How to stop an Amazon subscription

To cancel an Amazon subscription, sign into your Amazon account, go to Your Account, select Memberships and Subscriptions, find the subscription you want to stop, and click Cancel Subscription. The cancellation takes effect immediately for most subscriptions, though some (like Prime) remain active until the end of your current billing period. You will not receive a refund for the portion of the billing period you have already paid, unless Amazon's terms for that specific subscription state otherwise.

The exact steps vary slightly depending on whether you subscribed through Amazon directly or through a third-party app or service. If you subscribed through an app — like Kindle Unlimited through the Kindle app on your phone, or a third-party service linked to your Amazon account — you may need to cancel through that app or service instead of through Amazon's website.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Amazon subscriptions cancel immediately through Your Account > Memberships and Subscriptions, but Prime remains active until your billing cycle ends.
  • Subscriptions started through third-party apps or services must usually be cancelled through that app or service, not through Amazon's website.
  • You will not receive a refund for time already paid unless the subscription terms explicitly allow it.
  • If you cancel and then change your mind, you can restart the subscription through the same menu.
  • Some subscriptions (like Prime Video add-ons) can be paused instead of cancelled, letting you resume without restarting a trial period.

Cancelling subscriptions started directly with Amazon

Open Amazon.com and sign in with your account. Click on Account (usually in the top right corner), then select Your Account. Look for Memberships and Subscriptions in the menu — this is where all active subscriptions appear.

Find the subscription you want to stop and click Cancel Subscription or Cancel Membership. Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to keep the subscription; you can ignore this and proceed with cancellation. Once you confirm, the subscription stops. For Prime, you will keep access until the end of your current billing period (monthly or annual, depending on your plan). For other subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Music Unlimited, cancellation is usually immediate.

Cancelling subscriptions started through apps or third-party services

If you started a subscription through an app on your phone, tablet, or another device — rather than directly on Amazon.com — you often need to cancel through that same app. This applies to subscriptions purchased through the Kindle app, the Audible app, or other services that connect to your Amazon account.

Open the app where you started the subscription, go to Account or Settings, find Subscriptions or Membership, and look for a cancel or manage option. If you cannot find it in the app, visit the website version of that service (Kindle.com, Audible.com, etc.) and cancel from there. Cancelling through the app or service website is more reliable than trying to cancel through Amazon's main account page, because the app controls the billing relationship.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel, you lose access to the subscription's benefits at the end of your current billing period (or immediately, depending on the subscription type). For Prime, you keep your membership until the last day of your billing cycle. For Kindle Unlimited, access stops right away. For Prime Video add-ons like HBO Max or Paramount+, access ends immediately unless you pause instead of cancel.

If you change your mind, you can restart the subscription through the same Memberships and Subscriptions menu. Restarting does not automatically restart a free trial — most subscriptions charge you immediately when you restart. Check the subscription's terms to see whether a new trial is offered.

Pausing instead of cancelling

Some Amazon subscriptions let you pause rather than cancel. Pausing temporarily stops the subscription without ending it, and you can resume later without losing your place or restarting a trial period. This option is available for some Prime Video add-ons and certain other services.

To pause, go to Your Account > Memberships and Subscriptions, find the subscription, and look for a Pause option alongside Cancel. If the option is not there, the subscription does not support pausing and you will need to cancel if you want to stop paying. When you are ready to resume, click Resume in the same menu.

Refunds and billing after cancellation

Amazon does not refund the portion of your billing period that remains after you cancel. If you paid for a month and cancel on day 15, you do not receive a refund for the remaining 15 days. The exception is if Amazon's specific terms for that subscription promise a refund, or if you cancel within a certain window (for example, some trials offer a refund if you cancel within a set number of days).

Check your subscription's terms before cancelling if you want to know whether a refund is possible. After you cancel, you will not be charged again unless you restart the subscription. If you see a charge after cancellation, contact Amazon's customer service with your cancellation confirmation and the date of the unexpected charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my Prime benefits immediately after I cancel?

No. Prime membership remains active until the end of your current billing period. If you pay monthly, you keep Prime for the rest of that month. If you pay annually, you keep it for the rest of that year. After the billing period ends, you lose all Prime benefits including free shipping, Prime Video, and Prime Music.

Can I cancel a subscription if I started a free trial?

Yes. You can cancel during a free trial, and you will not be charged. Cancellation takes effect immediately, and you lose access to the subscription's features right away. If you want to keep using the service after the trial ends, do not cancel.

What if I subscribed through my phone but cannot find the cancel option in the app?

Try cancelling through the website version of the service instead. For example, if you subscribed to Kindle Unlimited through the Kindle app, go to Kindle.com, sign in, and look for subscription settings there. You can also contact Amazon customer service and provide your subscription details; they can cancel it for you.

Do I need to contact Amazon to cancel, or can I do it myself?

You can cancel yourself through your account menu in almost all cases. You do not need to call or email Amazon. The self-service cancellation is faster and gives you an immediate confirmation. Contact Amazon only if the cancel button does not appear or if you have trouble accessing your account.

Can I cancel one Prime Video add-on without cancelling Prime itself?

Yes. Prime Video add-ons like HBO Max, Paramount+, or Showtime are separate from your Prime membership. Go to Your Account > Memberships and Subscriptions, find the add-on, and cancel it. Your Prime membership and other add-ons stay active. You will lose access to that specific add-on at the end of your current billing period.