How to Cancel a Substack Subscription
Quick answer
Cancel a paid Substack subscription from the web under Settings > Subscriptions, or through Apple or Google if you paid in the app. Access normally runs to the end of the paid period.
Most likely fix: Cancel on the web (card payments)
How to fix it
Try these in order — the most common fix is first.
1. Cancel on the web (card payments)
- Sign in at substack.com and open Settings
- Go to Subscriptions and select the publication
- Choose Cancel subscription and confirm; check that it shows an end date
- Expect a confirmation email
Did this fix it?2. Cancel an iPhone in-app subscription
- Open iPhone Settings > your name > Subscriptions, select the publication, tap Cancel Subscription
- Or in the Substack app open your profile > Settings > Payments and follow the link to the App Store
- Substack cannot cancel Apple billing for you
Did this fix it?3. Cancel on Android
- Open Google Play > profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions
- Select the publication and tap Cancel; use the web if the subscription was bought with a card
Did this fix it?4. Request a refund
- For Apple purchases, Apple handles refunds: use reportaproblem.apple.com
- For card payments, contact the writer; refund policy varies per publication
- Substack support is slow, so keep receipts and screenshots
Did this fix it?5. Verify afterwards
- Check Settings > Subscriptions shows it as cancelled
- Look at your bank statement next billing date and dispute with the bank if charged again
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
You want to stop paying for a newsletter, or you were charged again after cancelling.
Why it happens
- Subscription made through Apple's in-app purchase must be cancelled with Apple
- Several publications each have their own subscription
- Annual plans renew yearly
- Muting notifications does not cancel billing
- Cancelling from some settings can end access immediately
This guide also covers
- cancel substack subscription
- how to cancel substack
- substack refund
- cancel substack on iphone
- substack charged after cancelling
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The same problem in other apps
All billing, cancellation & refunds guides →
- How to Cancel Kit (ConvertKit) Subscription (ConvertKit (Kit))
- How to Cancel Mailchimp Subscription (Mailchimp)
Other Substack errors
- Substack Emails Going to Spam or Promotions
- Not Receiving Substack Emails
- Substack Login Link Not Arriving or Not Working
- Substack Paywall Showing for Paid Subscribers
- Substack Payment Declined When Subscribing
- Substack Stripe Payout Not Arriving
- Substack Custom Domain Not Working
- Substack App Crashing or Not Loading