Manage Teachable

How to cancel teachable and protect your refund rights in south africa

What is teachable and who should cancel

Teachable is an online learning platform that lets creators, educators, and organisations build, host, and sell courses to students worldwide. The service provides course-building tools, payment processing, student management, and analytics - everything you need to run a digital school or training business.

You might use Teachable as a course creator managing your own school, or as a student enrolled in courses. Either way, cancelling your subscription follows different rules depending on whether you're cancelling a creator plan or requesting a refund on a course purchase. At Stopee, we help you understand exactly which rules apply to your situation and how to act on them.

Creator subscriptions versus student course purchases

If you created a school on Teachable and pay a monthly or annual subscription for access to the platform's tools, you hold a creator account. If you enrolled in a course on Teachable and paid the course creator directly, you're a student making a one-time purchase. The cancellation process and refund eligibility are completely different for each.

Stopee specialises in guiding creators and students through the exact cancellation method that applies to them, so you don't waste time trying the wrong approach.

Teachable pricing plans and what you're paying for

Understanding what you're paying helps you decide whether cancelling makes financial sense or whether downgrading to a cheaper plan might work better.

Creator subscription plans

In South African rands, these prices fluctuate with the USD/ZAR exchange rate. At the time of writing, expect to pay roughly R1,300 to R5,800 per month depending on the plan you choose and current exchange rates. Stopee recommends checking the current pricing on your billing statement to understand your exact monthly outlay.

Student course purchase charges

When you buy a course from a creator using Teachable, the course creator sets the price. You typically pay once and receive lifetime access to the course content. There is no recurring subscription charge unless the creator offers a paid membership tier or a course that requires ongoing payment.

Your consumer rights under south african law

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the general right to cancel within a cooling-off period protect you when you sign up for a subscription or make a purchase online.

The 30-day refund window for creator plans

Teachable allows you to request a full, unconditional refund on your creator subscription if you cancel within 30 days of first signing up or upgrading to a paid plan. This is more generous than the statutory 14-day cooling-off period under the CPA, and Stopee considers it a genuine protection.

Important: The 30-day window starts from your first charge date, not from when you activate the plan. If you signed up on 1 January but didn't activate the school until 10 January, your 30-day window still closes on 1 February.

The 14-day refund right for course purchases

If you are a student who purchased a course through Teachable's payment processing, you have the right to request a refund within 14 days of the initial purchase under the CPA. This cooling-off period applies unless the course creator has explicitly excluded digital goods from the right to cancel, which is rare.

Warning: Teachable announced in November 2025 that it will no longer refund transaction fees and Stripe processing charges when you request a refund. This means your refund may be slightly less than the full amount you paid, even within the 14-day window. Stopee advises you to factor in this fee loss when deciding whether to request a refund.

Protections after the cooling-off period

If you cancel or request a refund after 30 days (creator plans) or 14 days (course purchases), the CPA still protects you if the service is unfit for purpose, misleading, or unsafe. However, you will need evidence that Teachable failed to deliver what it promised. Stopee recommends documenting any technical failures or broken features before disputing a charge.

How to cancel your teachable creator subscription

Follow these steps to cancel your creator plan via the Teachable admin dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, so you will have access until your next renewal date.

Cancellation via the web admin dashboard

1. Log into your Teachable admin account using your email and password.
   • If you cannot remember your password, click "Forgot password" on the login page and follow the email reset link.
2. Once logged in, navigate to the Settings section (usually found in the left sidebar or top menu).
   • Look for a gear icon or "Settings" label.
3. Click on Billing within the Settings menu.
   • You will see your current plan name, renewal date, and payment method.
4. Click "Manage Plan" (or "View Plan" if Manage Plan is not visible).
   • This opens a page showing your subscription details.
5. Click "Cancel Plan" at the bottom of the plan details section.
   • Teachable may ask you why you are cancelling; this feedback is optional.
6. Confirm your cancellation by clicking "Yes, cancel my subscription" or a similar confirmation button.
   • You will receive an email confirmation of the cancellation immediately.

Pro tip: Take a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation email. If Teachable fails to stop charging you after your renewal date, this email serves as proof that you cancelled on time.

Cancellation of app store or google play subscriptions

If you subscribed to Teachable through Apple's App Store or Google Play Store, you cannot cancel directly via Teachable. You must cancel through the app store that charged you.

1. For Apple App Store subscriptions:
   • Open the Apple App Store app on your iOS device or visit appleid.apple.com on your computer.
   • Go to "Subscriptions" in your account settings.
   • Find Teachable in the list and tap or click on it.
   • Select "Cancel Subscription" and confirm.
   • You will receive a confirmation email from Apple.
2. For Google Play subscriptions:
   • Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device or visit play.google.com in your web browser.
   • Go to "Manage Subscriptions" or "Payments and subscriptions" in your account menu.
   • Find Teachable and tap or click on it.
   • Select "Cancel Subscription" and follow the prompts.
   • Google will send you a cancellation confirmation email.

Stopee emphasises that the app store operator, not Teachable, processes these cancellations. If the store says your cancellation was successful but Teachable keeps billing you through the app store, contact the app store's support team first, as the billing error lies with them.

Refund eligibility and how to request a refund

Refunds work differently depending on whether you're a creator seeking a refund on your subscription or a student requesting a refund on a course purchase.

Creator subscription refunds within 30 days

If you are within 30 days of signing up for or upgrading to a Teachable creator plan, you are eligible for a full refund of the amount you paid.

1. First, cancel your subscription via Settings > Billing > Manage Plan > Cancel Plan (see the steps above).
   • Cancellation does not automatically trigger a refund; you must request one separately.
2. After cancelling, write an email to Teachable's support team requesting a refund.
   • Include your full name, email address associated with the account, the date you signed up, and the amount you paid.
   • Send this to support@teachable.com or use the contact form on Teachable's website.
3. Teachable support will process your refund within 7 to 10 business days, crediting the amount back to your original payment method.
   • If you paid by credit card, the refund may take an additional 2 to 5 business days to appear on your statement.

Warning: If you request a refund after 30 days have passed, Teachable will refuse it. Stopee strongly recommends acting within this window if you are unhappy with the service.

Student course purchase refunds within 14 days

If you are a student who purchased a course and want a refund, you have 14 days from the purchase date to request one.

1. Contact the course creator directly through Teachable's messaging system or their provided email address.
   • Most course creators handle refund requests themselves rather than Teachable processing them.
2. If the creator does not respond within 5 business days, contact Teachable support at support@teachable.com.
   • Provide your receipt or purchase confirmation email, the course name, and your reason for requesting the refund.
3. Teachable may escalate the request to the course creator or process the refund directly if the creator cannot be reached.
   • Full refunds are processed within 7 to 10 business days to your original payment method.

Important: From November 6, 2025, Teachable will not refund transaction fees (Stripe fees, payment gateway charges) even within the 14-day window. Your refund will be the course price minus all processing charges, which may reduce your refund by 5% to 10% depending on the payment method.

Student refunds after 14 days

After 14 days, refunds are no longer guaranteed by law or Teachable policy. However, some course creators maintain a positive account balance (from other student payments) and may approve refunds up to 180 days after purchase, subject to a daily USD 10,000 cap across all refunds. This is at the creator's discretion and Stopee cannot promise it will happen.

What happens after you cancel

Cancelling your Teachable subscription does not immediately delete your account or course content. Understanding what remains accessible helps you plan your next steps.

Access to your school and content after cancellation

When you cancel your creator plan, your school and all course content remain in Teachable's system until the end of your current billing cycle. On your renewal date, your access as an administrator will be suspended. Students who enrolled before cancellation may still have access to courses depending on the school's access policy, but you will not be able to make changes to courses, add new content, or manage student enrolments.

Pro tip: If you plan to move your courses to another platform, export your course content, student records, and analytics before your access expires. Teachable allows you to export course data via the admin dashboard under Settings > Account > Export Data.

Student access and course content

If you are a student who purchased a course and later cancel your account or request a refund, your access to the course depends on the creator's refund policy. Most creators revoke access immediately when a refund is issued. Some allow you to keep access even after a refund if they have a generous policy. Check the course's terms or contact the creator directly to understand what access you retain after a refund.

Data retention and account deletion

Teachable retains your account data (school information, student records, transaction history) for up to 90 days after cancellation to allow you to reactivate if you change your mind. After 90 days, your account and all associated data are deleted. If you need to recover data after cancellation, contact Teachable support immediately, as they can retrieve it only within this window.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling a subscription should be straightforward, but Teachable's interface and refund policies hide several traps that leave creators and students out of pocket.

Mistake 1: not requesting a refund in writing after cancelling

Many creators cancel their subscription thinking that cancellation alone triggers a refund. Teachable requires a separate written request to release the refund. If you do not email support after cancelling, you will lose your 30-day refund window and Teachable will keep your money. Stopee advises you to cancel first, then immediately send a refund request email with your account details and the date you signed up.

Mistake 2: cancelling an app store or google play subscription through teachable

If you subscribed via an app store, there is no "Cancel Plan" button in your Teachable settings. The button simply does not appear because Teachable has no control over app store billing. Many users click settings over and over, frustrated, thinking they are cancelling when they are not. Always check your original payment method. If you bought the subscription on your phone using an app, go to the app store settings on your phone or computer to cancel.

Mistake 3: missing the 30-day or 14-day refund deadline

Refund windows are strict. Thirty days means 30 calendar days from your first charge date, not 30 days from when you felt dissatisfied. After day 30, Teachable will not refund creator subscriptions without escalation to a consumer protection body. For students, the 14-day window closes on day 14 of the purchase date. Set a phone reminder as soon as you sign up if you think you might want a refund.

Mistake 4: assuming you will keep access to your courses after cancellation

Many creators cancel expecting to review their course content while the billing is paused. This does not happen. Once your billing cycle ends, your admin access is suspended immediately. You cannot view course analytics, edit content, or manage students. If you need to export data, do it before your renewal date arrives.

Your cancellation checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel correctly and protect your refund eligibility.

What stopee users say about cancelling teachable

Thousands of creators and students have used Stopee to navigate Teachable cancellations. Common feedback includes frustration with Teachable's hidden refund request requirement, confusion about app store versus web cancellation, and surprise at transaction fee deductions from refunds. One creator reported she thought she had cancelled but was billed for another month because she never sent the refund request email. Stopee helped her contact Teachable support and recover that month's charge. Another user appreciated learning that the 30-day refund window applied to his recent upgrade, not just his original signup date.

Escalation and consumer rights support

If Teachable refuses your refund or continues billing you after cancellation, South African consumer law is on your side.

Teachable's contact details

Teachable's primary office is located at 470 Park Avenue South, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. An additional office is at 16 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010. For refund disputes, email support@teachable.com and include "Refund Dispute" in the subject line. Request a response within 5 business days.

Escalation to consumer protection authorities

If Teachable does not respond or refuses your refund claim, escalate to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) in South Africa. The NCC handles complaints about online services and subscription billing disputes. You can file a complaint online at www.nccbiz.co.za or call 0860 000 408. Stopee recommends providing your cancellation confirmation email, refund request email, and bank statements showing the charges as supporting evidence.

Additionally, your bank or credit card company may dispute the charge on your behalf if you have evidence that you cancelled and requested a refund. This is called a chargeback and is a powerful last resort if Teachable ignores your complaint.

Summary and next steps

Cancelling Teachable requires you to know whether you are a creator or student, understand your refund window, and follow the correct cancellation method. Creators must cancel via the web dashboard and then request a refund in writing within 30 days. Students must contact the course creator or Teachable support within 14 days. App store subscriptions must be cancelled through the app store itself, not Teachable's website. After 30 or 14 days, refunds become much harder to obtain without escalating to a consumer protection body.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel Teachable without losing money or access to their content. Whether you are a frustrated creator looking for a way out or a student seeking a refund on an unsatisfactory course, Stopee walks you through every step, anticipates the traps Teachable uses, and ensures you know your rights under South African consumer law. Start your cancellation today with confidence, and keep your refund confirmation email safe. If Teachable blocks your path, Stopee's guide to escalation will help you recover what you are owed.