarichSettings.self_hosted?
   end
diff --git a/app/controllers/settings/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/settings/users_controller.rb
index d60c5bf9..c05d1487 100644
--- a/app/controllers/settings/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/settings/users_controller.rb
@@ -40,10 +40,16 @@ class Settings::UsersController < ApplicationController
   def destroy
     @user = User.find(params[:id])
 
-    if @user.destroy
-      redirect_to settings_url, notice: 'User was successfully deleted.'
-    else
-      redirect_to settings_url, notice: 'User could not be deleted.', status: :unprocessable_content
+    begin
+      @user.mark_as_deleted!
+      Users::DestroyJob.perform_later(@user.id)
+
+      redirect_to settings_users_url,
+                  notice: 'User deletion has been initiated. The account will be fully removed shortly.'
+    rescue ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid
+      redirect_to settings_users_url,
+                  alert: 'Cannot delete account while being a family owner with other members.',
+                  status: :unprocessable_content
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
index b29b31b4..c307bc60 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,25 @@ class Users::RegistrationsController < Devise::RegistrationsController
     end
   end
 
+  def destroy
+    begin
+      resource.mark_as_deleted!
+
+      # Sign out immediately
+      Devise.sign_out_all_scopes ? sign_out : sign_out(resource_name)
+
+      # Enqueue background job
+      Users::DestroyJob.perform_later(resource.id)
+
+      set_flash_message! :notice, :destroyed
+      yield resource if block_given?
+      respond_with_navigational(resource) { redirect_to after_sign_out_path_for(resource_name) }
+    rescue ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid
+      set_flash_message! :alert, :cannot_delete
+      redirect_to edit_user_registration_path, status: :unprocessable_content
+    end
+  end
+
   protected
 
   def after_sign_up_path_for(resource)
diff --git a/app/jobs/users/destroy_job.rb b/app/jobs/users/destroy_job.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b161dd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/jobs/users/destroy_job.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class Users::DestroyJob < ApplicationJob
+  queue_as :default
+
+  sidekiq_options retry: false  # No retry for destructive operations
+
+  def perform(user_id)
+    user = User.deleted_accounts.find_by(id: user_id)
+
+    unless user
+      Rails.logger.warn "User #{user_id} not found or not marked for deletion, skipping"
+      return
+    end
+
+    Rails.logger.info "Starting hard deletion for user #{user.id} (#{user.email})"
+
+    Users::Destroy.new(user).call
+
+    Rails.logger.info "Successfully deleted user #{user_id}"
+  rescue ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound
+    Rails.logger.warn "User #{user_id} not found, may have already been deleted"
+  rescue StandardError => e
+    Rails.logger.error "Failed to delete user #{user_id}: #{e.message}"
+    ExceptionReporter.call(e, "User deletion failed for user_id #{user_id}")
+    # Don't raise - leave user in deleted state for manual cleanup
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/concerns/user_family.rb b/app/models/concerns/user_family.rb
index 53119792..1d5201ed 100644
--- a/app/models/concerns/user_family.rb
+++ b/app/models/concerns/user_family.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module UserFamily
     has_many :sent_family_invitations, class_name: 'Family::Invitation', foreign_key: 'invited_by_id',
              inverse_of: :invited_by, dependent: :destroy
 
+    validate :cannot_delete_with_family_members, if: :deleted_at_changed?
     before_destroy :check_family_ownership
   end
 
@@ -107,6 +108,13 @@ module UserFamily
 
   private
 
+  def cannot_delete_with_family_members
+    return unless deleted_at.present? && deleted_at_changed?
+    return if can_delete_account?
+
+    errors.add(:base, 'Cannot delete account while being a family owner with other members')
+  end
+
   def check_family_ownership
     return if can_delete_account?
 
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 4279d494..ec87b297 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -36,9 +36,33 @@ class User < ApplicationRecord # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   attribute :points_count, :integer, default: 0
 
   scope :active_or_trial, -> { where(status: %i[active trial]) }
+  scope :active_accounts, -> { where(deleted_at: nil) }
+  scope :deleted_accounts, -> { where.not(deleted_at: nil) }
 
   enum :status, { inactive: 0, active: 1, trial: 2 }
 
+  # Soft-delete methods
+  def deleted?
+    deleted_at.present?
+  end
+
+  def mark_as_deleted!
+    update!(deleted_at: Time.current)
+  end
+
+  def destroy
+    mark_as_deleted!
+  end
+
+  # Devise authentication overrides
+  def active_for_authentication?
+    super && !deleted?
+  end
+
+  def inactive_message
+    deleted? ? :deleted : super
+  end
+
   def safe_settings
     Users::SafeSettings.new(settings)
   end
diff --git a/app/services/users/destroy.rb b/app/services/users/destroy.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12e9589e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/services/users/destroy.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class Users::Destroy
+  attr_reader :user
+
+  def initialize(user)
+    @user = user
+  end
+
+  def call
+    user_id = user.id
+    user_email = user.email
+
+    cancel_scheduled_jobs
+
+    # Hard delete with transaction - all associations cascade via dependent: :destroy
+    ActiveRecord::Base.transaction do
+      user.destroy!
+    end
+
+    Rails.logger.info "User #{user_id} (#{user_email}) and all associated data deleted"
+
+    cleanup_user_cache(user_id)
+
+    true
+  rescue StandardError => e
+    Rails.logger.error "Error during user deletion: #{e.message}"
+    ExceptionReporter.call(e, "User destroy service failed for user_id #{user_id}")
+    raise
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def cancel_scheduled_jobs
+    scheduled_set = Sidekiq::ScheduledSet.new
+
+    jobs_cancelled = scheduled_set.select { |job|
+      job.klass == 'Users::MailerSendingJob' && job.args.first == user.id
+    }.map(&:delete).count
+
+    Rails.logger.info "Cancelled #{jobs_cancelled} scheduled jobs for user #{user.id}"
+  rescue StandardError => e
+    Rails.logger.warn "Failed to cancel scheduled jobs for user #{user.id}: #{e.message}"
+    ExceptionReporter.call(e, "Failed to cancel scheduled jobs during user deletion")
+  end
+
+  def cleanup_user_cache(user_id)
+    cache_keys = [
+      "dawarich/user_#{user_id}_countries_visited",
+      "dawarich/user_#{user_id}_cities_visited",
+      "dawarich/user_#{user_id}_total_distance",
+      "dawarich/user_#{user_id}_years_tracked"
+    ]
+
+    cache_keys.each { |key| Rails.cache.delete(key) }
+
+    Rails.logger.info "Cleared cache for user #{user_id}"
+  rescue StandardError => e
+    Rails.logger.warn "Failed to clear cache for user #{user_id}: #{e.message}"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/config/locales/devise.en.yml b/config/locales/devise.en.yml
index 260e1c4b..0415002d 100644
--- a/config/locales/devise.en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/devise.en.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ en:
       timeout: "Your session expired. Please sign in again to continue."
       unauthenticated: "You need to sign in or sign up before continuing."
       unconfirmed: "You have to confirm your email address before continuing."
+      deleted: "Your account has been deleted."
     mailer:
       confirmation_instructions:
         subject: "Confirmation instructions"
@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@ en:
       updated: "Your password has been changed successfully. You are now signed in."
       updated_not_active: "Your password has been changed successfully."
     registrations:
-      destroyed: "Bye! Your account has been successfully cancelled. We hope to see you again soon."
+      destroyed: "Your account has been scheduled for deletion. Goodbye!"
+      cannot_delete: "Cannot delete your account while you are a family owner with other members."
       signed_up: "Welcome! You have signed up successfully."
       signed_up_but_inactive: "You have signed up successfully. However, we could not sign you in because your account is not yet activated."
       signed_up_but_locked: "You have signed up successfully. However, we could not sign you in because your account is locked."
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260108192905_add_deleted_at_to_users.rb b/db/migrate/20260108192905_add_deleted_at_to_users.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a21412aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20260108192905_add_deleted_at_to_users.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+class AddDeletedAtToUsers < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
+  disable_ddl_transaction!
+
+  def change
+    add_column :users, :deleted_at, :datetime
+    add_index :users, :deleted_at, algorithm: :concurrently
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index d7baaeb4..cd7c8d08 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[8.0].define(version: 2026_01_03_114630) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[8.0].define(version: 2026_01_08_112905) do
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "pg_catalog.plpgsql"
   enable_extension "postgis"
@@ -484,7 +484,9 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema[8.0].define(version: 2026_01_03_114630) do
     t.string "utm_campaign"
     t.string "utm_term"
     t.string "utm_content"
+    t.datetime "deleted_at"
     t.index ["api_key"], name: "index_users_on_api_key"
+    t.index ["deleted_at"], name: "index_users_on_deleted_at"
     t.index ["email"], name: "index_users_on_email", unique: true
     t.index ["provider", "uid"], name: "index_users_on_provider_and_uid", unique: true
     t.index ["reset_password_token"], name: "index_users_on_reset_password_token", unique: true