Where to cancel depends on how you signed up
Most subscription apps let you cancel directly through the app itself, but some force you to cancel through the payment method you used — Apple, Google, Amazon, or your credit card company. The fastest route is usually the app's own settings, but if that doesn't work, you'll need to go through whoever charged you. Knowing which path applies to your app saves you from canceling in the wrong place and discovering weeks later that the charges never stopped.
The reason this matters: if you cancel through the app but the subscription was sold to you through Apple's App Store or Google Play, the app cancellation may not stick. The app store still has the permission to charge you. You have to revoke that permission at the source.
Key Takeaways
- Check the app's settings or account page first — many apps let you cancel directly without leaving the app.
- If the app doesn't have a cancel option, go to the app store or payment method that charged you: Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or your credit card company.
- Save your cancellation confirmation, which usually arrives by email, so you have proof the subscription ended.
- Check your next billing date before you cancel — some apps charge on the day you cancel, and you lose access when ready rather than at the end of your paid period.
- If charges continue after cancellation, contact the app company's support team with your confirmation number and ask them to refund the unwanted charges.
Canceling through the app itself
Open the app and look for Account, Settings, Profile, or Subscription in the main menu. The exact name varies, but it's usually at the bottom of the menu or behind a gear icon. Tap it and look for a link that says Cancel Subscription, Manage Subscription, or Billing.
When you find it, the app will usually show you your next billing date and ask you to confirm the cancellation. Some apps offer a discount to stay ("We'll give you 50% off for three months") — you can accept or decline. Once you confirm, the app should show a cancellation confirmation number and send you an email with the same information. Take a screenshot of the confirmation number and save the email. You'll need it if charges continue.
Not all apps have this option. If you don't see Account, Settings, or Subscription in the main menu, or if you see those sections but no cancel option, move to the next step.
Canceling through Apple App Store
If you subscribed through an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Apple handles the billing. Open the Settings app (not the subscription app itself). Tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions. You'll see a list of all active subscriptions charged to your Apple ID.
Tap the subscription you want to cancel. On the next screen, tap Cancel Subscription. Apple will ask you to confirm and may offer a discount to keep the subscription. Confirm the cancellation. You should see a message saying the subscription will end on a specific date, and you'll receive an email confirmation.
If you don't see the subscription listed, it may have been set up through a different payment method or a different Apple ID. Check whether you have multiple Apple IDs on the device, or whether the subscription was charged to a family member's account.
Canceling through Google Play
If you subscribed on an Android phone, Google Play likely handles the billing. Open the Google Play app. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then Payments and Subscriptions, then Subscriptions. You'll see all active subscriptions.
Tap the subscription you want to cancel. On the next screen, tap Cancel Subscription. Google will ask you to confirm. You should see a message with your cancellation date and receive an email confirmation.
If you subscribed on a computer or tablet, the steps are similar but the menu locations differ slightly. Go to play.google.com, sign in, click your profile icon, and select Payments and Subscriptions from the menu.
Canceling through Amazon or other payment methods
If you signed up through Amazon Prime Video, Kindle Unlimited, or another Amazon service, go to amazon.com and sign in. Hover over Account and Lists in the top right, then click Your Account. Look for a section called Memberships and Subscriptions or Digital Content and Devices. Click Manage Your Subscriptions or Manage Your Memberships. Find the subscription and click Cancel.
If you paid with a credit card directly (not through an app store), you have two options. First, check the app one more time for a cancel option — some apps let you cancel even if you didn't sign up through them. If that doesn't work, contact the app company's support team and ask them to cancel. Provide your email address and the email address on your account. They should send you a cancellation confirmation.
If the app company doesn't respond or won't cancel, you can contact your credit card company and ask them to block future charges from that merchant. This is called a chargeback dispute. Your card company can usually stop the charges within one or two billing cycles, but it may take longer to receive a refund for charges that already went through.
What to do if the subscription keeps charging after you cancel
Check your cancellation confirmation first. Look at the cancellation date listed in the email or in the app's confirmation screen. If today's date is before that date, the subscription hasn't ended yet — you'll stop being charged on the date shown.
If the cancellation date has passed and you're still being charged, contact the app company's support team. Include your cancellation confirmation number, the date you canceled, and a screenshot of the charge on your bank or credit card statement. Ask them to refund the unwanted charges. Most companies will refund one or two months if you can show you canceled.
If the app company doesn't respond within a week, contact your payment method — Apple, Google, your credit card company, or Amazon — and report the charge as unauthorized. Provide your cancellation confirmation as proof. The payment company can dispute the charge and may refund it while they investigate.
Preventing accidental resubscription
Some apps automatically resubscribe you if you cancel and then reinstall the app, or if you use a free trial and forget to cancel before it ends. To avoid this, set a phone reminder for one day before your free trial ends. When the reminder goes off, open the app and cancel when ready, even if you think you'll remember later.
After you cancel, you can usually keep using the app until the end of your paid period. Some apps let you use premium features for the full time you paid for; others downgrade you to a free version when ready. Check the cancellation confirmation to see which applies to your app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose access to the app when ready after I cancel?
Usually not. Most apps let you use what you paid for until the end of your billing period. Some downgrade you to a free version right away. Your cancellation confirmation will say which one applies. If you're unsure, contact the app's support team and ask when access ends.
Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of a billing period?
It depends on the app and how long you've had the subscription. Apple and Google offer refunds for cancellations within 14 days of the charge. After that, most apps don't refund partial months. Contact the app's support team and ask — some will refund if you've barely used the service, but don't expect it.
What if I forgot which app store I used to sign up?
Check your email for receipts from Apple, Google, Amazon, or the app company itself. Search your inbox for the app's name or "subscription" or "receipt". The receipt will show which payment method was charged. If you can't find a receipt, try canceling through the app first, then check Apple and Google subscriptions to see if it's listed there.
Can I pause a subscription instead of canceling it?
Some apps offer a pause or freeze option that stops charges for a set period without canceling. Check the subscription settings in the app or on the app store. If the option exists, it's usually near the cancel button. If you don't see it, you'll have to cancel and resubscribe later if you want to use the app again.
What should I do if an app keeps charging me after I canceled through the app store?
Go back to the app store where you canceled and check that the cancellation went through — sometimes the page doesn't update right away. If it shows as canceled but charges continue, contact the app company's support team with your cancellation confirmation number. If they don't help within a week, dispute the charge with your payment method (Apple, Google, or your credit card company).