Manage The Economist

How to cancel the economist subscription in canada and avoid hidden charges

Understanding the economist and why you might want to cancel

The Economist is a respected weekly publication covering global politics, business, science and culture. It delivers content through digital platforms, mobile apps and printed magazines in markets where print is available. Your subscription grants access to the website, exclusive newsletters, the digital archive and (if you choose print) a weekly physical edition delivered to your door.

You might cancel for many reasons: budget constraints, information overload, or simply realizing the content no longer matches your needs. Whatever your reason, Stopee understands that cancelling a subscription should be straightforward and transparent. Yet The Economist's cancellation policies vary significantly depending on where and when you purchased, and some terms may surprise you. That's why we've created this detailed guide to help you navigate the process with confidence.

Is the economist right for your budget?

Before you cancel, consider whether the subscription genuinely serves your routine. If you find yourself reading fewer than three articles per week, or if you're skipping the print edition, cancellation makes financial sense. Stopee recommends tracking your actual usage for one billing cycle before deciding-you might discover you're getting more value than you thought, or confirm that cancellation is the right move.

What to know before you act

The Economist has implemented different cancellation and refund policies depending on your purchase date and method. Subscriptions purchased after 14 April 2025 are non-refundable for the current term-you can only cancel the renewal. Older subscriptions may qualify for partial refunds if they haven't renewed. App store purchases are handled entirely by Apple or Google, not by The Economist directly. Understanding these distinctions now saves you frustration later.

The economist pricing and plan options in canada

Here's what The Economist currently offers Canadian subscribers, with typical inclusions and price ranges.

Stopee notes that pricing fluctuates frequently, especially during promotional periods. Always check your confirmation email or account dashboard for your exact rate and renewal date before cancelling.

How to cancel the economist based on how you subscribed

Your cancellation method depends entirely on where you purchased your subscription-whether through the web, Apple, Google, or via email gift.

Cancel if you subscribed directly through the economist website

1. Log in to your Economist account at economistgroup.com with your email and password.
   • If you've forgotten your password, click "Forgot password" and follow the reset email.
   • If you cannot log in, contact The Economist's customer service team immediately before proceeding.
2. Navigate to your account settings or "Subscription" section (usually found in the top-right menu under your profile).
   • Look for "Manage subscription," "Billing," or "My account"-wording varies.
   • You should see your current plan, renewal date and billing history.
3. Locate the "Cancel subscription" or "Pause subscription" button.
   • Some accounts show a "Manage renewal" or "Edit subscription" option instead.
   • Click whichever option appears; The Economist will guide you through the next steps.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm cancellation or cancel renewal.
   • Important: If you purchased after 14 April 2025, you can only cancel the renewal; access continues until your current term expires.
   • If you purchased before 7 November 2024, you may see a refund option-check the form carefully.
5. Review the confirmation screen and save or screenshot the reference number provided.
   • This number is your proof of cancellation and may be needed if you contact customer service later.
6. Verify your cancellation by checking your email within 24 hours for a confirmation message from The Economist Group.
   • If you don't receive a confirmation within one business day, contact customer service with your reference number.

Pro tip: Stopee recommends cancelling at least seven days before your renewal date to avoid being charged for the next term. Check your confirmation email to confirm the exact renewal date.

Cancel if you subscribed through apple app store

1. Open the Apple App Store app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
   • On iPhone/iPad, tap the profile icon (top right).
   • On Mac, click your name in the App Store window (top right).
2. Select "Subscriptions" from the menu.
   • You'll see a list of all active and expired app subscriptions.
3. Find "The Economist" in the list and tap it.
   • If you don't see it, scroll down or search within the subscriptions page.
4. Tap "Cancel subscription" or "Edit subscription."
   • Apple will ask you to confirm the cancellation.
   • You may be offered a discount to continue-ignore this unless you genuinely want to stay.
5. Confirm cancellation by following Apple's on-screen instructions.
   • Your subscription access will end at the current billing cycle's expiry date.
   • Apple sends a confirmation email to your Apple ID email address within minutes.
6. Verify that The Economist no longer appears under "Active" subscriptions (it may appear under "Expired").
   • This confirms the cancellation was successful.

Warning: The Economist does not process refunds for App Store purchases. If you believe you're entitled to a refund, you must request it directly from Apple, not from The Economist. Stopee advises contacting Apple Support within 60 days of the charge.

Cancel if you subscribed through google play

1. Open Google Play Store on your Android device or visit play.google.com on a web browser.
   • On Android, tap the profile icon (top right).
   • On the web, click your profile picture and select "Manage your Google Account."
2. Navigate to "Payments and subscriptions" or "Subscriptions."
   • On Android, this is in the main menu.
   • On the web, use the left sidebar.
3. Tap or click "Manage subscriptions."
   • All active subscriptions appear in this section.
4. Select "The Economist" from the list.
   • If you see multiple Economist subscriptions, check the billing dates to identify which one you're using.
5. Tap or click "Cancel subscription."
   • Google may offer you a discount or pause option-decline unless you intend to continue.
6. Confirm by following Google's prompts.
   • Your access ends at the end of your current billing period.
   • Google sends a confirmation email to your Google account within minutes.

Pro tip: Google Play subscriptions are easier to manage if you enable two-factor authentication on your Google account first. This prevents accidental re-subscriptions.

Cancel by contacting customer service directly

If you cannot cancel through your account or prefer speaking with someone, you can contact The Economist Group's customer service team.

1. Visit economistgroup.com and locate the "Contact us" or "Help" section.
   • Look for a phone number, live chat option, or contact form.
2. Choose your preferred contact method:
   • Live chat (fastest; usually available during business hours GMT).
   • Phone (direct conversation; better for complex cases or disputes).
   • Email or contact form (slower but creates a written record).
3. Prepare your account details before you reach out:
   • Email address associated with your account.
   • Full name exactly as it appears on the account.
   • Subscription purchase date (from your confirmation email).
   • Current billing date or renewal date.
4. Tell the representative you want to cancel (or cancel renewal) and state your reason briefly.
   • You don't owe an explanation, but a simple reason helps them offer solutions if appropriate.
5. Confirm in writing that the cancellation is complete.
   • Ask the representative to email you a cancellation confirmation with a reference number.
   • Do not rely on a verbal confirmation alone.

Stopee recommends contacting customer service during their peak hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM GMT) for the quickest response.

Cancel by registered mail (if you require a formal record)

If you prefer a paper trail or have experienced difficulty cancelling online, you can send a signed cancellation request by registered mail.

1. Write a clear, brief cancellation letter including:
   • Your full name and email address.
   • Your subscription start date or account number (from your confirmation email).
   • Your current billing date.
   • A simple statement: "I request cancellation of my subscription effective immediately" (or "at the end of the current billing period" if you prefer).
   • Your signature.
2. Place the letter in an envelope with The Economist Group's postal address (provided in the "Cancellation contact details" section below).
   • Do not include payment cards or sensitive banking details in the mail.
3. Send the letter via Canada Post as "Registered Mail with Return Receipt Requested" (or equivalent).
   • This service costs approximately CAD $15-20 and provides proof of delivery.
   • Keep your receipt and tracking number.
4. Allow 10-15 business days for The Economist to receive and process your request.
   • Send the letter at least 30 days before your renewal date if you want to avoid an extra charge.
5. If you don't receive a confirmation within 20 days, follow up with customer service using your tracking number as proof of delivery.
   • This step protects you if The Economist claims never to have received your cancellation.

Pro tip: Stopee suggests sending registered mail only if online cancellation has failed or if you need a formal paper record for dispute resolution. For most users, online cancellation is faster and equally valid.

What happens to your access after you cancel

Cancelling The Economist can feel uncertain-you naturally want to know when you lose access and what data remains tied to your account.

When does access end?

Your access depends on whether you cancelled the current term or only the renewal. If you cancelled renewal only, you keep full access until your billing cycle ends (the date shown in your account). If you requested immediate termination, you lose access immediately-but this is rare and requires explicit approval from customer service.

For app store subscriptions, Apple and Google control the timeline; typically, access ends within 24 hours of cancellation, though it sometimes continues until the current period expires.

What happens to your data and account?

The Economist retains your account data indefinitely under its privacy policy, including your reading history, saved articles and email preferences. If you want your account deleted or data erased, contact customer service explicitly-cancellation alone does not trigger automatic data deletion.

You can log back into your account at any time after cancellation to retrieve saved articles or adjust your newsletter subscriptions (if you kept the free daily email).

Will you receive a refund?

Refund eligibility is the question Stopee hears most often-and the answer depends entirely on when and where you subscribed.

Refund policy by purchase date and method

Subscriptions purchased after 14 April 2025: Non-refundable. You can cancel renewal to stop future charges, but you cannot recover money for the current paid term. This is The Economist's stated policy and applies to all direct web purchases from this date forward.

Subscriptions purchased before 7 November 2024 that had not yet renewed by 14 April 2025: You may qualify for a pro-rata refund for unused time. This is the most generous scenario. Contact customer service immediately with your purchase confirmation email and request a refund calculation. They must calculate the daily rate and refund you for any days remaining after cancellation.

App Store purchases: Apple, not The Economist, processes all refunds. The Economist explicitly does not issue refunds for App Store subscriptions. You must contact Apple Support directly within 60 days of the charge. Apple generally allows refunds for subscriptions cancelled within 14 days of purchase or if you claim you were charged in error. Go to appleid.apple.com, navigate to "Purchase history," find the charge, and request a refund with your reason.

Google Play purchases: Google Play handles all refunds independently. The Economist does not refund Play Store subscriptions. Contact Google Play Support at play.google.com/about/play-points/redeem, explain your situation, and request a refund. Google typically allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase, with rare exceptions for recurring subscriptions cancelled within 14 days.

What to do if the economist refuses your refund request

Stopee knows that companies sometimes deny legitimate refund claims. If you believe you qualify for a refund and The Economist refuses, you have options.

First, check your bank or credit card statement and contact your card issuer directly. Explain that The Economist charged you and refused a refund despite your timely cancellation request. Your bank can issue a chargeback (reversal) within 60-120 days of the charge, depending on your card issuer. This is free and often successful.

Second, file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority. In Canada, each province has its own legislation-Ontario has the Consumer Protection Act, British Columbia has the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, and so on. These authorities can pressure The Economist to refund you if you demonstrate the company violated provincial consumer law. Stopee recommends having all cancellation confirmations and correspondence ready before filing.

Your consumer rights in canada

Canada's consumer protection laws do not provide a blanket right to cancel paid subscriptions at will, unlike the European Union's 14-day cooling-off rule. However, you do have meaningful protections.

Cooling-off period (limited scope)

If you are a consumer (not a business) and you purchased The Economist subscription based on unsolicited marketing (e.g., a cold email or phone call), you typically have 14 days to cancel without penalty. However, if you initiated the subscription yourself by visiting The Economist's website, this protection does not apply. Check your province's Consumer Protection Act for exact terms-Ontario and other provinces have similar rules.

Misleading or deceptive marketing

If The Economist used misleading advertising (e.g., claiming a free trial period that doesn't actually exist, or hiding auto-renewal terms), you may have a complaint under provincial consumer protection statutes. Stopee recommends documenting the exact marketing material you saw before purchasing-screenshots are powerful evidence.

Unauthorized charges

If you did not authorize a charge or someone else charged your card without consent, contact your card issuer immediately. Your bank can reverse the charge regardless of The Economist's refund policy.

Unresponsive customer service

If you've attempted to cancel multiple times and The Economist refuses to acknowledge your request or continues to charge you after cancellation, you can escalate to your provincial consumer protection ministry. In Ontario, contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. In British Columbia, contact Consumer Protection BC. These agencies have the power to investigate and force refunds.

Common mistakes people make when cancelling the economist

Cancelling a subscription can feel stressful, especially when you're worried about hidden charges or losing access mid-article. Here are the mistakes Stopee sees repeatedly-and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: cancelling the app instead of the subscription

Many people delete The Economist app from their phone thinking this cancels the subscription. It doesn't. Your subscription and app are separate; deleting the app leaves your subscription active and charges continue. Always cancel through your account settings or customer service before deleting the app.

Mistake 2: confusing "cancel" with "pause"

Some account dashboards offer a "pause subscription" option that temporarily stops access for one or two billing cycles. If you click "pause," you will be charged again at the end of the pause period. If you truly want to end your subscription, explicitly select "cancel"-not "pause" or "manage renewal."

Mistake 3: cancelling renewal but forgetting to log in beforehand

If you haven't logged into your Economist account in several months, your password may have expired or your account may require verification. Attempt to log in at least one day before cancelling. If you encounter an error, reset your password immediately and try again. Do not wait until the day before your renewal to attempt this.

Mistake 4: not saving your cancellation confirmation

The Economist sends email confirmations, but these sometimes land in spam folders or get lost in busy inboxes. Screenshot your confirmation page in-app immediately after you click "confirm cancellation." Take a photo or PDF of that screenshot and email it to yourself. If The Economist charges you after your cancellation, this proof will resolve the dispute quickly.

Mistake 5: cancelling too close to your renewal date

If you cancel on the day your subscription renews, there's a narrow window where the system may still process the charge. Stopee strongly advises cancelling at least 7-10 days before your renewal date. Check your account or confirmation email to find your exact renewal date, then set a calendar reminder for five days before.

Mistake 6: forgetting that app store subscriptions require app store cancellation

If you subscribed via Apple or Google, logging into The Economist's website and "cancelling" there will not work. You must cancel through Apple or Google's app store system directly. The Economist's website cancellation is useless for app store subscriptions and will leave your app subscription active and billing.

After cancellation: checklist and next steps

Once you've cancelled, a few final tasks ensure you're truly free of charges and can move forward with confidence.

Immediate checklist (first 24 hours)

• Check your email for a cancellation confirmation from The Economist or the app store (Apple/Google).
• Screenshot or save the confirmation email in a dedicated folder on your computer.
• Log back into your Economist account and verify that "cancel" or "end date" now appears next to your subscription status.
• Unsubscribe from any Economist newsletters if you don't want to receive free content emails (optional but recommended to avoid clutter).
• If you cancelled via the app, verify that your subscription no longer appears under "Active subscriptions" in Apple/Google settings (it may appear under "Expired").

One week before renewal (if applicable)

If you cancelled renewal only (not the current term), set a reminder for seven days before your original renewal date to double-check that no charge has appeared.

• Log into your bank or credit card account.
• Search for any pending charges from The Economist Group or "Economist".
• If you see an unexpected charge, contact your bank immediately and reference your cancellation confirmation number.

One month after cancellation

Check your statement once more to confirm that no charges from The Economist have appeared in the 30 days following your cancellation date. If any charge does appear after your confirmed cancellation, contact customer service with your confirmation number and file a chargeback through your bank if The Economist refuses to reverse it.

Comparison: stay vs. cancel decision table

Unsure whether to keep or cancel? Use this table to weigh the value.

How stopee can help you stay on top of your subscriptions

Cancelling The Economist is just one piece of the puzzle. Most people subscribe to five or more services-streaming, productivity, fitness, and news-without tracking when each renews or what each costs. This is how people overspend by hundreds of dollars per year without noticing.

Stopee is a subscription management platform designed to help you track, cancel and optimize your recurring charges. When you add your subscriptions to Stopee, you receive alerts before each renewal, comparison tools to find cheaper alternatives, and step-by-step cancellation guidance for over 1,000 services (including The Economist). Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions, negotiate better rates and take control of their digital subscriptions once and for all.

Whether you're cancelling The Economist or managing a growing list of other recurring charges, Stopee gives you the transparency and control you deserve. Visit stopee.com today to start tracking your subscriptions and take the guesswork out of cancellation.

Cancellation contact details for the economist

Use these official channels to contact The Economist Group if you need assistance or want to cancel by mail.

Web-based support

Visit economistgroup.com/contact or economistgroup.com/help to access live chat, email forms or phone support. Live chat is typically available Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM GMT (4 AM-12 PM EST).

Mailing address (for registered mail cancellation)

The Economist Group Limited
The Economist Subscriptions
20 Cabot Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 4QW
United Kingdom

Note: This is The Economist's UK address. For faster processing, use live chat or phone support instead. If you choose to send registered mail, allow 15-20 business days for processing and always keep your tracking receipt.

Canadian escalation (if customer service is unresponsive)

If The Economist fails to respond to your cancellation request within 14 days, file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection office:

• Ontario: Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (ontario.ca/business/consumer)
• British Columbia: Consumer Protection BC (consumerprotectionbc.ca)
• Alberta: Fair Trading Act complaint process (alberta.ca)
• Other provinces: Contact your provincial Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Stopee reminds you that these agencies exist to protect you. If The Economist has wrongfully charged you or refused to process your cancellation, these authorities can investigate and compel refunds on your behalf.