Cancelling should take two minutes. It often takes twenty, because the cancel button is somewhere unexpected, or because you're cancelling in the wrong place entirely. This is the order that works.
1. Find out who bills you
Look at the charge on your statement. If it says Apple, Google or PayPal, cancel there, not in the service's own settings. If it names the service, cancel on the service's website. Cancelling with the wrong provider doesn't stop the charge.
2. Cancel before the renewal date, not on it
Cancel at least a day before the renewal. Some services process the renewal early or count the date in a different time zone. Most services let you keep access until the end of the period you've paid for, so cancelling early usually costs you nothing.
3. Keep proof
- Screenshot the confirmation page.
- Save the confirmation email.
- Note the date and the last day of access.
4. Check that it worked
On the next renewal date, look at your statement. If you were charged anyway, contact the service with your proof and ask for a refund. If that doesn't work, your bank or card provider can often help you dispute the charge. The rules differ by country and card, so ask them.
5. Consider a pause or a cheaper plan first
Many services offer a pause or a cheaper tier. If you might want the service back, that can beat cancelling. Write the pause end date down so it doesn't turn into a surprise charge.
What about getting money back?
Refund rules differ by country, service and plan. In many places consumers get a short cooling-off period for online purchases, with exceptions. Check the service's terms and your local consumer rules instead of assuming.
“The best time to cancel is the day you decide to. The second best is before the next renewal.”
The part people forget is timing. Suboptima emails you in the week before a renewal, so there's time to cancel before the charge instead of finding out afterwards.