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How to cancel medium membership in india and protect your subscription rights

What is medium and why indians choose it

Medium is a global publishing platform where millions of writers and readers share articles, essays and ideas across technology, culture, business and personal growth. In India, Medium has grown popular among independent journalists, developers and thought leaders who value a distraction-free reading experience.

The platform offers free access to a limited number of articles each month, but a paid membership unlocks unlimited reading, member-only stories and the ability to earn through the Partner Program if you write. For many Indians, Medium membership costs between ₹149 and ₹389 monthly depending on where you subscribe, making it an investment worth reconsidering if it no longer matches your reading habits or budget.

If you have decided Medium is not right for you, Stopee will walk you through every cancellation method, refund option and consumer protection lever available to you as an Indian subscriber.

Medium pricing plans in india

Medium offers several subscription tiers in India, each with distinct billing cycles and pricing across different platforms.

Prices vary by purchase channel because iOS charges a premium through Apple's payment system, while Android and web purchases use purchasing power parity (PPP) discounts designed for the Indian market. If you subscribed on iOS, expect to pay nearly double the web price.

Should you cancel medium? signs it may be time

Before you commit to cancellation, consider whether Medium truly no longer fits your needs or whether a temporary pause would serve you better.

You should cancel Medium if you rarely read member-only stories, prefer news aggregation over long-form journalism, have found better-value alternatives like Substack or LinkedIn, or simply cannot justify ₹200+ monthly on reading content. You should also cancel if you subscribed through an app store but no longer remember doing so-many Indians discover forgotten subscriptions during budget reviews.

However, hold off on cancelling if you are actively writing and earning through Medium's Partner Program, if you read at least 2-3 member stories weekly, or if you subscribed for a specific series or writer you have not finished. In these cases, pausing the subscription through your account settings (rather than full cancellation) may be wiser-though Medium does not officially offer a pause feature, so cancellation followed by resubscription remains your option.

Once you decide to cancel, Stopee recommends acting immediately to avoid accidental renewal charges, especially if your billing date is approaching.

How to cancel medium on the web (medium.com)

Cancelling Medium through your web browser is the fastest and most reliable method available to Indian subscribers.

1. Open medium.com in your web browser and sign in with your email or social account (Google, Apple, Facebook).
   • If you forgot your password, click "Forgot password?" and reset it via the email link before proceeding.
2. Click on your profile icon (top-right corner) and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
   • You will land on your account settings dashboard.
3. Scroll down to find "Membership" or "Membership and payments" section.
   • This section displays your current plan, billing date and renewal amount.
4. Click the button labeled "Cancel your membership" (exact wording may vary).
   • Warning: Do not click "Delete account" instead-this removes your profile but does not cancel your subscription.
5. Review the cancellation notice. Medium will confirm your current access extends until the end of your billing cycle.
   • For example, if you cancel on the 15th of a month and your renewal date is the 20th, you keep access until the 20th.
6. Click "Confirm cancellation" or "Yes, cancel my membership" to finalise.
   • You will receive a confirmation email within minutes to the address linked to your Medium account.
   • Pro tip: Save or screenshot this confirmation email for your records in case Medium disputes the cancellation later.

After you complete these steps, your subscription will not renew. Your account and all published stories remain active and visible unless you separately delete your account later.

How to cancel medium on iOS (iPhone and iPad)

If you subscribed to Medium through Apple's App Store on your iPhone or iPad, you must cancel through Apple's system, not Medium's app.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app (grey icon with white gears).
   • Do not open the Medium app itself.
2. Scroll down and tap your name at the top of Settings.
   • This opens your Apple ID profile menu.
3. Tap "Subscriptions".
   • This shows all active subscriptions linked to your Apple ID.
4. Find and tap "Medium" from the list of active subscriptions.
   • If you do not see Medium listed, your subscription may already be cancelled or linked to a different Apple ID.
5. Tap "Cancel subscription" (red button near the bottom).
   • Warning: Some versions of iOS show "Modify subscription"-avoid this as it may upgrade your plan instead of cancelling.
6. Confirm your cancellation by tapping "Confirm" when prompted.
   • Apple will send you a cancellation confirmation email immediately.
   • Your Medium access continues until the current billing period ends.

Important note: Deleting the Medium app from your iPhone does not cancel the subscription. The subscription exists within Apple's system, not on the app itself, so you must follow the steps above. Many Indian subscribers mistakenly believe deleting the app stops billing-it does not.

How to cancel medium on android (Google play)

Android users subscribed through Google Play must cancel via the Google Play app or website, not through Medium's Android app.

1. Open the Google Play app on your Android phone or tablet.
   • Look for the Google Play Store icon on your home screen or app drawer.
2. Tap your profile icon (top-right corner, usually your initials or photo).
   • A menu will appear with several options.
3. Tap "Payments and subscriptions".
   • This opens your payment and subscription management page.
4. Tap "Subscriptions" (not "Payment methods").
   • You will see all active subscriptions charged to your Google Play account.
5. Find and tap "Medium" from the subscription list.
   • If Medium does not appear, verify you are logged into the correct Google account.
6. Tap "Cancel subscription".
   • Google will ask why you are cancelling-this is optional feedback.
7. Confirm the cancellation by tapping "Yes, cancel" on the confirmation screen.
   • You will receive a confirmation email from Google Play within seconds.
   • Your Medium access remains active through the end of your current billing period.

As with iOS, uninstalling the Medium app does not stop charges. The subscription is linked to your Google Play account, not the app, so you must cancel through Google Play's system directly.

What happens to your account after cancellation

After you cancel Medium, your access does not disappear immediately-it extends until the final day of your current billing cycle.

For example, if you cancel on March 10 and your next renewal date was March 20, you retain full member access until March 19 at 11:59 PM. On March 20, your access downgrads to the free tier, and you can read only the limited number of free stories per month that Medium allows.

Your Medium account, all your published stories, profile information and reading history remain intact after cancellation unless you separately delete your account. Deleting your account is a separate, irreversible action-proceed with caution. If you choose to delete, Medium will request confirmation and all your content will be permanently removed.

Most importantly, you will not be charged again after your current billing cycle ends. Your subscription will not auto-renew if you cancelled successfully. Stopee strongly advises checking your email for the cancellation confirmation to ensure the process completed.

Medium's refund policy and what you need to know

Medium's official stance on refunds is strict: subscription fees are final and non-refundable once charged, even if you cancel immediately after purchasing.

Medium does not offer a statutory 14-day cooling-off period for membership purchases made directly on their platform. Their membership terms explicitly state that cancellation stops future charges but does not refund fees already paid for the current billing cycle.

Exception: If you subscribed through Apple App Store or Google Play, you have additional refund rights beyond Medium's terms. Apple and Google operate their own refund policies independent of Medium's policy.

• Apple App Store (iOS): You can request a refund within 14 days of purchase through your Apple account settings. Open Settings > [Your Name] > Media and Purchases > Review Account > Purchase History > find Medium > tap "Report Problem" > select "Accidental purchase" or "I don't want this subscription" > request a refund. Apple often approves refunds within 24-48 hours.
• Google Play (Android): You can request a refund within 48 hours of the initial charge or subscription renewal. Open Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions > Medium > tap "Cancel subscription" then "See cancellation options" > select "Get a refund" if available. Google Play automatically refunds eligible purchases within 3-5 business days.

Warning: Medium explicitly states it cannot override or influence App Store or Google Play refund decisions. If Apple or Google denies your refund, Medium will not override that decision. Your recourse is with the app store directly, not Medium support.

If you paid directly through the Medium website (no app store involved), you generally have no refund right unless you can prove fraud, billing error or violation of Indian consumer protection law-which is extremely rare for subscription disputes.

Your consumer protection rights in india

As an Indian consumer, you have statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA) even when purchasing from foreign companies like Medium.

Medium's membership terms state that cancellation is allowed at any time, which is consumer-friendly. However, their blanket "no refunds" policy may violate the CPA if Medium fails to deliver the service you paid for (for example, if the platform crashes and member features are unavailable for extended periods).

Under the CPA, you can file a consumer complaint if:

• Medium denies you access to membership benefits you have paid for without justification.
• Billing errors occur and Medium refuses to correct them.
• You were charged without consent (e.g., accidental double-charging or renewal without clear notice).
• Medium's cancellation process is deliberately obstructed or made inaccessible.

If Medium does not respond to your support request within 30 days or disputes a valid claim, you can escalate to your district consumer protection authority. Stopee recommends gathering all emails, screenshots of charges and proof of cancellation attempts before escalating.

Additionally, if you subscribed via Apple or Google, both companies fall under Indian regulatory oversight for App Store charges. You can lodge complaints with the National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000, toll-free in India) or file a case through the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission if a refund is wrongfully denied.

Common mistakes indians make when cancelling medium

Cancelling a subscription feels straightforward until a small oversight leaves you charged for another month-a frustration many Indian subscribers experience unnecessarily.

Mistake 1: Deleting the app instead of cancelling the subscription. This is the most common error. Deleting Medium from your phone changes nothing. The subscription lives in Apple or Google's billing system, not on the app itself. Always cancel through Settings > Subscriptions, not by uninstalling.

Mistake 2: Confusing "Delete account" with "Cancel subscription." Deleting your Medium account removes your profile and stories but does not cancel the subscription. You must click "Cancel membership" in the Membership section, not delete the account. Do the cancellation first, then delete your account later if desired.

Mistake 3: Not confirming the cancellation email. After you cancel, Medium or the app store sends a confirmation email. Many Indians overlook this email, leaving them uncertain whether cancellation succeeded. Open your email (check spam if necessary) and save the confirmation as proof.

Mistake 4: Cancelling just before renewal without checking the exact renewal date. If you cancel one day before renewal, you lose access the next day but still pay for the full month. Check your renewal date before cancelling and plan accordingly. Pro tip: set a phone reminder 3-5 days before renewal so you do not forget.

Mistake 5: Assuming you will get a refund for the remaining days in the month. You will not. Medium charges you for the full month, and cancellation only stops the next charge. There is no pro-rata refund for partial-month cancellations.

Mistake 6: Not keeping records of cancellation. If a charge appears after you cancel, you need proof that you requested cancellation. Screenshot your confirmation email and the final screen showing "Your membership has been cancelled." This protects you if Medium or your bank later disputes the cancellation.

How to request a refund if you were wrongfully charged

If Medium or the app store charged you after you cancelled, or if you were double-charged in error, follow these steps to request a refund.

1. Gather all documentation: screenshots of your cancellation request, confirmation emails, bank or credit card statements showing the charge, and any Medium support emails.
   • Do not proceed without this evidence.
2. Contact Medium support directly via their website support form or email support@medium.com with the subject line "Refund request: Incorrect charge after cancellation." Include your email, Medium account username, the charge date, amount and description of the issue.
   • Keep this email brief and fact-based, attaching screenshots as evidence.
3. If the charge occurred through Apple or Google, contact them first before or instead of Medium.
   • Apple: Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, select the charge, and request a refund with explanation.
   • Google: Open Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > tap the charge > Report a problem > choose "Unexpected charge" and request refund.
4. If Medium or the app store does not respond within 7 days, escalate to your credit card issuer or bank by requesting a chargeback or dispute.
   • Tell your bank the charge was unauthorised (because you cancelled before it was charged).
   • Your bank will formally dispute the charge with Medium's payment processor.
5. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days, file a consumer complaint with the National Consumer Helpline or your state consumer protection authority.
   • Provide all documentation and copies of your escalation attempts.

Most refunds for post-cancellation charges are approved within 5-10 days if you provide clear proof of cancellation. Act quickly-delays weaken your case.

Checklist before and after cancelling medium

How stopee helps you stay on top of subscriptions

Cancelling Medium is just one piece of managing your digital spending. Many Indians hold multiple forgotten subscriptions across Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, Kindle Unlimited and dozens of smaller services-totalling hundreds of rupees monthly without realisation.

Stopee at stopee.com is India's leading subscription management platform, designed to help you track, cancel and optimise all your subscriptions in one place. Through Stopee, you can log your Medium membership along with every other service you pay for, set renewal reminders, and get alerts before charges appear. Stopee guides you through the exact cancellation process for over 500 popular services-from streaming platforms to SaaS tools-with step-by-step instructions tailored to your situation.

Stopee has helped thousands of Indian consumers recover hundreds of rupees annually by identifying and cancelling unused subscriptions before they are renewed. Whether you are cancelling Medium today or planning to audit all your subscriptions, Stopee makes the process transparent, simple and backed by consumer protection knowledge.

After you cancel Medium, visit Stopee to prevent this situation from repeating with other services. Stopee is free to use and gives you peace of mind that your money is spent only on subscriptions you actively value.