The Complete Guide to Canceling Subscriptions on Every Platform (2025)

You've decided to cancel a subscription. It should take 30 seconds, right? Click a button, confirm, done. But if you've ever tried to cancel a gym membership, escape a "premium" service, or end a free trial, you know the reality is much more frustrating.

Companies spend millions designing subscription sign-ups to be frictionless. They spend equally designing cancellations to be as painful as possible. These intentional barriers—called "dark patterns"—cost consumers an estimated $1.8 billion annually in unwanted subscription charges.

This guide is your weapon against those dark patterns. We'll walk you through the exact steps to cancel subscriptions on every major platform, expose the tricks companies use to keep you paying, and show you how to protect yourself from future subscription traps.

Part 1: The Big Tech Platforms

How to Cancel Apple Subscriptions (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Apple manages subscriptions for App Store apps, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+. Here's how to cancel any of them:

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap your name at the top (Apple ID)
3. Tap Subscriptions
4. Select the subscription you want to cancel
5. Tap Cancel Subscription
6. Confirm when prompted

On Mac:

1. Open the App Store
2. Click your name in the bottom-left corner
3. Click View Information at the top
4. Scroll to Subscriptions and click Manage
5. Click Edit next to the subscription
6. Click Cancel Subscription

Pro Tip: Apple subscriptions remain active until the end of your billing period. If you cancel on day 5 of a monthly subscription, you still have access until day 30. Set a reminder in SubBuddy to re-evaluate if you want to re-subscribe later.

Common Apple Gotchas:

• Family Sharing: Only the family organizer can cancel shared subscriptions
• In-App Purchases: Some apps handle their own subscriptions outside Apple—you may need to cancel directly with the developer
• Apple One Bundle: Canceling the bundle cancels all included services (Music, TV+, Arcade, etc.)

How to Cancel Google Play Subscriptions (Android)

Google Play manages subscriptions for Android apps, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, YouTube TV, Google One, and more.

On Android Device:

1. Open the Google Play Store app
2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
3. Tap Payments & subscriptions
4. Tap Subscriptions
5. Select the subscription to cancel
6. Tap Cancel subscription
7. Follow the prompts and confirm

On Computer:

1. Go to play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Find the subscription and click Manage
4. Click Cancel subscription

Watch Out: Google shows a "Pause subscription" option that can feel like cancellation but isn't—you'll be charged again when it resumes. Always verify you see "Subscription cancelled" confirmation.

How to Cancel Amazon Subscriptions

Amazon has a complex subscription ecosystem: Prime, Prime Video channels, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Subscribe & Save, and third-party subscriptions through Amazon.

Cancel Amazon Prime:

1. Go to amazon.com/prime
2. Click Update, cancel and more
3. Click End membership
4. Amazon will try multiple offers—keep clicking through
5. Confirm cancellation

Cancel Prime Video Channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.):

1. Go to Amazon.com → Account & Lists → Memberships & Subscriptions
2. Find the channel subscription
3. Click Cancel subscription

Cancel Kindle Unlimited or Audible:

1. Go to Amazon.com → Account & Lists → Memberships & Subscriptions
2. Find Kindle Unlimited or Audible
3. Click Cancel subscription
4. For Audible, you'll need to navigate through multiple retention offers

Amazon's Retention Tactics: Amazon is notorious for showing 4-5 screens of "Are you sure?" with different offers. Keep clicking "Continue to cancel" until you see final confirmation. They also offer to "pause" Prime instead of cancel—this just delays charges.

Part 2: Streaming Services

How to Cancel Netflix

1. Go to netflix.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon (top right)
3. Select Account
4. Click Cancel Membership
5. Click Finish Cancellation

Good News: Netflix is relatively straightforward about cancellation. Your account stays active until the billing period ends, and they retain your viewing history for 10 months if you decide to return.

How to Cancel Disney+ / Hulu / ESPN+ (Disney Bundle)

If billed directly by Disney:

1. Go to disneyplus.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon → Account
3. Under Subscription, click your plan
4. Click Cancel Subscription
5. Follow prompts to confirm

If bundled through another provider:

• Verizon: Cancel through My Verizon app or website
• Hulu: If Disney+ came with Hulu, cancel through Hulu's website
• App Store/Google Play: Cancel through Apple or Google settings

How to Cancel HBO Max (now just "Max")

1. Go to max.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon → Settings
3. Select Subscription
4. Click Cancel Subscription

Cable Bundle Warning: If you have Max through a cable provider (Xfinity, AT&T, etc.), you'll need to cancel through that provider—not directly with Max.

How to Cancel Spotify

Important: You can only cancel Spotify Premium through the website, not the app.

1. Go to spotify.com/account on a web browser
2. Sign in to your account
3. Scroll to Your plan
4. Click Change plan
5. Select Cancel Premium
6. Follow the prompts to confirm

After cancellation, your account reverts to Spotify Free with ads. Your playlists and saved music remain intact.

How to Cancel Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade

See the Apple Subscriptions section above—all Apple services are managed through the same interface.

Part 3: Software & Productivity Subscriptions

How to Cancel Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe is infamously difficult to cancel, with early termination fees for annual plans.

1. Go to account.adobe.com
2. Click Plans in the left sidebar
3. Click Manage plan for the subscription you want to cancel
4. Click Cancel plan
5. Adobe will show multiple retention offers—keep declining
6. Choose a cancellation reason
7. If on annual plan, you'll see the early termination fee (50% of remaining months)
8. Confirm cancellation

Adobe Annual Plan Warning: Adobe's annual plans billed monthly have a 50% early termination fee. If you have 6 months left at $54.99/month, you'll owe ~$165 to cancel. Monthly plans have no such fee but cost significantly more per month.

How to Cancel Microsoft 365

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account
3. Find your Microsoft 365 subscription
4. Click Manage
5. Click Cancel or Turn off recurring billing
6. Follow prompts to confirm

Microsoft typically offers discounted rates during the cancellation flow—consider accepting if you still need the service.

How to Cancel Notion, Canva, or Other Web-Based Tools

Most SaaS tools follow a similar pattern:

1. Log into the service
2. Go to Settings or Account
3. Find Billing or Subscription
4. Look for Cancel or Downgrade to Free

Many tools (Notion, Canva, Figma) offer generous free tiers, so "canceling" often just means downgrading rather than losing access entirely.

Part 4: Fitness & Wellness Subscriptions

How to Cancel a Gym Membership

Gym cancellations are notoriously difficult and vary by chain. Here are the major gyms:

Planet Fitness:

• Visit your home club in person OR send a certified letter
• Online/phone cancellation is generally not accepted
• Must cancel by the 10th of the month to avoid next month's charge

LA Fitness / Equinox / Gold's Gym:

• Usually requires in-person visit or certified mail
• Some locations accept phone cancellations—call first
• Check contract for required notice period (often 30 days)

Pro Tip: Always send gym cancellation letters via certified mail with return receipt. This provides proof of cancellation if they continue charging you.

How to Cancel Peloton

1. Log into members.onepeloton.com
2. Go to Subscriptions
3. Click Cancel Membership
4. Follow the prompts

Note: Peloton All-Access Membership requires you to have Peloton equipment. Peloton App Membership can be used without equipment.

How to Cancel Headspace / Calm

These apps are usually subscribed through App Store or Google Play, so cancel through Apple/Google settings (see above). If you subscribed directly:

Headspace:

1. Go to headspace.com/account
2. Click Manage Subscription
3. Click Cancel Subscription

Calm:

1. Go to calm.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon → Account
3. Under Subscription, click Cancel

Part 5: News & Media Subscriptions

How to Cancel The New York Times

1. Call 1-800-591-9233 (yes, you must call)
2. Say "Cancel subscription" to the automated system
3. Be prepared for retention offers
4. Firmly decline and request confirmation email

NYT Trick: The Times makes you call to cancel because they know phone cancellation has lower success rates. If you're firm, you can get through in ~5 minutes. They often offer 50% off to stay.

How to Cancel The Washington Post

1. Go to washingtonpost.com → Account
2. Click Subscription Management
3. Click Cancel Subscription

How to Cancel Wall Street Journal

1. Call 1-800-568-7625
2. Or use the live chat at wsj.com
3. Request cancellation and wait for confirmation

Part 6: Gaming Subscriptions

How to Cancel Xbox Game Pass

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/services
2. Find your Game Pass subscription
3. Click Manage
4. Click Cancel
5. Select a reason and confirm

How to Cancel PlayStation Plus

1. Go to store.playstation.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon → Subscriptions
3. Select PlayStation Plus
4. Click Cancel Subscription

How to Cancel Nintendo Switch Online

1. On your Switch, go to Nintendo eShop
2. Select your user icon
3. Go to Nintendo Switch Online
4. Select Turn Off Automatic Renewal

Part 7: Dark Patterns to Watch For

Companies use predictable tactics to prevent cancellation. Here's what to watch for:

1. The Roach Motel

Easy to check in, hard to check out. Signing up takes one click; canceling requires a phone call, in-person visit, or navigating a maze of screens.

Defense: Search "[Service] how to cancel" before subscribing to know what you're getting into.

2. The Guilt Trip

"You'll lose all your saved progress/data/history." "Your family members will lose access too." "Are you sure you want to give up these benefits?"

Defense: Remember that data can usually be exported, and you can often re-subscribe later with your data intact.

3. The Fake "Pause"

Companies offer to "pause" your subscription, which sounds like canceling but just delays the next charge. You're still committed.

Defense: Only accept "pause" if you genuinely want to continue later. Otherwise, insist on full cancellation.

4. The Hidden Phone Requirement

Some services (NYT, gyms, SiriusXM) require a phone call to cancel, counting on you being too busy or uncomfortable to call.

Defense: Use websites like gethuman.com to find the fastest path through phone systems.

5. The Termination Fee Surprise

Annual plans billed monthly often have early termination fees that aren't clearly disclosed at signup.

Defense: Before subscribing to annual plans, check the terms for cancellation fees. Add this info to SubBuddy notes.

Part 8: Your Cancellation Rights

California's "Click to Cancel" Law (2024)

California residents have new protections requiring companies to make cancellation as easy as sign-up. If you subscribed online, you must be able to cancel online. Many companies now apply this nationwide.

FTC Proposed Rule (2025)

The FTC is working on federal "click to cancel" rules that would extend California-style protections nationwide. Watch for this to take effect in 2025-2026.

Chargeback as Last Resort

If a company refuses to stop charging you after legitimate cancellation:

1. Document all cancellation attempts (screenshots, confirmation numbers)
2. Send a written demand to stop charges
3. If charges continue, dispute with your credit card company
4. File complaints with the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and your state attorney general

Part 9: Preventing Future Subscription Traps

The Virtual Credit Card Strategy

Use virtual credit card numbers for free trials. Services like Privacy.com let you create single-use or merchant-locked cards. When the trial ends, the charge fails, and you're automatically "canceled."

Calendar Reminders Are Not Enough

Calendar reminders help, but dedicated subscription tracking is better. With SubBuddy, you see all your subscriptions in one place, get alerts before renewals, and can track trials separately from active subscriptions.

The Pre-Cancellation Checklist

Before subscribing to anything:

1. Search "[Service] how to cancel" and read the process
2. Check for early termination fees on annual plans
3. Note if cancellation requires phone/mail/in-person
4. Add the subscription to SubBuddy immediately—before you forget
5. Set a reminder for 3 days before the billing date to evaluate

Conclusion: Take Back Control

Canceling subscriptions shouldn't feel like escaping a trap, but for many services, it does. Companies profit billions from making cancellation difficult—the harder it is to leave, the more people stay out of inertia rather than choice.

But you have the tools to fight back. This guide gives you the specific steps to cancel any major subscription. Dark pattern awareness helps you see through retention tactics. And services like SubBuddy ensure you never lose track of what you're paying for in the first place.

Remember: every subscription you cancel that you weren't using is money back in your pocket. Even if cancellation takes 10 frustrating minutes, that's $120/year (or more) for a small time investment. Your future self will thank you.

Take Action Now: Pick one subscription you've been meaning to cancel. Use this guide to do it today. Then add your remaining subscriptions to SubBuddy so you never have to wonder what you're paying for again.

For more help managing your subscriptions, check out The Top 7 Subscriptions You Probably Forgot You're Paying For and learn about 7 Subscription Red Flags That Mean You're Being Overcharged.