Cancel a Substack subscription by going to your account settings, finding the publication you want to unsubscribe from, and clicking the unsubscribe button
Substack does not charge you directly for most subscriptions — the writer sets the price, and Substack processes the payment on their behalf. To stop paying, you log into your Substack account, navigate to your subscriptions, and unsubscribe from the specific publication. The process takes about two minutes and stops future charges when ready. If you have already been charged for the current billing period, that charge does not reverse; you straightforward will not be charged again.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on a computer or phone, but the location of the unsubscribe button is the same in both places. You do not need to contact the writer or Substack support unless something goes wrong during the cancellation.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your Substack account and go to your subscriptions to see all the publications you pay for.
- Click the unsubscribe button next to the publication you want to cancel — this stops future charges but does not refund the current billing period.
- Cancellation takes effect when ready, and you will lose access to paid content from that writer as soon as you unsubscribe.
- If you want to pause instead of cancel, some writers offer that option in their subscription settings.
How to unsubscribe on a computer
Open Substack in your web browser and log in with your email and password. Click your profile icon or avatar in the top right corner, then select "Subscriptions" from the dropdown menu. You will see a list of all publications you subscribe to, separated into free and paid subscriptions.
Find the paid subscription you want to cancel. Next to the publication name, you will see a button that says "Unsubscribe" or "Manage subscription." Click that button. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure you want to unsubscribe. Click "Yes" or "Confirm" to complete the cancellation. You will when ready stop receiving emails from that publication, and you will not be charged again.
How to unsubscribe on a phone or tablet
Open the Substack app or go to substack.com in your mobile browser. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then tap "Subscriptions." You will see the same list of free and paid subscriptions as on a computer.
Scroll to find the publication you want to cancel. Tap "Manage" or the three-dot menu next to the publication name. Select "Unsubscribe" from the options that appear. Confirm your choice when prompted. The cancellation takes effect right away.
What happens after you unsubscribe
Once you unsubscribe, you will no longer receive emails from that writer. If the writer posts new paid content, you will not be able to read it unless you subscribe again. You will still be able to read any free posts they have published, but paid posts will show a message asking you to subscribe.
If you unsubscribe in the middle of a billing cycle, you do not receive a refund for the time you have already paid for. For example, if you pay $10 per month and unsubscribe on the 15th of the month, you have already paid for the full month and will not get $5 back. Your next billing date straightforward will not happen.
If you want to pause instead of cancel
Some Substack writers offer a pause option that lets you temporarily stop receiving emails without fully unsubscribing. This is useful if you think you might want to re-subscribe later without having to search for the publication again. Not all writers enable this feature, so it may not be available for every subscription you have.
To see if pause is an option, go to your subscriptions and click "Manage subscription" next to the publication name. If the writer has enabled pausing, you will see that choice alongside the unsubscribe button. Pausing typically lasts for one to three months, depending on what the writer set up.
Troubleshooting if unsubscribe is not working
If you click unsubscribe and nothing happens, try clearing your browser cache and logging out, then logging back in. If you are using the Substack app, try closing it completely and reopening it. Make sure you are logged into the correct email account — you can only manage subscriptions for the account that is currently signed in.
If you still cannot unsubscribe after trying these steps, contact Substack support through the help center at support.substack.com. You will need to provide your email address and the name of the publication you are trying to cancel. Support usually responds within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get a refund if I unsubscribe mid-month?
No. Substack does not issue refunds for partial months. If you have already been charged for the current billing period, that charge is final. You straightforward will not be charged again after you unsubscribe.
Can I unsubscribe from all Substack emails at once?
No, you have to unsubscribe from each publication individually. There is no bulk unsubscribe option. However, you can unsubscribe from all your paid subscriptions by going through your subscriptions list one at a time.
What if I unsubscribe by accident?
You can re-subscribe to the same publication at any time by going to the writer's Substack page and clicking the subscribe button. If the publication is paid, you will be charged according to the writer's pricing, which may have changed since you first subscribed.
Do writers know when I unsubscribe?
Writers can see how many subscribers they have, but Substack does not tell them which specific people unsubscribe or when. Your unsubscription is private and does not notify the writer.
Can I cancel a free Substack subscription?
Yes, you can unsubscribe from free publications the same way you unsubscribe from paid ones. Go to your subscriptions, find the free publication, and click unsubscribe. You will stop receiving emails from that writer.