How to cancel a subscription
The method depends on how you signed up. If you subscribed through an app store (Apple App Store, Google Play), you cancel in that app store's settings, not in the service itself. If you signed up directly on a website or by phone, you cancel through that company's website or by calling them. Some companies make cancellation deliberately hard—hidden in account settings, requiring a phone call, or burying the option behind multiple pages—but the law in most places now requires them to make cancellation as easy as signup.
Before you cancel, check whether you're in a contract period. Some subscriptions charge you upfront for a year or lock you in for a set time. Cancelling mid-contract may trigger an early termination fee. If you're month-to-month, you can usually cancel anytime and stop being charged on your next billing date. Write down your cancellation confirmation number and the date you cancelled—companies sometimes continue charging "by mistake," and you'll need proof you asked them to stop.
Key Takeaways
- App store subscriptions (Apple, Google, Amazon) are cancelled in the app store's settings, not in the app itself or on the company's website.
- Website and phone subscriptions are cancelled through the company's account settings or customer service line, and you should get a written confirmation.
- Check your contract terms before cancelling—some subscriptions charge a fee if you cancel before a locked-in period ends.
- If a company continues charging you after cancellation, dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company and provide your cancellation confirmation as proof.
Cancelling through an app store
Apple App Store: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription you want to cancel, tap it, and tap Cancel Subscription. You'll see a confirmation screen. On a Mac, open the App Store, click your account icon in the top right, then Subscriptions, find the subscription, and click Manage. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period.
Google Play: Open the Google Play app on an Android phone, tap your profile icon in the top right, then Payments and Subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Tap the subscription you want to cancel and tap Cancel Subscription. Confirm the cancellation. On a computer, go to play.google.com, sign in, click your profile icon, then Payments and Subscriptions, then Subscriptions, find the one you want, and click Manage. You stop being charged on your next billing date.
Amazon Prime and Prime Video: Go to amazon.com, sign in, hover over your account name in the top right, and click Account. Click Memberships and Subscriptions, then Your Memberships and Subscriptions. Find the subscription, click Manage Membership or Manage Subscription, and click Cancel Membership or Cancel Subscription. Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay—you can decline and proceed with cancellation.
Cancelling a subscription you signed up for directly
Log into your account on the company's website and look for Account Settings, Billing, or Subscriptions. Most companies now put a Cancel or Manage Subscription button there. Click it, follow the prompts, and you should receive a confirmation email. If you can't find the option online, call the customer service number on your billing statement or invoice. Have your account number and the email address you used to sign up ready.
When you call, be direct: "I want to cancel my subscription effective immediately" or "effective at the end of my current billing period." Ask the representative to email you a cancellation confirmation with the date and your account number. If they offer you a discount to stay, you can accept or decline—don't let them pressure you into staying if you want to leave. Hang up only after you have the confirmation number.
What happens after you cancel
You stop being charged on your next billing date. If you cancelled mid-month, you usually keep access until that date. Some services let you reactivate within a grace period (often 30 days) without losing your saved data or settings; others delete your account after a set time. Check the cancellation confirmation email for details about when your access ends and whether you can reactivate later.
If the company continues to charge you after your cancellation date, contact your bank or credit card company and dispute the charge. Provide your cancellation confirmation as evidence. Most banks will reverse the charge and may close the merchant's account if the pattern continues. You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general or the Federal Trade Commission if the company refuses to stop charging you.
Cancelling a subscription with an early termination fee
Some subscriptions—particularly phone plans, internet service, or premium memberships—lock you in for 12 or 24 months and charge a fee if you cancel early. The fee is usually listed in your contract or terms of service. Before you cancel, calculate whether the fee is worth it: if you have 2 months left on a 12-month contract and the fee is $50, it might be cheaper to wait. If you have 10 months left and the fee is $200, you may decide it's worth paying to leave.
If you're cancelling because the company breached the contract (didn't deliver the service you paid for, raised prices without notice, or changed terms), you may not owe the fee. Read your contract for the company's obligations and yours. If you believe they violated it, tell them in writing before you cancel: "I'm cancelling because [specific reason]. I believe this violates the terms of service dated [date]." Keep a copy. If they still charge the fee, you can dispute it or take them to small claims court.
Subscriptions that are hard to cancel
Some companies make cancellation deliberately difficult—requiring a phone call instead of an online option, hiding the cancel button, or asking you to mail a written request. Federal law in the US (the ROSCA rule, enforced by the FTC) requires that cancellation be as easy as signup. If a company only lets you sign up online but forces you to call to cancel, that violates the rule. You can file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If you can't find a cancel option after searching your account settings, check the company's FAQ or Help page. If that fails, email their customer service address (usually support@[companyname].com) with the subject line "Subscription Cancellation Request" and include your account number, the subscription name, and the date you want it cancelled. Send it from the email address associated with your account. If they don't respond within a week, contact your bank and dispute the charge.
Preventing unwanted charges after cancellation
After you cancel, monitor your bank or credit card statements for the next two billing cycles. Some companies continue charging by mistake or intentionally hope you won't notice. If you see a charge after your cancellation date, contact the company first and ask them to reverse it—most will if you show your cancellation confirmation. If they refuse or don't respond within 10 days, dispute the charge with your bank.
To dispute a charge, log into your bank's website or app, find the transaction, and select "Dispute" or "Report Unauthorized." Explain that you cancelled the subscription on [date] and have a confirmation number. Your bank will investigate and usually reverse the charge within 5 to 10 business days. Keep your cancellation confirmation email and any written correspondence with the company in case the merchant challenges the dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a subscription in the middle of a billing cycle?
Yes, but you usually won't get a refund for the current period. Most subscriptions cancel at the end of your current billing date, so you keep access until then. Some companies offer prorated refunds if you cancel within a few days of being charged, but this varies. Check your cancellation confirmation email to see when your access ends.
What if I forgot which app store I used to sign up?
Check your bank or credit card statement. The charge will show the merchant name—Apple, Google, Amazon, or the company itself. That tells you where to cancel. If you're still unsure, try cancelling in the app first; if there's no cancel option there, you signed up through the company's website or by phone.
Do I need to delete the app after I cancel?
No. Deleting the app doesn't cancel the subscription—you'll still be charged. You must cancel through the app store or the company's website first. After cancellation, you can delete the app if you want, but it's not required to stop being charged.
Can I get a refund if I cancel right after being charged?
It depends on the company's policy and how long after the charge you cancel. Some offer refunds within 24 or 48 hours; others don't refund at all. Check the company's refund policy in their terms of service or FAQ. If they refuse a refund you think you deserve, you can dispute the charge with your bank, though the bank may side with the company if their policy clearly stated no refunds.
What if the company won't let me cancel?
Contact your bank or credit card company and dispute all charges related to that subscription. Provide your cancellation request (email, confirmation number, or call record) as proof you tried to cancel. Your bank can reverse the charges and may block future transactions from that merchant. You can also file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov if the company is breaking the law by making cancellation impossible.