Home / Cancel / Substack paid publication
How do I cancel Substack paid publication?
Cancel a paid Substack subscription from Settings: under Subscriptions select the publication, scroll to Account actions and select Cancel Subscription. It takes about 90 seconds and paid benefits continue through the paid term, after which you become a free subscriber. Refunds are usually at the publisher's discretion, with eligible requests honored within seven days of payment.
Opens substack.com. We are not affiliated with Substack paid publication and never handle your login.
Paid reader subscription to an independent publication hosted on Substack. This guide covers every place the subscription can live - the website and the iPhone and iPad app - plus what happens to refunds, pausing and your data afterwards.
Step-by-step instructions
Sign in at Substack and open Settings.
Under Subscriptions, select the paid publication you want to cancel.
Scroll to Account actions and click the cancellation link.
Select Cancel Subscription. Paid benefits continue through the term, then you become a free subscriber.
If the receipt is from Apple, open Settings on iPhone or iPad, tap your name, then Subscriptions.
Select the publication subscription and tap Cancel Subscription. Manage web billing in Substack Settings instead.
Tick a step to keep your place - nothing is stored. Tap a step to tick it off - nothing is stored.
Not cancelling today? Put it in your calendar.
Tell us when Substack paid publication renews and download a calendar reminder that lands two days before, with this guide and the direct cancellation page inside. Nothing is stored - the file is yours.
Refunds, downgrades, pausing and your data
Four questions people ask before they cancelRefunds are usually at the publisher's discretion. Substack honors eligible requests within seven days of payment unless a subscriber perk was claimed, and may refund dormant publications or processing errors. Apple purchases use Apple's process.
After the paid term ends, the reader becomes a free subscriber and loses paid-only posts and comments. Unsubscribing from all email is separate.
Eligible web-billed publication subscriptions can be paused from the cancellation screen for a selected number of months. Substack shows the resume date and sends a reminder three days before resumption.
Cancellation keeps the Substack account and free publication subscription. It does not delete the account or automatically stop free emails.
Avoid the next charge
These verified routes also apply to Substack paid publication.
Frequently asked questions
Does cancellation stop paid access immediately?
No. Paid benefits continue through the period already paid for, except a trial ends immediately.
Can I pause a subscription?
Eligible web subscriptions can be paused for a selected number of months.
Can I get a refund?
The publisher usually decides, while Substack documents certain eligible requests within seven days and other limited cases.
Will I still receive free emails?
Yes. Cancellation makes you a free subscriber. Unsubscribe separately to stop all emails.
More in Publishing & creators
→
Did these steps still work?
Manually verified on 10 Aug 2026, based on official documentation. If Substack paid publication changed something, telling us takes one click - a human re-checks every report.