Manage Substack

How to cancel substack and reclaim your paid newsletter subscriptions

Understanding substack and why you might cancel

Substack is a publishing platform that empowers writers to build newsletters and charge readers for premium access. You subscribe to individual publications directly, and payments renew automatically each month or year until you cancel. If you have signed up for paid newsletters through Substack but no longer find them valuable, cancelling your subscription is straightforward once you know where you made the purchase.

Whether you subscribed via the web, Apple App Store, or Google Play, Stopee is here to guide you through every step. Many readers discover they are paying for newsletters they no longer read, or they want to consolidate their subscriptions to save money. Whatever your reason, you have the right to cancel quickly and without friction.

When you should cancel

Cancel your Substack subscription if you no longer engage with the newsletter, prefer free alternatives, or need to reduce monthly spending. You might also cancel if a publication goes dormant (inactive for more than one month for monthly plans, or six months for yearly plans) and you want your money back.

The key insight: auto-renewal means you will keep paying until you actively cancel. Do not assume your subscription will expire on its own.

Substack's cancellation reputation

Substack has a solid track record for honouring cancellations once submitted. The platform does not hide the cancellation button or force you through multiple steps. Your main challenge will be identifying which platform you used to subscribe (web, iOS, or Android), since each has its own cancellation process. Stopee helps you navigate this distinction so you cancel from the right place.

Substack pricing and popular plans in singapore

Substack subscriptions vary widely depending on which publication you are reading. Below is a snapshot of real in-app and web pricing observed in the Singapore market.

Your actual charges depend entirely on which specific publications you have subscribed to. Most paid newsletters on Substack cost between S$5 and S$20 per month. If you have been subscribed for six months or more and forgotten about it, that could total over S$100 in charges you did not expect.

Your consumer rights when cancelling substack

Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act protects you when you buy subscriptions online. You have the legal right to cancel within a reasonable period if the service has not been delivered as described, or if you were misled about charges.

What the consumer protection (Fair trading) act means for you

Under Singapore consumer law, you are entitled to cancel online purchases if the trader has not clearly disclosed the auto-renewal terms. If Substack or a publication owner did not make it obvious that your subscription would auto-renew, or if charges are higher than advertised, you can lodge a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and request a refund.

Most importantly: you do not have to accept a "no refund" policy if the subscription was never properly explained to you. Substack is required to make cancellation as easy as purchase.

Escalation if substack refuses to help

If you cancel your subscription and Substack refuses to refund you after 7 days, or if you cannot locate a way to cancel, contact CASE (Consumers Association of Singapore) or the Media Development Authority (MDA). Document your attempt to cancel and any response you receive. Stopee recommends keeping screenshots of subscription confirmations and cancellation attempts for your records.

How to cancel substack on the web

If you subscribed via Substack.com using a credit or debit card, you cancel directly through your account settings. This is the most straightforward method.

1. Open your web browser and visit substack.com.
   • Make sure you are on the official site, not a phishing page.
   • Log in with your email and password if you are not already signed in.
2. Click your account icon or name in the top right corner.
   • Look for a menu labelled "Account", "Profile", or your email address.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
   • You should see options like "Billing", "Notifications", or "Account".
4. Navigate to Subscriptions or Billing.
   • This section lists all active paid subscriptions you are currently paying for.
   • Each subscription should show the publication name, next billing date, and amount.
5. Locate the publication you want to cancel and click Cancel Subscription.
   • Warning: Do not click "Delete Account" unless you want to close your entire Substack profile.
   • Cancelling a subscription removes only that single publication.
6. Confirm your cancellation when prompted.
   • Substack may ask "Are you sure?". Click Yes or Confirm.
   • You should receive a confirmation email within minutes.
7. Verify the cancellation by checking your Subscriptions list again.
   • The publication should no longer appear, or should display a "Cancelled" status.
   • Pro tip: Save a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation in case you are charged again by mistake.

Timeline: Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. If you cancel mid-month, you retain access until the 1st of next month or your renewal date. You will not be charged again.

How to cancel substack on iOS (Apple app store)

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad, you must cancel through Apple, not through Substack. Substack cannot cancel App Store subscriptions on your behalf, so you need to manage the subscription directly in your Apple ID settings.

1. Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
   • Find it on your home screen or in your app library.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner of the App Store.
   • It looks like a person's head or your profile photo.
   • If you see a login prompt, enter your Apple ID email and password.
3. Select Subscriptions from the menu.
   • This displays all active subscriptions tied to your Apple ID.
4. Find Substack (or the specific publication name) in your subscriptions list.
   • Tap it to open the subscription details.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription or Edit.
   • Some older iOS versions show an "Edit" button instead.
   • You should see the renewal date and price.
6. Confirm the cancellation.
   • Apple will ask "Are you sure you want to cancel?" Tap Confirm or Yes.
   • Warning: Cancelling through App Store does not delete the Substack app from your device.
7. Check for a confirmation message.
   • You should see "Cancelled" or a similar status displayed next to the subscription name.
   • Apple sends a confirmation email to your registered Apple ID address.

Important: If you cannot find the Substack subscription in your list, it may be under a different email address or Apple ID. Some users have multiple Apple IDs. Check all Apple IDs linked to your devices.

How to cancel substack on android (Google play)

Android users who subscribed through Google Play must cancel via Google Play's subscription manager. Like Apple, Google handles all billing and refunds for in-app purchases, so Substack cannot process the cancellation directly.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
   • Look for the coloured play button icon.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
   • It shows your profile photo or initial.
3. Select Subscriptions from the menu.
   • You will see a list of all active subscriptions.
4. Find and tap Substack (or the publication name).
   • The subscription details page opens.
5. Tap Cancel subscription.
   • You may see a prompt asking why you are cancelling. This is optional.
   • Substack may offer a discount to keep you subscribed. Ignore this if you want to cancel.
6. Confirm the cancellation.
   • Google Play asks "Are you sure?" Tap Yes or Cancel subscription again.
   • You receive an email confirmation from Google Play.

Pro tip: If the Substack app itself shows a "Manage Subscription" button, tapping it will open a browser link to Google Play anyway. Stopee recommends skipping the app and going directly to Google Play for a faster, clearer experience.

What happens after you cancel your substack subscription

Cancelling a subscription does not delete your account or erase your reading history. Many people worry they will lose everything, but Substack isolates cancellation from your profile.

Access and billing after cancellation

Once you cancel, you retain access to paid content until the end of your current billing cycle. If you cancel mid-month, you can still read the newsletter until your renewal date arrives. After that date passes, you lose access to new paid posts, but you may still see older public or free content from that publication depending on the creator's settings.

Auto-renewal is disabled immediately upon cancellation. You will never be charged again unless you manually resubscribe.

Your account and free subscriptions

Your Substack account remains active after cancellation. All your free newsletter subscriptions, reading history, and saved posts stay intact. You can still read any newsletters you do not pay for.

If you want to delete your entire Substack account, you must do that separately in your account settings. Cancelling one subscription is not the same as closing your account.

Refunds and money-back guarantees

Substack's refund policy depends entirely on where you made the purchase. Your refund eligibility is different for web purchases versus app purchases.

Refunds for web subscriptions (Substack.com)

Substack issues refunds within 7 days of payment if you request them. Contact Substack support via their help centre and explain why you want a refund. They typically approve refunds without much pushback if you are within the 7-day window.

Additionally, Substack refunds you automatically if a publication becomes dormant (inactive for 30 days or more for monthly plans, or 180 days or more for yearly plans). If a writer abandons their newsletter and you are still being charged, you are entitled to your money back. Stopee recommends checking your subscriptions at least quarterly to catch dormant publications.

Duplicate charges caused by processing errors are also refundable. If you were charged twice in one billing cycle, report it to Substack immediately with screenshots.

Refunds for apple app store purchases

Apple handles all refunds for subscriptions purchased through the App Store. Substack support cannot process these refunds. You must request a refund directly from Apple.

To request an App Store refund, open the App Store, go to your profile, tap Purchase history, find the Substack charge, and select Report a problem. Apple typically approves refunds within 5 to 10 business days if you are within 90 days of purchase.

Warning: If you contact Substack asking for a refund on an App Store purchase, they will redirect you to Apple. Do not waste time emailing Substack for this.

Refunds for google play purchases

Google Play handles refunds for in-app purchases. You must request the refund through Google Play support, not Substack. You can initiate a refund through your Google Play account within 48 hours of purchase with a click, or contact Google Play support for refunds beyond that window.

Like Apple, Google typically approves refunds within 5 to 10 business days. Keep your order ID and payment confirmation handy.

Substack pro and insights pro refunds

Substack's premium tools like Insights Pro include a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you purchase Insights Pro and decide it is not for you, request a refund within 14 days and Substack will honour it. Refunds are processed in 5 to 10 business days once approved.

Common mistakes that delay or block your cancellation

Cancelling should be simple, but small missteps can leave you confused or charged unexpectedly. You are not alone if you have made one of these errors. Stopee has guided thousands of people through this exact process, and these are the pitfalls we see most.

Mistaking subscription cancellation for account deletion

Many people click "Delete Account" thinking it will cancel their subscriptions. It does not. Deleting your account closes your Substack profile but may still leave your subscriptions active and charging. Always cancel subscriptions first, then delete your account only if you no longer want to use Substack at all.

Cancelling on the wrong platform

If you subscribed via the iOS app, cancelling on the Substack website will not work. You must cancel through Apple. Similarly, Google Play subscriptions must be cancelled through Google Play, not through Substack.com. Check your bank or payment app to see which platform processed the charge, then cancel there.

Not confirming the cancellation

Cancellation requires confirmation. If you click "Cancel" but do not confirm the prompt, your subscription remains active. Always look for a second "Are you sure?" step and click it.

Forgetting to check your email

After cancellation, Substack, Apple, or Google sends a confirmation email. If you do not receive one within a few minutes, the cancellation may not have gone through. Check your spam or promotions folder. If there is no email after 30 minutes, try cancelling again.

Assuming old subscriptions have expired

Do not assume a newsletter you have not read in months has stopped charging you. Substack auto-renews every month or year. Check your active subscriptions list at least every three months to catch and cancel subscriptions you have abandoned.

Refund checklist before contacting support

Before you escalate to support or lodge a complaint with CASE, use this checklist to gather evidence and confirm your cancellation status.

1. Take screenshots of your subscription confirmation email from when you first subscribed.
   • Save the date you subscribed and the amount charged.
2. Take screenshots of your bank or card statement showing all charges from Substack.
   • Highlight the amount, date, and number of charges.
3. Log in to Substack, Apple, or Google and confirm the subscription is now cancelled or no longer appears in your active list.
   • Screenshot the "cancelled" status or empty subscriptions list.
4. Save your cancellation confirmation email from Substack, Apple, or Google.
   • This is your proof of cancellation attempt.
5. Note the dates you cancelled and when charges stopped.
   • If charged again after cancellation, you have grounds for a complaint.
6. Check if you qualify for a refund under Substack's 7-day policy or the dormant publication rule.
   • If yes, contact Substack support with dates and amounts.

Pro tip: Keep these documents for at least 12 months. If a dispute arises with your bank or card issuer, you will need them to prove you attempted to cancel.

Comparison: cancelling versus keeping your substack subscriptions

Before you cancel everything, consider whether any of your current subscriptions still deliver value. This table helps you decide which subscriptions to keep and which to cancel.

If three or more factors point to "Cancel", end that subscription today. If most factors lean "Keep", the subscription is probably worth the cost.

Substack contact information and support escalation

If you cancel your subscription and are still charged, or if you cannot find the cancel button, use these resources to escalate your complaint.

Substack support channels

Visit Substack's help centre at support.substack.com or substack.com/contact to submit a support ticket. Include your email address, the publication name, and proof of cancellation or charge. Substack typically responds within 48 to 72 hours.

For refund requests, include your bank statement showing the charge and the date you cancelled. Specify whether you want a partial refund (prorated to the cancellation date) or a full refund of the entire month.

Postal address for legal notices (if required)

While Substack is a US-based company, if you need to send formal notice or lodge a complaint, their registered legal address and mailing address for account inquiries is:

Substack, Inc.
548 Market Street, Suite 83102
San Francisco, CA 94104
United States

For consumer complaints in Singapore, contact:

Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE)
Telephone: 1800-6100-6800
Email: help@case.org.sg
Website: www.case.org.sg

CASE is your statutory body for consumer disputes. File a complaint if Substack refuses to refund you after 7 days or if you cannot cancel your subscription despite attempting all methods described in this guide.

Key takeaways and next steps

Cancelling a Substack subscription is fast and painless once you know which platform you used. Web cancellations take two minutes; app cancellations require a detour through Apple or Google but are equally straightforward. Remember: your cancellation takes effect at the end of your billing cycle, and you retain access to paid content until then.

If you were overcharged or cannot locate the cancel button, Substack offers refunds within 7 days, and Singapore's Consumer Protection Act backs your right to a refund if auto-renewal terms were not clearly disclosed. Document your attempt to cancel and escalate to CASE if Substack refuses to help.

Whether you are trimming subscription costs or simply cleaning up old purchases you forgot about, Stopee has walked you through every step and every platform. Thousands of consumers have used our guides to cancel unwanted services, recover refunds, and take control of their subscriptions. You now have all the knowledge and confidence to do the same with Substack. Act today: log in, navigate to your subscriptions, and cancel what no longer serves you.