Updated February 2026 · 8 min read
Cancel too early and you lose access you already paid for. Cancel too late and you get charged for another month. The timing matters more than most people realize.
Here's exactly when to cancel every type of subscription to keep the most money in your pocket.
Most streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Disney+) let you keep access until your billing period ends, even after you cancel. That means the best time to cancel is the day after you're billed — you get the full month you paid for without risking an auto-renewal.
Set a calendar reminder for the day after your billing date. Cancel then. You'll have nearly 30 days of access without any chance of being charged again.
Not every service lets you ride out your billing period. These cancel your access the moment you hit "cancel":
Best time: Anytime. Access continues through your paid period. No penalty for cancelling early.
Pro tip: Cancel immediately after signing up for a free trial if you don't want to be charged. Most trials still give you the full trial period after cancellation.
Best time: At least 30-60 days before your next billing date. Many gyms require written notice or in-person cancellation, and some have annual commitment periods.
Pro tip: Check if your gym charges an annual maintenance fee (Planet Fitness charges ~$49 in June/July). Cancel before that date to avoid it. Full gym cancellation guide →
Best time: Right after your renewal if you haven't used Prime benefits. Amazon will refund your membership fee if you haven't used any Prime benefits since being charged. Cancel within 3 days of renewal for the best chance at a refund.
Best time: Within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. After that, Adobe charges 50% of remaining months on annual plans. Wait until your renewal month to avoid fees.
Pro tip: When you try to cancel Adobe, they'll almost always offer 2-3 months free. Learn about retention offers →
Best time: Anytime. Both Apple and Google let you keep access through your paid period. But do it through your phone settings, not the app itself — some apps make their in-app cancel button intentionally hard to find.
How to cancel on iPhone & Android →
Best time: Check your contract length first. ADT has 3-year contracts with 75% early termination fees. SimpliSafe is month-to-month with no penalty. Wait until your contract ends.
Instead of cancelling services one at a time when you remember, do a full audit once a quarter. The average American has 12 subscriptions totaling $219/month — and forgets about 2-3 of them.
The fastest way to find every subscription: upload 2-3 months of bank statements and let an AI scan them. It takes 90 seconds and catches charges you've completely forgotten about.
Free trials are designed to make you forget to cancel. The best strategy:
Services that let you keep the full trial after cancelling: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+.
Read: The Free Trial Trap — Why companies love giving you "free" stuff →
Certain times of year are better for cancelling:
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