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How to cancel your medium subscription in australia

What is medium and why you might want to cancel

Medium is a subscription-based publishing platform that combines free and member-only written content with audio versions of stories and a partner payments model that supports writers directly. You subscribe to access ad-free reading of member-exclusive articles and gain membership perks that appeal to voracious readers and writers alike.

Medium offers two main paid tiers: a standard Member plan and a higher-tier Friend of Medium plan, both available on monthly or annual billing cycles. If you have decided that Medium no longer fits your reading habits, budget, or content preferences, Stopee is here to walk you through cancellation step by step.

Medium's two main subscription tiers

Understanding your plan type is essential before you cancel, because the refund and cancellation terms differ slightly depending on how you subscribed and which tier you chose.

Note: AUD conversions reflect mid-market rates at the time of research and are approximations only; exchange rates fluctuate daily.

Reasons australians commonly cancel medium

You might cancel because the content no longer matches your interests, you prefer free alternatives, budget cuts force you to trim subscriptions, or you rarely read enough to justify the recurring charge. Whatever your reason, Stopee empowers you to understand every step of the cancellation process without friction or surprise charges.

Your consumer rights under australian consumer law

Before you cancel, know your rights as an Australian consumer, because they protect you from unfair contract terms and give you leverage if Medium refuses a legitimate refund request.

What the australian consumer law says about subscriptions

Under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010), you have a statutory right to cancel certain unsolicited consumer agreements within 10 business days. If Medium's subscription was unsolicited (for example, through a third-party offer), you may have additional cancellation rights beyond what their terms state.

More broadly, the law protects you against unfair contract terms. If Medium's terms attempt to restrict your right to a refund for services not rendered or impose penalties for cancellation that are unreasonable, the ACCC (Australian Consumer and Competition Commission) may intervene.

Additionally, if you subscribed through a mobile app store (Apple App Store or Google Play), those platforms have their own refund windows. Apple offers a 14-day refund window for most in-app subscriptions, and Google Play allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase for monthly subscriptions. These protections sit on top of Medium's own cancellation policy.

When to escalate to the ACCC

If Medium refuses to cancel your subscription or denies a refund you believe you are entitled to, you can lodge a complaint with the ACCC at accc.gov.au. Document everything: your cancellation requests, Medium's responses (or lack thereof), and billing evidence. The ACCC takes subscription disputes seriously, especially when companies ignore cancellation requests or charge after you have explicitly asked to cancel.

How to cancel your medium subscription

Medium offers two cancellation methods: direct cancellation via your account settings on medium.com, or by sending a signed letter to their address. Stopee recommends the direct method first because it is faster and creates an immediate digital record of your request.

Method 1: cancel via your medium account (fastest option)

This is the quickest and most reliable way to cancel. You retain your paid access until the end of your current billing period, after which renewal stops automatically.

1. Log in to your Medium account at medium.com
2. Click your profile icon in the top right corner
3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu
4. Navigate to the "Subscription" or "Membership" section (exact label may vary)
   • If you do not see a Membership tab, scroll down or look for a gear icon near your username
5. Click "Cancel membership" or "Manage subscription"
6. Confirm your cancellation when prompted
   • Medium will ask you to confirm and may offer a discount to stay; decline if you are certain you want to leave
7. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation page
8. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation from Medium within 24 hours

Pro tip: Cancellation via your account takes effect immediately, but you keep access until your paid period ends. Do not expect an instant refund for the unused portion.

Method 2: cancel by signed letter (for formal records)

If you want a paper trail or have had trouble with digital cancellation, send a signed letter to Medium's cancellation address. This method takes longer but creates legal evidence of your cancellation request.

1. Write a formal letter on plain paper that includes:
   • Your full name and address
   • Your Medium account email address
   • Your Medium username
   • A clear statement: "I request immediate cancellation of my Medium membership and termination of all recurring billing"
   • Today's date
   • Your signature
2. Make two photocopies of the signed letter
3. Keep one copy for your personal records
4. Address the letter to Medium's support address (contact their Help Center at medium.com/help to confirm the current address, as it may change)
5. Send the letter via Australia Post with tracking (use "Australia Post Registered Mail" or "Express Post")
   • This creates proof of delivery and timing in case a dispute arises
6. Allow 3-4 weeks for Medium to process your cancellation
7. In parallel, submit a cancellation request via Method 1 to expedite the process

Warning: Do not rely on letter-based cancellation alone; always cancel via your account settings first, because letters can go missing or take weeks to process.

Cancelling a subscription bought via apple app store or google play

If you subscribed to Medium through a mobile app, you must cancel through the app store, not through Medium's website. Medium does not process these cancellations directly because the app store is the billing merchant.

For Apple App Store:

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right
3. Select "Subscriptions"
4. Find "Medium" in the list
5. Tap "Cancel subscription" or "Edit"
6. Confirm cancellation
7. You retain access until your current billing date, then renewal stops

For Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right
3. Select "Manage subscriptions"
4. Find "Medium"
5. Tap "Cancel subscription"
6. Confirm your cancellation reason if prompted
7. Access ends at the next billing date

Pro tip: App store cancellations often include a refund window. Apple allows refunds within 14 days, and Google Play allows refunds within 48 hours of the charge. If you cancelled and were still charged, contact the relevant app store support team immediately.

Understanding medium's refund policy

Medium's refund policy is strict, and the company does not routinely offer pro-rata refunds for unused time after mid-cycle cancellations. However, you have options if you believe a refund is justified.

What medium will and will not refund

Medium confirms in its Help Center that cancelling your membership stops future renewals but does not remove access until the end of your paid billing period. You get to keep membership benefits for the rest of that cycle at no extra charge.

However, Medium does not automatically refund the unused portion if you cancel mid-cycle. For example, if you pay A$74.42 for an annual membership and cancel after six months, you will not receive a pro-rata refund for the remaining six months.

Refunds are treated as exceptions and handled on a case-by-case basis. You may qualify for a refund if you can demonstrate a billing error, unauthorised charges, or a problem with the service.

How to request a refund from medium

If you believe you deserve a refund, contact Medium's support team directly through their Help Center and explain your situation clearly. Cite the reason: billing error, unauthorised charge, service failure, or unsolicited subscription. Stopee recommends doing this in writing via email so you have proof of your request.

1. Go to medium.com/help and select "Contact support"
2. Choose "Billing and subscriptions" as the category
3. Write a clear subject line: "Refund request for Medium subscription (your email)"
4. Explain the reason for the refund request in one paragraph
   • For example: "I was charged for an annual membership but cancelled within 30 days. I request a refund for the unused portion"
5. Attach a screenshot of your billing statement as evidence
6. Send and wait 5-7 business days for a response
7. If Medium refuses, escalate to the ACCC if you believe the refusal is unfair

Pro tip: Refunds are more likely if you request them within 30 days of the charge and can demonstrate a clear error or service issue. After 60 days, Medium is unlikely to process a refund.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation can feel anticlimactic, but there are important steps you should take to confirm the process and protect yourself from surprise charges.

Immediate steps after cancellation

The moment you confirm your cancellation, take these actions to seal the process:

• Screenshot the cancellation confirmation page from your account settings
• Save any confirmation email from Medium (check spam folders if you don't see it)
• Note the date your access will end (usually shown on the confirmation)
• Make a calendar reminder for one day after your final billing date to verify that no further charges appear

Monitoring your bank account

Watch your credit card or bank statement carefully for the next 30 days. You should not see another Medium charge after your access period ends. If a charge appears after your confirmed cancellation, contact your bank immediately and dispute the transaction as unauthorised. Simultaneously, escalate the issue to Stopee's resources or the ACCC, because repeated charges after cancellation are a serious consumer protection breach.

Re-access and data deletion

After your access expires, you can no longer read member-only stories. However, your account and reading history remain in Medium's system unless you request deletion. If you want to erase your personal data, submit a separate data deletion request via your account settings or through the Help Center. This is a distinct action from cancellation and may take 30 days to process.

Common cancellation mistakes to avoid

Many Australians cancel Medium only to discover they made a costly error along the way. Learning from these mistakes now can save you money and frustration.

Mistake 1: assuming that stopping payment means cancellation

You might think that simply stopping your credit card payment to Medium will cancel your subscription. It will not. Medium will keep attempting to charge you, and if a payment eventually processes, you will owe arrears plus possible late fees. Always cancel explicitly through your account settings or via signed letter, not by financial avoidance.

Mistake 2: forgetting to cancel app store subscriptions

If you subscribed via Apple or Google, cancelling your Medium account on the website will not cancel your app store subscription. You must cancel the subscription through the app store separately. Many users discover this too late when the app store charges them after the website account has ended.

Mistake 3: not keeping proof of cancellation

Screenshots and confirmation emails are your evidence if Medium charges you after cancellation or if you need to escalate to your bank or the ACCC. Without proof, Medium can claim they never received your cancellation request, and disputing the charge becomes much harder. Stopee strongly advises saving everything.

Mistake 4: waiting too long to request a refund

If you want a refund for unused time, request it within 30 days of being charged. After 60 days, Medium will almost certainly refuse. Do not delay a refund request in the hope that the company will eventually offer it voluntarily.

Mistake 5: ignoring the ACCC escalation path

If Medium refuses to cancel or repeatedly charges you after cancellation, the ACCC is your enforcement lever. Many consumers do not realise they can file a formal complaint, and companies often comply once they receive an ACCC notice. Do not resign yourself to an unfair outcome.

Pricing summary and comparison

Before you cancel, review the cost you are paying and compare it to alternatives. This table shows Medium's tiers and typical Australian alternatives.

If cost is your reason for cancelling, you have plenty of free alternatives, including public Medium articles, Reddit communities, and free newsletters on Substack.

Checklist for cancelling medium

Use this step-by-step checklist to ensure you do not miss anything when you cancel.

• Log in to medium.com and navigate to account settings
• Click "Cancel membership" and confirm the cancellation
• Screenshot the confirmation page and save the URL
• Check your email for a confirmation from Medium within 24 hours
• Note the date your access expires (shown in the account settings)
• If you subscribed via an app store, cancel that subscription separately (Apple App Store or Google Play)
• File any refund requests within 30 days via the Help Center if applicable
• Set a calendar reminder for 24 hours after your access ends to verify no new charges
• Monitor your bank statement for the next 30 days
• If you see an unauthorised charge, contact your bank immediately and dispute it
• If Medium refuses to cancel or refund, lodge a complaint with the ACCC at accc.gov.au

Why you should trust stopee for cancellation guidance

Cancelling subscriptions should be simple, transparent, and fair. Unfortunately, many companies including Medium deliberately make the process opaque, hoping you will give up or accidentally remain subscribed. Stopee has helped thousands of Australian consumers navigate subscription cancellations, escalate disputes with providers, and understand their rights under Australian law.

We know Medium's cancellation process inside and out. We also know what to do when that process fails. Whether you need step-by-step instruction, a refund strategy, or escalation advice, Stopee is your free, independent, consumer-focused resource.

Visit Stopee at stopee.com to explore guides for cancelling hundreds of other services, read real cancellation stories from Australian consumers, and access our complaints escalation toolkit. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions they no longer want and recover money they wrongly lost to billing errors and dark patterns.

Contact medium directly

If you need to send a signed letter or have a billing inquiry that email support does not resolve, contact Medium through their Help Center at medium.com/help. The current postal address will be listed there under "Contact us" or "About Medium". Always use tracked mail and keep a photocopy of your letter.

For unresolved billing disputes, the ACCC can be reached at accc.gov.au or by phone on 1300 302 502 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Australian Eastern Time).