Manage Runway

How to cancel your runway subscription in south africa

What runway is and why you might want to cancel

Runway is a cloud-based AI video editing platform designed for content creators and creative teams who need fast, collaborative editing tools. It offers features like background removal, generative video, and real-time teamwork across web and mobile devices. If you've signed up but found it doesn't fit your workflow, costs too much, or you've simply moved on to another tool, cancelling is straightforward once you know where to look.

Where runway lives

You access Runway through the web app at app.runwayml.com or via the iOS App Store and Google Play. This matters because your cancellation method depends on which platform you used to subscribe. Web subscriptions work differently from app store subscriptions, and at Stopee, we've seen many people cancel incorrectly on one platform while their billing continues on another.

Why this guide matters

At Stopee, we know subscription cancellations can feel deliberately complicated. Runway's different platforms mean you'll need to cancel in the right place. This guide walks you through every method and helps you protect your data and refund rights in South Africa.

Your consumer rights in south africa

Before you cancel, understand what South African law protects you.

The consumer protection act and your refund rights

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) gives you the right to cancel most distance contracts (including online subscriptions) within 10 business days without penalty, as long as you haven't substantially used the service. If Runway's terms contradict this, the CPA takes priority. You also have the right to accurate billing information, transparent pricing, and clear cancellation procedures. At Stopee, we always remind users that these rights are non-negotiable, no matter what a service's terms say.

Refunds and your leverage

Runway offers a 30-day refund window for unused or nearly unused plans, which exceeds the CPA's 10-day minimum. If you've been charged within the past 30 days and the plan is largely unused, request a refund through the official channel. If Runway refuses without valid reason, you can escalate to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) or your payment provider (Stripe or your app store). Stopee has seen companies reverse their position when consumers cite the CPA.

Cancellation methods by platform

Runway subscriptions cancel differently depending on where you signed up, so follow the exact steps for your device.

Cancel your web subscription (direct billing)

If you signed up at app.runwayml.com and pay Runway directly via Stripe, use this method.

1. Open your web browser and go to app.runwayml.com.
2. Sign in with your email and password.
3. Click Settings (usually a gear icon in the top menu).
4. Navigate to Billing or Plans.
5. Find your active subscription and click Cancel plan or Manage subscription.
6. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.

What happens next: Your account remains active until the end of your current billing cycle. Automatic renewal stops immediately. You'll receive a confirmation email. Your projects and data stay in your account unless you delete them manually.

Pro tip: Before you cancel, export any projects or assets you want to keep. Download your work to your computer or cloud storage. Runway may delete inactive accounts after a period, so preserve what matters.

Cancel your iOS subscription

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, you must cancel through Apple, not Runway.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Select Subscriptions.
4. Find Runway in the list.
5. Tap Runway and then Cancel Subscription.
6. Confirm the cancellation.

Warning: Runway cannot cancel App Store subscriptions for you. Even if you delete the Runway app, your subscription continues until you cancel through Apple's settings. Many users miss this step and keep paying.

Pro tip: Check your cancellation date. Apple usually lets you keep access until your current billing period ends, but confirm this in the confirmation email from Apple.

Cancel your android subscription via google play

If you subscribed on Google Play, cancel through the Google Play Store app or website.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right.
3. Select Payments and subscriptions.
4. Tap Subscriptions.
5. Find Runway and tap it.
6. Tap Cancel subscription.
7. Follow the prompts to confirm.

Alternative method: Visit play.google.com on your computer, sign in, and follow the same path (Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions > Runway > Cancel).

Warning: Runway has no control over Google Play refunds. If you cancel and still get charged, contact Google Play support directly. Keep your cancellation confirmation email as proof.

Understanding your refund timeline and eligibility

Runway's refund policy is more generous than most SaaS platforms, but timing and usage matter.

Web subscription refunds

You're eligible for a full refund on web plans if you request it within 30 days of the billing charge and your account shows little to no usage. Runway evaluates usage based on your login activity and feature use. If you've uploaded videos, run processing, or generated assets, Runway may consider the plan "used" and deny a refund. However, a single login or brief test doesn't count as substantial use.

How to request a refund: Contact Runway support through your account settings or their help centre. Explain when you were charged and that the plan was unused. Runway typically responds within 3 to 5 business days. If they deny your refund and you paid within 30 days, cite the CPA's 10-day cancellation window and request escalation.

Credits and upgrades

If you purchased processing credits separately (not as part of a subscription plan), Runway refunds unused credits within 30 days of purchase. Used credits are non-refundable. If you upgraded mid-cycle (for example, from monthly to annual), you may qualify for a prorated refund. Stopee recommends requesting this in writing so you have documentation.

App store and google play refunds

Apple and Google handle their own refunds independently of Runway. You can request a refund directly from Apple or Google within 14 to 30 days of your purchase, depending on their policy. Both platforms evaluate your claim and refund to your original payment method if approved. Runway cannot influence this process, so go directly to the app store.

Runway pricing and plans

Understanding your plan helps you decide whether cancelling is the right choice and ensures you're not paying for unused tiers.

Current ZAR pricing varies by location and plan tier. Check your Runway billing page after logging in to see your exact charges in South African Rand. Stopee always recommends confirming the price before you buy, not after.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation doesn't mean instant deletion. Understanding what Runway keeps and what you lose helps you prepare.

Your access during and after cancellation

When you cancel a web subscription, your access continues until the end of your current billing period. For example, if your billing cycle ends on the 15th and you cancel on the 5th, you keep access until the 15th. After that date, you lose access to paid features but can still use the free tier. Your account itself doesn't delete automatically, and your projects remain visible to you (and any collaborators) as long as the account exists.

Pro tip: If you need to work on a project after cancellation, switch it to a free tier before your paid access expires. Download all finished work and export project files while you still have access.

Data retention and account deletion

Runway typically retains your account data for 30 to 90 days after cancellation, depending on their data policy. Your projects, settings, and collaboration history stay in the system during this window. If you want to delete your account entirely, contact Runway support and request account deletion. Once deleted, your data cannot be recovered. Before you delete, export everything important. At Stopee, we've spoken to users who lost years of project history because they deleted without backing up first.

Collaboration access for team members

If you're the account owner and team members depend on shared projects, cancellation affects their access too. Notify your team before you cancel so they can download or transfer their work. If you're a team member on someone else's account, cancellation of that account removes your access to shared projects (though your own uploads remain in Runway's system).

Common mistakes that cost you money and access

Many people cancel incompletely and end up paying charges they thought they'd stopped. Here's how to avoid that.

Mistake one: cancelling on one platform and forgetting the other

If you've subscribed on both the web and an app store, you must cancel both separately. Cancelling your web plan doesn't stop your iOS or Android charges, and vice versa. At Stopee, we've seen people cancel the web subscription and keep paying iOS charges for months because they forgot Apple handles its own billing. Check all three places (web, iOS, Android) before you assume you're fully cancelled.

Mistake two: assuming the app deletion is the same as cancellation

Deleting the Runway app from your phone does not cancel your subscription. Your payment method still renews the plan. You must cancel through Apple's or Google's settings. This is especially easy to overlook if you're switching to a different device or clearing space on your phone.

Mistake three: not requesting a refund when you're eligible

Runway's 30-day refund window only applies if you request it. They won't automatically refund you if you cancel on day 29. You must contact support and ask. If you were charged within 30 days and haven't used the plan, always file a refund request. The worst they can say is no. At Stopee, we recommend putting this in writing (email) so you have proof of your request if you need to escalate.

Mistake four: forgetting to export your projects before access expires

Your projects are accessible only while your account is active or during any grace period Runway provides after cancellation. If your paid access ends and you haven't downloaded your work, you may lose it. Download videos, project files, and any assets you created before the billing period expires.

Your cancellation checklist

Use this list to ensure you cancel completely and protect your data and refund rights.

• Log in to your Runway web account and check your current billing date.
• Export or download any projects, videos, or assets you want to keep.
• Cancel your web subscription through Settings > Billing (if you subscribed directly).
• Check the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) for any Runway subscriptions and cancel them separately.
• Within 30 days, request a refund if your plan was unused or nearly unused.
• Wait for a confirmation email from Runway (or Apple/Google) confirming cancellation.
• Verify that your next billing date has been removed or shows as cancelled.
• If you don't receive confirmation within 5 business days, follow up with Runway support.
• Keep all cancellation and refund emails for 12 months as proof.

When to cancel vs. when to pause or switch plans

Cancellation is final, but Runway offers alternatives you might not have considered.

Escalation and support: what to do if runway refuses

Runway's customer service is generally responsive, but if they deny your refund or refuse to cancel, you have leverage in South Africa.

Document everything

Keep all emails from Runway, screenshots of your billing statements, and records of when you signed up. If Runway refuses a refund, ask them in writing to explain their reason. Request they cite which part of their terms justifies the denial. At Stopee, we've found that asking for written justification often prompts companies to reverse their position because they realise they can't justify it.

Escalate to the national consumer commission

If Runway won't budge after you've requested a refund within 30 days and the CPA protects you, file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC is South Africa's consumer protection authority and takes CPA violations seriously. You can lodge a complaint online at www.ncc.org.za. Include your evidence and cite Section 48 of the CPA (right to cancel distance contracts). Stopee has seen consumers recover refunds this way.

Contact your payment provider

If you paid by credit card or debit card (Stripe), you can dispute the charge with your bank if Runway charged you inappropriately or refused a refund you were entitled to. Request a chargeback, but do this only after Runway has refused and the NCC hasn't resolved the issue. Banks take fraud and unauthorised charges seriously, and a chargeback carries weight.

Why stopee exists for moments like this

Subscriptions are designed to renew automatically, and companies often make cancellation hard to find because they benefit from confusion and inertia. Stopee is built to help you cut through that. Whether you're cancelling Runway or any other service, understanding your rights, knowing exactly where to click, and having a checklist keeps you in control. You shouldn't need a guide to stop paying for something, but you do, and that's why Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions they no longer wanted and recover refunds they were entitled to.

Runway's official contact and cancellation address

For billing disputes or formal cancellation requests, use Runway's official notice address listed in their Terms and Conditions. In South Africa, contact Runway support through your account dashboard or their help centre. For refund disputes or formal complaints that Runway's support doesn't resolve, escalate to the National Consumer Commission as outlined above.

Summary: Cancel your Runway web subscription through Settings > Billing, cancel iOS through Apple Settings, and cancel Android through Google Play. Request a refund within 30 days if you're eligible. Export your projects before access expires. If Runway refuses a refund you deserve, cite the Consumer Protection Act and escalate to the NCC. At Stopee, we're here to make sure you don't pay for subscriptions you've cancelled.