The Fine Print*

Comparison

Which subscriptions are hardest to cancel? 31 compared.

Of 31 subscriptions we track, 18 can be cancelled online. The rest need a phone call, a visit, or a letter.

Where you have to go, how many steps it takes, whether you get money back, and how many catches we found. Each from the company’s own help page, with the date we checked it.

ServiceCancel whereStepsRefundCatchesChecked
Amazon Primeonline2If you're a paid member and haven't used any Prime benefits this period, you get a full refund for it, processed in 3–5 business days.3Oct 30, 2026
Spotify Premiumonline2No refund for the current period. You keep Premium until the billing date.4Oct 30, 2026
Adobe Creative Cloudonline3Most plans get a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of first buying. After that, it depends on your plan type.5Oct 30, 2026
Audibleonline3Not stated4Oct 30, 2026
ChatGPT Plus / Proonline3Cancelling doesn't refund past charges. That's a separate request.5Oct 30, 2026
HBO Maxonline3Not stated4Oct 30, 2026
Headspaceonline3Subscriptions bought directly on Headspace.com are non-refundable, though Headspace says it will look at special circumstances if you email [email protected]. App Store and Google Play sales are final and non-refundable, and refunds there are Apple's or Google's decision.5Oct 31, 2026
Microsoft 365online3Not every cancellation gets a refund. You only find out if you're eligible after cancelling.5Oct 30, 2026
Netflixonline3No partial refund. You simply keep access until the billing period ends.4Oct 30, 2026
Paramount+online3Not stated4Oct 31, 2026
Stravaonline3Full refund possible within 14 days of purchase, by asking Strava support. After 14 days the subscription is non-refundable. A renewal that already happened is not refunded by cancelling.4Oct 31, 2026
Calmonline4Cancelling does not by itself produce a refund. Refunds are only available for Calm.com and Google Play purchases, within 30 days. Apple purchases must go to Apple.6Oct 31, 2026
Disney+online4Not stated4Oct 30, 2026
Dropboxonline4The page describes no refund for the current period. For a billing error, Dropbox points you to its support options.6Oct 31, 2026
HelloFreshonline4HelloFresh cannot process a cancellation after the cut-off. You are responsible for all charges on orders that were already processed.2Oct 31, 2026
YouTube Premium & YouTube Music Premiumonline4Not stated2Oct 30, 2026
Canvaonline5In most cases Canva subscriptions are not refundable, but Canva reviews every request. Approved refunds take 5-10 business days on a credit card, 3-5 on PayPal, up to 20 on other methods.7Oct 31, 2026
Grammarlyonline5Not stated5Oct 31, 2026
Apple subscriptions (App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, iCloud+)online or on device3Not stated5Oct 30, 2026
Instacart+app or online3Annual members: full refund if you cancel within the first 5 days of a paid membership and haven't used it for any orders. Otherwise no refund.2Oct 30, 2026
LinkedIn Premiumonline (desktop)3Not stated3Oct 30, 2026
Nintendo Switch Onlineonline or console3No refunds and no credit for the time left on the subscription.7Oct 31, 2026
The New York Timesonline, chat or phone3Not stated3Oct 30, 2026
Peacockonline or chat3No refunds or credits for past payments unless the law requires it.3Oct 30, 2026
Planet Fitnessonline, in person or by mail3Not stated4Oct 30, 2026
PlayStation Plusonline or console3Not stated3Oct 30, 2026
SiriusXMonline, chat or phone3No refunds or credits for partial periods, with some exceptions.3Oct 30, 2026
Walmart+online or phone3Not stated3Oct 30, 2026
Xbox Game Passonline or console3A refund is possible within 30 days of the first purchase, or before the first recurring charge, whichever comes first. You can also get the most recent recurring charge back if you cancel within 30 days of it, but only once per Microsoft account per subscription product.7Oct 31, 2026
DoorDash DashPassapp or online4Not stated2Oct 30, 2026
Uber Oneapp5Not stated1Oct 31, 2026

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