You signed up for a 7-day free trial three months ago. You meant to cancel before it charged you. Now you're $60 poorer, you've never opened the app, and you only noticed because you were checking your statement for something else entirely.
Sound familiar?
If it does, you're not alone. The average person has around 12+ subscriptions, and most of us underestimate what we're actually paying by a fairly embarrassing amount. (2.5x according to C+R research) We sign up in a moment of emotion because this app or service is going to improve our life, life gets busy, and suddenly we're paying for apps and services we forgot even existed.
Here's the thing:
it's not entirely your fault. The subscription industry has evolved from "convenient way to access stuff" to something a bit more... strategic. Free trials convert without us realising. Cancel buttons hide in settings menus within settings menus. And some companies would genuinely rather make you call them on the phone instead of clicking a button.
This guide is here to help you fight back. We'll cover why subscriptions are designed this way, how to find every single one you're paying for, and exactly how to cancel them (even the tricky ones). By the end, you'll have a clear system to cut the subscriptions you don't want and keep control of the ones you do.
Why People Want to Cancel Subscriptions
Before we get into the meat, it's worth acknowledging that wanting to cancel a subscription is totally normal. People cancel for all sorts of legitimate reasons:
You're just not using it. That language app sounded great in January. It's now October and you've completed exactly one lesson.
You're tightening your budget. Sometimes you need to cut back, and recurring subscription payments are a sensible place to start.
The price went up. What was $12.99 is now $17.99, and suddenly it doesn't feel worth it anymore.
You found something better. A competitor launched, or a friend recommended an alternative, or you realised the free version does everything you need.
You never meant to subscribe in the first place. The free trial converted, the bundle included something you didn't want, or you clicked the wrong button during a checkout flow designed to confuse you.
None of these reasons require justification. Your money, your call. You just want to cancel them.
Why Cancelling Subscriptions Is So Hard
To be honest: many subscription services are intentionally designed to make cancelling difficult. This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's a business strategy with a name (retention design) and measurable KPIs (churn reduction).
Here's what you're up against:
The Business Model Problem
Subscription companies make money from inertia. Every month you forget to cancel is another month of revenue. For many services, the customers who never log in are actually the most profitable ones.
This creates a misaligned incentive. The easier it is to cancel, the more cancellations happen. So companies invest heavily in making it... not easy.
Psychological Friction
Even when cancellation is technically possible, the process is designed to wear you down:
Sunk cost fallacy. "I've already paid for three months, maybe I should give it another chance." (You shouldn't. The money's gone either way.)
Loss aversion. Losing access to something feels worse than gaining the equivalent in savings. Companies know this and use language like "You'll lose all your progress" or "Your data will be deleted."
It makes you think you will use it again when “less busy” but it’s very unlikely.
Decision fatigue. After clicking through five screens of "Are you sure?" and "How about a discount?" and "Tell us why you're leaving," some people just give up. That's the point.
Sometimes you even think you’ve completed the last step when you haven’t. Companies that do this lose a lot of trust in the long-term.
Structural Barriers
Beyond psychology, there are practical obstacles:
Cancel buttons that are tiny, greyed out, or hidden in submenus
Cancellation differs by platforms and apps. Some on websites, some in app stores.
Requirements to phone a call centre during business hours
Mandatory "waiting periods" before cancellation takes effect
Processes that differ from how you signed up (easy online signup, phone-only cancellation)
Regulators in the EU, UK, and US are increasingly cracking down on these practices. But for now, the burden falls on you to navigate them.
Why We Keep Forgetting About Subscriptions
Even with the best intentions, subscriptions slip through the cracks. There are a few reasons this happens:
Out of sight, out of mind. Auto-billing means no active decision each month. The payment just... happens. And these happen all on different days of the month.
Small amounts don't trigger alerts. A $4.99 charge doesn't feel significant at the moment. Multiply it by 12, and it's $60 you barely noticed spending.
Free trials convert silently. Many services don't send a reminder before charging you. You find out when the money's already gone. Some now offer a notification, but you might read it and still get distracted and forget to cancel.
Bundled subscriptions hide. That streaming service might be buried inside your phone contract. That software might have come with your laptop. You're paying for it somewhere, but not obviously.
Email overload. Receipts and renewal notices get filtered into promotions folders or lost in the noise. Who reads every email?
Life just happens. You signed up six months ago in a different context. Your needs changed. You forgot it existed.
This is a full system designed to be forgettable until you're already charged.
How to Find Everything You're Subscribed To
Before you can cancel anything, you need to know what you're actually paying for. Here's a systematic approach:
Check Your Bank and Card Statements
Go back three to six months and look for:
Recurring charges (same amount, same date each month)
Small recurring amounts (the $2.99 and $4.99 charges are easy to miss)
Unfamiliar merchant names (subscriptions often bill under parent company names, not the app name you recognise)
This is the most reliable manual method because it catches everything that's actually taking your money.
Tools such as the Orbit Cancel tool can help pull in your subscriptions without the manual work.
Check Your App Store Subscriptions
If you subscribed through an app store, that's where you need to look:
iOS: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions
Android: Google Play → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
Many people don't realise that deleting an app doesn't cancel the subscription. The app store keeps charging you until you explicitly cancel through their system.
Search Your Email
Open your inbox and search for:
"subscription"
"renewal"
"payment received"
"your receipt"
"free trial"
Check your spam and promotions folders too. Receipts often get filtered there.
Check Your Saved Passwords
Your browser's saved passwords are essentially a list of accounts you've created. Scroll through and you'll likely spot a few you'd forgotten about.
The Orbit App will include multiple easy ways for you to discover and pull in your subscriptions, whether it’s by email connect, bank statement upload, or securely connecting your bank through plaid.
Quick Win: The 2-Minute Audit
If you're short on time, just do this:
Download your bank statement from last month
Upload it into the Orbit Cancel tool
Highlight the apps you would like to cancel
Press bulk cancel, this will open all the direct cancel links to sites in your browser
You will still need to cancel bunded subs or appstore subs separately
That's it. Two minutes, and you'll know exactly where you stand.
Types of Subscription Cancellations
Different subscriptions require different approaches. Here's how to handle each type:
Standard Online Cancellations
Most subscriptions can be cancelled through the service's website or app. The process usually looks like:
Log into your account
Go to Settings, Account, or Billing
Look for "Cancel subscription," "Manage plan," or "End membership"
Click through the confirmation steps (there will be several)
Screenshot the confirmation screen
Wait for a confirmation email
If you can't find the cancel button: Try searching "[Service name] cancel subscription" online. Often the direct link exists but isn't easily discoverable from within the app. You can also check Orbit Cancel Guides Database where we've documented the exact cancellation steps and links for hundreds of services.
App Store Subscriptions (iOS and Android)
This is the number one thing people get wrong: if you subscribed through an app store, you must cancel through that app store. Cancelling in the app itself won't stop the charges.
For iOS: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → Select the subscription → Cancel Subscription
For Android: Google Play Store → Menu → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Select the subscription → Cancel
Remember: Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription. The app store will keep billing you until you explicitly cancel.
Free Trial Cancellations
Here's a useful fact most people don't know: you can usually cancel a free trial immediately after signing up and still keep access until the trial period ends.
So if you sign up for a 14-day trial and cancel on day one, you still get 13 more days of access. The difference is you won't be charged when it expires.
This is the safest approach if you're trying something out but aren't sure you'll remember to cancel later.
If a trial already converted to paid:
Contact support immediately and explain you intended to cancel
Check if there's a cooling-off period (EU rules often apply)
Ask for a refund on the first charge
The sooner you act, the better your chances.
Bundles and Reseller Subscriptions
Sometimes you're paying for a subscription but not directly to the company providing it. Common examples:
Streaming services bundled with mobile phone plans
Software that came with a hardware purchase
Perks included with credit cards or bank accounts
The key question: Who's actually billing you?
If it's bundled, you need to cancel through the billing party (your phone company, your bank), not the service itself. Cancelling in the app won't work because they're not the ones charging you.
Red flag: If you can't find billing information in a subscription app, you probably subscribed through a third party. Check your card statements to see where the charge actually comes from.
We designed a tool that lists common bundling and billing providers and steps to cancel subscriptions with them.
Contracts: Gyms, SaaS, and Long-Term Commitments
Some subscriptions aren't month-to-month. They come with contracts, minimum commitment periods, and early termination fees.
Gyms:
Check your contract for the cancellation clause (usually requires 30 days written notice)
Moving a certain distance away often qualifies for early exit, this is also possible with a valid medical certificate.
Some gyms require you to cancel in person or via registered mail
Software (SaaS, B2B tools):
Larger SAAS can often be a lot more aggressive in their contract terms, many also invoice rather than billing your card. We have seen situations where customers have to talk to a sales rep to cancel.
Annual contracts often auto-renew unless you give notice 30-60 days in advance
Contact your account manager directly rather than going through generic support
Document everything in writing
General approach:
Find your original contract or terms
Check for notice periods and fees
Send cancellation in writing (email is fine, but keep records)
Follow up if you don't get confirmation
Discord, Telegram, and Crypto Subscriptions
A growing category that doesn't fit traditional patterns. These often involve:
Patreon or Ko-fi memberships
PayPal recurring payments
Crypto wallet authorisations
Manual payments to individuals
To cancel:
Check your connected payment accounts (PayPal subscriptions page, Patreon memberships)
Message the community admin directly
Revoke any wallet authorisations you've granted
These are less standardised, so you may need to dig around.
Phone and In-Person Cancellations
Some companies still require you to call to cancel. This isn't an accident. Retention teams are trained to keep you, and phone calls give them the opportunity to try.
Survival guide:
Call during off-peak hours (Tuesday to Thursday, mid-morning tends to have shorter waits)
Have your account details ready before you call
Prepare a simple script and stick to it
Politely decline any offers: "I appreciate the offer, but I've made my decision"
Ask for a cancellation confirmation number
Request email confirmation before hanging up
If they won't let you cancel, ask for a supervisor and document the call (date, time, representative name).
Sample script:
"Hi, I'd like to cancel my [Service] subscription. My account email is [your email]. I understand there may be offers available, but I've made my decision. Please process the cancellation and send me an email confirmation."
Before You Cancel: Quick Checks
One final check before you hit that cancel button, a few quick things can save you money or regret:
Pause Instead of Cancel
Many services (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium, most gyms) offer the option to pause your subscription rather than cancel outright. Your account stays intact, but billing stops temporarily. Useful if you might come back.
Ask for a Retention Offer
Companies often have unadvertised discounts for customers who are about to leave. When you start the cancellation process, you might be offered:
A percentage off your next few months
A free month to "reconsider"
A cheaper plan tier
If you were on the fence, it's worth seeing what they offer. Just don't let it trap you if you genuinely want out.
Sometimes they can often push these to months after you have already cancelled.
Consider Downgrading
Before cancelling entirely, check if there's a cheaper tier or a free version. You might not need the premium features. Switching to a lower plan keeps access while cutting costs.
Check Your Renewal Date
This one matters. Some subscriptions (gyms, certain SAAS) require you to cancel before a specific date to avoid being charged for another cycle. Miss it by a day and you're locked in for another month (or year, for annual plans).
Find your renewal date and set a reminder a few days before if you're not ready to cancel immediately.
Know Your Refund Rights
If you've recently been charged, you may be able to get a refund:
Free trials that just converted are often refundable if you contact support quickly
Some services offer pro-rated refunds for annual plans
EU consumers have a 14-day withdrawal right for most online purchases
Identifying Dark Patterns
Many of the obstacles we've described have a name: dark patterns. These are design techniques that manipulate users into doing things they didn't intend.
In cancellation flows, common dark patterns include:
Pattern | What It Looks Like |
Roach Motel | Easy signup, deliberately difficult cancellation |
Hidden Cancel Button | Tiny text, greyed out, buried in menus |
Confirm-shaming | "No thanks, I don't want to save money" as the decline option |
Obstruction | Multiple screens of "Are you sure?" with repeated offers |
Misdirection | Bright "Keep Subscription" button, barely visible "Cancel" link |
Trick Wording | Confusing double negatives or vague language |
What to do when you encounter them:
Don't give up. That's exactly what they want.
Screenshot everything. You may need it later.
Report egregious cases to consumer protection authorities. (We’ve seen some shockers before)
Your Consumer Rights When Cancelling
Depending on where you live, you have legal protections:
EU / EEA
14-day withdrawal right for most online purchases (you can cancel within 14 days for any reason)
Clear cancellation requirements (companies must make it reasonably easy)
Auto-renewal disclosure (terms must be clearly stated before purchase)
UK
Similar protections under Consumer Contracts Regulations, including the 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases.
US
Consumer protection varies by state. California has relatively strong rules requiring companies to allow online cancellation if they allow online signup. Federal rules are less comprehensive, though the FTC is increasingly active.
General Principles
In most jurisdictions:
Excessively difficult cancellation processes may violate consumer protection laws
Unfair contract terms can sometimes be challenged
You have the right to dispute charges for services you've cancelled
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. For specifics, check with your local consumer protection agency.
How to Prevent Subscription Creep in the Future
Cancelling unwanted subscriptions is great. Not accumulating them in the first place is better. Here's how to stay in control:
Use a Dedicated Subscription Card
Put all your subscriptions on one card or account. This makes them trivially easy to track and audit. One statement tells you everything.
Try Virtual Cards
Many banks and fintech apps now offer virtual cards. These can be:
Locked to a single merchant
Set with spending limits
Cancelled instantly if you want to stop payments
For free trials, a virtual card is particularly useful. Cancel the card, cancel the possibility of unexpected charges.
Set Calendar Reminders
When you sign up for any trial or subscription, immediately create a calendar reminder a few days before it renews. Future you will be grateful.
Conduct Monthly Audits
Once a month, take five minutes to review your recurring charges. For each one, ask:
Did I use this in the past month?
Will I use this in the next month?
Is this still worth the price?
Be Skeptical at Signup
Dark patterns work best when you're not paying attention. When signing up for anything:
Look for pre-checked boxes
Read what the "Continue" button actually does
Ask yourself: "What will this cost me in 12 months?"
Prefer month-to-month plans if you're unsure
Learn more about managing your subscriptions to avoid future monthly creep.
Skip the Hassle: Let Orbit Help
If reading all of this made you tired, we get it. Cancelling subscriptions shouldn't require a 3,000-word guide and detective work.
That's why we built Orbit.
Our cancellation guides database has step-by-step instructions for hundreds of subscriptions, including the tricky ones where the cancel button is hidden or you need to call.
Our cancellation tool lets you upload a document or list your subscriptions, then opens the direct cancellation page for each one. No hunting through settings menus.
And we're building something bigger. A single place to track all your subscriptions, get alerts before renewals, and cancel anything in a few clicks.
Conclusion
Here's the thing to remember: subscription companies have entire teams dedicated to keeping you subscribed. They have budgets, strategies, and carefully designed interfaces all working against the simple act of clicking "cancel."
But now you know how they work. You know where to look, what to say, and how to escalate when things get difficult. The system is designed to make you give up. Don't.
Start small. Pick one subscription today that you know you don't need, and cancel it. Then do another tomorrow. In a week, you'll have cut the dead weight and kept only what you actually value.
Or you can use the Orbit tool to cancel a whole lot in one go.
Your money. You should be in control of it.
FAQs
Why is it so hard to cancel subscriptions?
Because companies profit from inertia. Every barrier they put in your way reduces cancellations. It's deliberate, and regulators are starting to crack down on the worst practices.
Is it legal to make cancellation so difficult?
It depends on where you live. EU and UK regulations require reasonably accessible cancellation. US rules vary by state. Excessively difficult processes may violate consumer protection laws, but enforcement is inconsistent.
Can I cancel during a free trial?
Yes, and you usually keep access until the trial period ends. Cancelling early just means you won't be charged when it expires.
What happens if I just stop paying?
The service will be suspended, but you may still owe money depending on the terms. For some services, unpaid balances can affect your credit or be sent to collections. (Mostly relevant for contract SAAS or gyms) It's better to cancel properly.
Can I cancel if I've lost access to my email?
Usually, but it's harder. Contact support directly with alternative verification (phone number, payment details, ID). The sooner you act, the easier it is.
Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-cycle?
Most subscriptions don't offer pro-rated refunds, but some do. Annual plans and recent charges are more likely to be refundable. It never hurts to ask.
Can I dispute a charge if a company won't let me cancel?
Yes. Contact your bank, explain the situation, and request a chargeback. Keep documentation of your cancellation attempts.
Have a subscription that's impossible to cancel? Let us know in our Telegram and we'll add it to our guides database.