Cancel before your trial ends to avoid the first charge
Spotify's free trial lasts 30 days. On day 31, your payment method gets charged for the first month of a paid plan — usually $11.99 for Premium, though the price varies by country and by plan type. You can stop this charge by canceling anytime during the trial, even on day 1. Canceling does not end your access when ready; you keep using Spotify free until the trial period ends on its original date.
The cancellation happens in your account settings, not through email or customer service. Spotify does not send a reminder before the charge hits, so marking your calendar on day 25 or 26 is the safest approach.
Key Takeaways
- Cancel your trial in your account settings under "Subscription" — this is the only way to stop the charge.
- You can cancel anytime during the 30 days and still use Spotify free until the trial ends on its original date.
- Spotify does not send a warning email before charging, so set a phone reminder for day 25 or 26 of your trial.
- If you were charged by mistake, contact Spotify support through the Help section of your account within 30 days of the charge.
- Canceling through the app works on iPhone and Android, but the web version at spotify.com is often faster and clearer.
Cancel on the web version (fastest method)
Go to spotify.com and log in with your email and password. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Account. Scroll down to the Subscription section. You will see your current plan and a button that says Cancel Premium or Change Plan — click it.
Spotify will ask you to confirm and may show you a discount offer to keep you subscribed. Ignore the offer if you want to cancel. Click the final confirmation button, usually labeled Cancel Subscription or Yes, Cancel Premium. You will see a message saying your subscription has been canceled. Take a screenshot of this confirmation in case you need it later.
Cancel on the Spotify app (iPhone or Android)
Open the Spotify app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Select Settings and Privacy or Settings. Scroll to Subscription or Premium. Tap Manage Subscription or Cancel Premium.
On iPhone, this may redirect you to the Apple App Store subscription settings instead of Spotify's own page. If that happens, tap Subscriptions in the App Store, find Spotify, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Android, you may be sent to Google Play instead — find Spotify in your subscriptions and tap Cancel. Both paths work, but they route through Apple or Google rather than Spotify directly.
What happens after you cancel
Your Spotify account stays active and you keep your playlists, saved songs, and followers. You can use Spotify free with ads until your trial period ends on its original date. After that date, your account converts to the free tier permanently — you will see ads between songs and have other free-tier limits like shuffle-only playback on mobile.
You can restart a paid subscription anytime after the trial ends. Spotify sometimes offers a discount on a new subscription if you wait a few weeks, though this is not may provide.
If you were already charged
Check your bank or credit card statement to confirm the charge date. If you canceled during the trial but were still charged, or if you were charged twice, contact Spotify within 30 days of the charge. Log into your account, go to Help in the menu, and select Contact Us. Describe what happened and include the charge date and amount. Spotify support usually responds within a few business days.
If Spotify approves a refund, it goes back to the payment method you used — the same card or PayPal account. Refunds typically appear within 5 to 10 business days, though your bank may take longer to post it to your account.
Canceling a trial started through a third party
If you started your Spotify trial through a carrier like Verizon or T-Mobile, through a device like an Amazon Echo, or through a family plan invitation, the cancellation process is different. You must cancel through the service that gave you the trial, not through Spotify itself.
For carrier trials, log into your carrier account online or call their customer service. For device trials, go to that device's settings or app store subscription section. For family plan trials, ask the plan owner to remove you from the family group. Canceling through Spotify's website will not stop these charges because Spotify is not billing you directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my trial and restart it later?
Spotify does not let you restart the same trial. Once you cancel, that 30-day trial is gone. You can start a new paid subscription anytime, but you will be charged when ready rather than getting another free month. Some users report getting a discount offer after waiting several weeks, but this is not may provide.
What if I cancel but forget to check my email for confirmation?
Spotify does not always send a cancellation confirmation email. The safest check is to log back into your account and look at the Subscription section — it should say "Free" or show no active plan. If it still shows Premium, your cancellation did not go through and you should try again.
Will canceling my trial delete my playlists?
No. Your playlists, saved songs, and followers stay with your account. You keep everything when you switch to the free tier. If you restart a paid subscription later, all your content is still there.
Can I get a refund if I cancel on day 29?
The trial itself is free, so there is nothing to refund. If you cancel during the trial, you are not charged anything. If you were charged despite canceling, contact Spotify support with your cancellation confirmation and charge date.
Does Spotify charge when ready when the trial ends, or is there a grace period?
Spotify charges on the exact date your trial ends, with no grace period. If your trial started on January 1, you are charged on January 31. Set a reminder for day 25 or 26 to cancel before that date arrives.