In today’s digital world, subscriptions services for apps, music, movies, and more are very common. App subscriptions allow you to access premium features in apps for a recurring fee, often paid monthly or yearly. However, you may decide at some point that you want to cancel an app subscription that you no longer use or need. Luckily, canceling subscriptions is easy to do directly on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Subscriptions allow app developers to create sustainable business models so they can continue updating and improving their apps over time. However, as a consumer you should be aware of which subscriptions you have active at any time and cancel any you no longer want to avoid being charged.
This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on how to view your current app subscriptions and easily cancel them on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Benefits of App Subscriptions
Before learning how to cancel app subscriptions, it helps to understand why app subscriptions exist in the first place:
- Allows developers to provide apps “as a service” with continuous updates and new features.
- Provides steady revenue stream so developers can continue supporting and improving apps.
- Gives users access to premium app features and content.
- Eliminates need for one-time upfront payments which can be prohibitive.
- Convenient for users to pay a smaller recurring fee rather than large one-time fees.
For these reasons, subscriptions have become a preferred monetization model for many app developers. However, as a user you want control over which subscriptions are active to avoid unwanted charges.
View Current App Subscriptions on iPhone/iPad
All of your app subscriptions on iPhone and iPad can be viewed and managed in your Apple account settings:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen (your name).
- Tap Subscriptions.
This will display a list of all your active app subscriptions with details like the subscription name, billing date, price, and status.
Review this list to identify any subscriptions you want to cancel. Take note of the subscription name and billing date, as you’ll need those to cancel.
How to Cancel App Subscriptions on iPhone/iPad
Once you’ve identified the subscription you want to cancel:
- Tap on the subscription you want to cancel.
- Tap Cancel Subscription.
- Confirm you want to cancel when prompted.
It’s quick and simple to cancel subscriptions directly from your iPhone or iPad settings.
After canceling, you’ll still have access to the subscription and its benefits until the next billing date, when it will expire.
Some key things to know about canceling iOS app subscriptions:
- You need to cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date to avoid being charged again.
- You can re-subscribe at any time if you change your mind later.
- Some subscriptions may offer a refund for unused portions if canceled mid-period.
View and Cancel Android App Subscriptions
The process works similarly on Android devices using your Google Play account:
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap on the ≡ icon in the top left corner.
- Tap Subscriptions.
This will display your currently active app subscriptions.
To cancel a subscription:
- Tap the subscription you want to cancel.
- Tap Cancel subscription.
- Confirm cancellation when prompted.
Once canceled, your subscription will remain active until the renewal date when it will expire.
Key points about canceling Android subscriptions:
- Takes effect immediately after you cancel.
- You won’t get a refund for any unused portion.
- You can always re-subscribe if you change your mind.
Manage Subscription via Your App Store Account
In addition to canceling directly on your device, you can also manage and cancel your app subscriptions via your app store account online:
- iPhone/iPad: Go to account.apple.com and click Subscriptions to view and manage.
- Android: Go to play.google.com/store/account and click Subscriptions to view and manage.
This allows you to cancel subscriptions from your computer browser if that’s more convenient.
Avoid Accidental Renewals with Subscription Reminders
To avoid forgetting and unintentionally renewing subscriptions, set up subscription expiration reminders:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store.
- Turn on Expiration Notifications.
You’ll now get notices before subscriptions renew so you can cancel if needed.
On Android:
- Open Play Store > Menu > Settings.
- Turn on Notify me when subscriptions are ending.
You’ll get notices prior to renewal dates so you don’t miss cancelling unwanted subscriptions.
These reminders will help you take action to avoid surprise charges.
What Happens When You Cancel a Subscription?
When you cancel an app subscription on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device:
- Your subscription remains active until the renewal/billing date.
- Subscription access and benefits will end once the current period expires.
- No future charges will be made.
- The app will revert to its free or “freemium” version once the subscription ends.
- You lose access to any premium content exclusive to subscribers.
So you have the remainder of the current billing period to take advantage of the subscription’s benefits before losing access at renewal.
Some apps may let you download content for offline access before the subscription expires. But overall access will be lost unless you renew in the future.
Get Refunds for Unwanted Renewals
If you forgot to cancel and an app subscription renewed unexpectedly:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Report a Problem at reportaproblem.apple.com within 60 days of being charged.
- Request a refund for the unwanted renewal charge.
On Android:
- Go to Play Store > Menu > Subscriptions and find the transaction.
- Tap Refund and select reason for refund request.
Act quickly if this happens to get your money back.
Cancel Specific Subscription on Shared Accounts
On a family or shared account with multiple app subscriptions:
- Log into the main account that manages the subscriptions.
- Go to Subscriptions and identify the specific subscription you want to cancel.
- Follow standard cancellation steps just for that subscription.
- Other subscriptions on the account will remain active.
So you can cancel specific subscriptions for individual members as needed while keeping other shared subscriptions active.
Best Practices When Managing Subscriptions
Follow these tips for hassle-free subscription management:
- Set calendar reminders to review subscriptions and cancel unused ones quarterly or annually.
- Enable auto-renewal reminders so you never get charged unintentionally.
- Note free trial end dates and cancel trials you don’t want converted to paid plans.
- Be cautious with free trial offers to avoid forgetting to cancel.
- Review bank and credit card statements to identify unknown subscription charges.
Staying aware of all your subscriptions is the key to controlling costs.
Subscription Alternatives
If you don’t want to deal with managing subscriptions, consider alternative app monetization models:
- One-time purchases – Pay once for lifetime access with no recurring charges.
- In-app purchases – Select specific premium features to unlock as needed.
- Upfront subscriptions – Pre-pay for 1 year or more at a discount.
Evaluate if these models better fit your needs if you want to minimize subscriptions.
Conclusion
It’s easy to cancel unwanted app subscriptions directly on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device once you know the steps. Toggling the subscriptions option in your device settings reveals all your active monthly or yearly subscriptions charges. You can then view details, manage, and cancel subscriptions with just a few taps to avoid being charged going forward.
Enabling subscription expiration reminders is highly recommended so you never get renewed accidentally after a free trial ends. Be proactive about reviewing subscriptions periodically and cancelling any unused ones to save money. Reach out to the app store support if you need any refunds for mistaken renewals.
In summary:
- Go to Settings/Play Store > Subscriptions to view and manage subs.
- Tap on a subscription then hit Cancel Subscription to cancel.
- Time cancellations properly to avoid new charges.
- Enable renewal reminders to avoid surprise bills.
- Cancel specific subscriptions on shared accounts as needed.
Following these steps will give you control over your app subscriptions so you only pay for the services you actually want and use.
