How to cancel a PayPal subscription
You can cancel a PayPal subscription directly through your PayPal account without contacting the merchant or PayPal support. The cancellation takes effect when ready, and you will not be charged again. If you have already paid for the current billing period, that payment is not refunded — you keep access until that period ends, then the subscription stops.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use the PayPal website or the PayPal mobile app, but both routes take about two minutes.
Key Takeaways
- You cancel a subscription through your PayPal account settings, not through the merchant's website or app.
- Cancellation is when ready, but you retain access through the end of your current billing period if you have already paid.
- On the website, go to Settings > Payments > Manage automatic payments; on the app, tap the menu icon and select Subscriptions.
- If you cannot find the subscription in your PayPal account, the merchant may have set it up through a third-party payment processor rather than PayPal directly.
- Cancelling through PayPal does not automatically delete your account with the merchant — you may need to remove saved payment methods separately.
Cancel a subscription on the PayPal website
Log into your PayPal account at paypal.com. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings, then select Payments from the left menu.
Click Manage automatic payments. You will see a list of all active subscriptions tied to your PayPal account. Find the subscription you want to cancel and click on it. A details page will open showing the merchant name, billing amount, billing frequency, and next payment date.
Click the Cancel subscription button at the bottom of the details page. PayPal will ask you to confirm the cancellation. Click Cancel subscription again. The page will show a confirmation message, and the subscription will stop when ready. You will not receive another charge from that merchant.
Cancel a subscription on the PayPal mobile app
Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Subscriptions. You will see a list of all active subscriptions.
Tap the subscription you want to cancel. The details page will show the merchant name, amount, and billing cycle. Tap Cancel subscription at the bottom. PayPal will ask you to confirm. Tap Cancel subscription again, and the cancellation will be complete.
What happens after you cancel
Once you cancel, PayPal stops sending payment instructions to your bank or card. You will not be charged again. If your current billing period has not ended, you will keep access to the service or product through the end of that period — the merchant does not revoke access when ready just because PayPal stopped the recurring charge.
After the current period ends, the merchant will no longer have permission to charge you. However, cancelling through PayPal does not automatically close your account with the merchant. If you want to delete your account entirely or remove your payment information from the merchant's website, you will need to do that separately through the merchant's account settings.
If you cannot find the subscription in PayPal
Some merchants use third-party payment processors instead of PayPal's built-in subscription system. If you do not see the subscription listed under Manage automatic payments, the merchant may be charging you through a different payment method or processor.
Check your bank or credit card statement to see which company is actually charging you. If it is not PayPal, you will need to cancel through that company's system or contact the merchant directly. If the charge shows as coming from PayPal but you cannot find it in your subscription list, contact PayPal support — there may be a technical issue preventing it from displaying.
Cancelling a subscription you did not authorize
If you see a subscription in your PayPal account that you do not recognize or did not authorize, cancel it the same way: go to Manage automatic payments, select the subscription, and click Cancel subscription. After cancelling, report it to PayPal by opening a dispute or contacting PayPal support.
PayPal can investigate whether the charge was fraudulent and may refund charges that went through after you cancelled. Keep the confirmation of your cancellation and any documentation of when you first noticed the unauthorized charge.
Restarting a cancelled subscription
If you cancel a subscription and later decide you want it back, you will need to sign up again through the merchant's website or app. PayPal does not store cancelled subscriptions or offer a way to reactivate them. The merchant will set up a new subscription, and you will choose PayPal as the payment method again.
Some merchants offer a grace period or discount for returning customers, but this depends on the merchant's policy. Check their website or contact their support team to see what options are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-billing cycle?
No. If you have already paid for the current billing period, that payment is not refunded. You keep access through the end of that period, then the subscription ends. Future charges will not occur.
Does cancelling on PayPal delete my account with the merchant?
No. Cancelling the PayPal subscription only stops the recurring charge. Your account with the merchant remains active. To fully delete your account or remove your information, you must do that through the merchant's website or contact their support team.
What if the merchant keeps charging me after I cancel?
Contact PayPal support when ready and report the unauthorized charge. PayPal can investigate and may refund charges that occurred after your cancellation date. Keep your cancellation confirmation as proof of when you stopped the subscription.
Can I pause a subscription instead of cancelling it?
PayPal does not have a built-in pause feature for subscriptions. Your only options are to keep the subscription active or cancel it. If you want to temporarily stop charges, you will need to cancel and sign up again later.
How long does it take for the cancellation to take effect?
Cancellation is when ready. PayPal stops sending payment instructions right away. If a charge is already in progress for the current billing cycle, it may still go through, but no future charges will occur.