How to cancel ChatGPT Plus
To cancel ChatGPT Plus, sign into your OpenAI account, go to the account settings menu, find the subscription section, and click the button to cancel your plan. The cancellation takes effect when ready, though you keep access to ChatGPT Plus until the end of your current billing cycle. After that date, your account reverts to the free version of ChatGPT.
The process takes about two minutes and requires no phone call or email to customer support. Your payment method stays on file unless you remove it separately, and you will not be charged again after your current period ends.
Key Takeaways
- Sign into ChatGPT at openai.com, click your account icon in the bottom left, and select "Manage my subscription" to reach the cancellation button.
- Cancellation is when ready, but you keep ChatGPT Plus access through the end of your current billing month.
- OpenAI does not charge you again after your subscription period ends, even if your payment method remains saved.
- You can resubscribe to ChatGPT Plus at any time by returning to the same subscription menu and clicking the restart option.
Step-by-step cancellation on web
Open a web browser and go to openai.com. Sign in with your email and password if you are not already logged in. Look for your account icon or profile picture in the bottom left corner of the screen — it is a small circle with your initial or a generic avatar.
Click that icon. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Select "Manage my subscription" from the list. This takes you to a page showing your current plan, your next billing date, and a red button labeled "Cancel plan" or "Cancel subscription." Click that button.
A confirmation window appears asking you to confirm the cancellation. Read the message — it will tell you the exact date your access ends. Click the final confirmation button. The page then shows a message confirming your cancellation is complete. You are done.
What happens after you cancel
Your ChatGPT Plus subscription remains active until the last day of your current billing cycle. If you paid on the 15th of each month, you keep Plus access through the 14th of next month. OpenAI will not charge your payment method on the next billing date.
When your access period ends, your account automatically switches to the free version of ChatGPT. You lose the ability to use GPT-4 (the more advanced model), you can no longer create custom GPT assistants, and your message history may be subject to different retention policies. Your chat history itself remains saved in your account.
If you change your mind, you can resubscribe at any time by going back to the subscription menu and clicking the option to restart your plan. You will be charged when ready for the next month.
Removing your payment method
Canceling ChatGPT Plus does not automatically remove your credit card or payment method from OpenAI's system. If you want to delete it, you need to take a separate step. Sign into your account and click your profile icon again, but this time select "Billing" or "Billing overview."
On the billing page, look for a section labeled "Payment methods" or "Saved cards." Click the option to remove or delete your payment method. Confirm the removal when prompted. Your card is now no longer stored with OpenAI.
Removing your payment method is optional. If you plan to resubscribe later, leaving it on file makes restarting your subscription faster. If you are concerned about accidental charges, deleting it prevents any future charges even if you accidentally click restart.
If you cannot find the cancellation button
The subscription menu location changed slightly in late 2024. If you do not see "Manage my subscription" in your account dropdown, try clicking "Settings" instead. From Settings, look for a "Billing" tab or link on the left side of the page. Click it, and you should see your subscription status and the cancellation option.
If you are using the ChatGPT mobile app on iPhone or Android, you cannot cancel directly in the app. You must use a web browser and the steps above. Mobile apps do not show the cancellation button because Apple and Google require subscription changes to go through their own systems, but OpenAI handles ChatGPT Plus cancellations through its website only.
If you subscribed through Apple's App Store or Google Play instead of directly through OpenAI, you must cancel through that platform instead. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, select "Subscriptions," find ChatGPT, and tap "Cancel Subscription." On Android, open Google Play, go to "Subscriptions," select ChatGPT Plus, and tap "Cancel Subscription."
Timing and billing cycles
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month in the United States. Your billing date depends on when you first subscribed. If you signed up on the 10th, you are billed on the 10th of each month. Canceling on any day before your next billing date stops that charge from going through.
If you cancel on the 25th and your next billing date is the 10th of next month, you keep access until the 10th. If you cancel on the 5th and your next billing date is the 10th, you still keep access until the 10th — cancellation does not refund the remaining days of your current cycle. OpenAI does not offer prorated refunds for partial months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of my billing cycle?
No. OpenAI does not refund unused portions of your subscription. If you cancel on the 5th and your next billing date is the 20th, you keep access until the 20th but receive no refund for those 15 days. You are charged for the full month when you subscribe, and cancellation only stops future charges.
Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling?
OpenAI does not offer a pause feature for ChatGPT Plus. Your only options are to keep the subscription active or cancel it entirely. If you want to stop paying temporarily, cancel now and resubscribe later when you are ready to use it again.
What if I cancel but want to use ChatGPT Plus again next month?
You can resubscribe at any time by signing into your account, going to the subscription menu, and clicking the option to restart or renew your plan. You will be charged when ready for the next month. If you kept your payment method on file, restarting takes about 30 seconds.
Will OpenAI charge me after I cancel?
No. Once you cancel, OpenAI will not charge your payment method again unless you manually restart your subscription. Your card remains saved in your account, but no automatic charges occur after your current billing cycle ends.
Can I cancel from the ChatGPT mobile app?
No. The cancellation button only appears on the web version at openai.com. If you subscribed through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms instead using your phone's settings.