How to cancel your New York Times subscription
You can cancel your New York Times subscription through your account settings online, by phone, or by contacting customer service. The method depends on how you pay and whether you subscribed directly through the Times or through a third-party platform like Apple News+ or Amazon Prime.
If you subscribed directly to the Times, log into your account at nytimes.com, go to your account settings, find the subscription section, and select the option to cancel. The Times will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may offer you a discount to stay. If you do not want to continue, proceed with the cancellation. Your access ends on your next billing date, not immediately.
If you subscribed through a third-party service, you must cancel through that platform, not through the Times directly. For example, if you signed up through Apple News+, you cancel in your Apple account settings. If you subscribed through Amazon Prime, you cancel in your Prime membership settings.
Key Takeaways
- Direct subscriptions cancel through nytimes.com account settings; third-party subscriptions cancel through the platform where you signed up.
- Your access continues until your next billing date, even after you cancel.
- The Times may offer a discount or pause option before you complete the cancellation.
- You can also cancel by calling customer service at 1-800-698-4637 if you prefer not to do it online.
Canceling a direct New York Times subscription online
Go to nytimes.com and sign in with your email and password. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. Look for the section labeled "Subscription" or "Manage Subscription."
In the subscription section, you will see your current plan, your billing date, and the amount you pay. Below that information, there should be a button or link that says "Cancel subscription" or "Manage plan." Click it. The Times will show you a summary of what you are canceling and ask you to confirm. You may see offers to pause your subscription for a month or to switch to a cheaper plan instead of canceling entirely. If you want to cancel, select that option and complete the process.
After cancellation, you will receive a confirmation email. Your subscription remains active until your next billing date. You can still read articles during that time. If you change your mind before the billing date, you can reactivate your subscription through the same account settings.
Canceling through third-party platforms
If you subscribed to the New York Times through Apple News+, Amazon Prime, Google Play, or another platform, you cannot cancel through the Times website. You must cancel through the platform where you set up the subscription.
| Platform | Where to Cancel |
|---|---|
| Apple News+ | Settings app on iPhone or iPad; go to your name, then Subscriptions, then find New York Times and select "Cancel Subscription" |
| Amazon Prime | Amazon.com account settings; go to "Memberships and Subscriptions," find the Times, and select "Cancel" |
| Google Play | Google Play app or play.google.com; go to account settings, then Subscriptions, find the Times, and select "Cancel" |
| Facebook settings; go to Subscriptions and find the Times subscription to cancel |
When you cancel through a third-party platform, the Times does not see the cancellation immediately. Your access may continue for a few days after you cancel through the platform, depending on how the platform processes the change. Check your account settings on the platform to confirm the cancellation went through.
Canceling by phone
Call the New York Times customer service line at 1-800-698-4637. Have your account email address ready. A representative will look up your subscription and walk you through the cancellation process. They may ask why you are canceling or offer you a discount or pause option. You can decline these offers and proceed with the cancellation.
Phone cancellations take the same amount of time as online cancellations. Your subscription remains active until your next billing date. You will receive a confirmation email after the call.
What happens after you cancel
Your New York Times account does not disappear when you cancel your subscription. Your account remains active, and you can still read the free articles the Times offers each month. You lose access to the full archive and all premium content once your billing date passes.
If you want to reactivate your subscription later, you can do so through your account settings or by calling customer service. The Times often offers discounts to returning subscribers, especially if you cancel and then try to resubscribe within a few months.
Pausing instead of canceling
The New York Times offers the option to pause your subscription for up to four weeks instead of canceling it entirely. During a pause, you do not pay, but your subscription does not end. After the pause period ends, your billing resumes automatically.
To pause, go to your account settings, find the subscription section, and look for a "Pause subscription" option. This option appears before you complete a cancellation, or you can select it directly from your subscription settings. Pausing is useful if you want to stop paying temporarily but plan to return to your subscription later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose access to my saved articles and reading history after I cancel?
Your saved articles and reading history remain in your account after you cancel. You can still see them when you log in, but you cannot read articles that require a subscription unless you reactivate your subscription.
Can I get a refund for the current billing period if I cancel mid-month?
The New York Times does not issue refunds for partial months. Your subscription remains active until your next billing date, so you have access to all content through that date. If you cancel early in your billing cycle, you will have a long period of continued access before you lose it.
What if I subscribed through a gift subscription or promotional offer?
Gift subscriptions and promotional subscriptions cancel the same way as regular subscriptions. Go to your account settings and select cancel. Once the promotional period or gift period ends, your subscription will not renew unless you set up a payment method and choose to continue.
Do I need to contact the Times directly if I cancel through a third-party platform?
No. Canceling through the third-party platform is sufficient. The Times receives notification from the platform and stops billing you. You do not need to contact the Times separately.
Can I cancel my subscription if I have an outstanding balance?
Yes, you can cancel even if you have an unpaid balance. However, the Times may pursue collection of the outstanding amount. It is better to pay any balance before you cancel to avoid collection activity.