How to Cancel Your Chicago Tribune Subscription (2026 Guide)
Updated February 2026 โข 5 min read
๐ Phone required for most subscribers. Call 1-800-874-2863. Expect retention offers โ 2-3 rounds of discounts before they process the cancellation.
The Chicago Tribune (owned by Tribune Publishing, now part of Alden Global Capital) is one of Chicago's legacy newspapers. Like most newspaper subscriptions, they use aggressive intro pricing ($1/month) that jumps to $13-17/month โ and make cancellation intentionally difficult by requiring a phone call.
Pricing Breakdown
Digital Only: ~$1/month intro (6 months) โ $12.99-16.99/month after
Print + Digital: Various intro rates โ $30-60/month
Sunday Only: Available in some areas โ $15-25/month
Apple News+: $12.99/month (includes Tribune and hundreds of other publications)
Some digital-only subscribers can cancel online, but many are redirected to call
Method 3: Apple News+ Subscribers
If you get the Tribune through Apple News+:
iPhone: Settings โ your name โ Subscriptions โ Apple News+ โ Cancel
This cancels ALL Apple News+ publications, not just the Tribune
Retention Offers to Expect
The Tribune follows the standard newspaper retention playbook:
First offer: 50% off for 3-6 months
Second offer: Even deeper discount ($4-6/month)
Final offer: Sometimes free access for 1-2 months
If you want the Tribune but not at full price, the retention call is your best negotiation tool. Call every 6 months to reset your rate.
Free Chicago News Alternatives
WBEZ (wbez.org): Chicago's NPR station โ free local news, no paywall
Block Club Chicago (blockclubchicago.org): Neighborhood-level Chicago journalism (paywall for some stories)
Chicago Sun-Times: Went free (no paywall) in 2022 under new ownership
WGN News: Free local TV news and website
Your library card: Chicago Public Library offers free digital access to many newspapers through PressReader
๐ก Best free replacement: Chicago Sun-Times (no paywall) + WBEZ (free NPR) covers most local news needs. Use your Chicago Public Library card for PressReader access to the Tribune and other papers.
After Canceling
Digital access continues until the end of your billing period
Print delivery stops within a few days
Marketing emails will continue โ unsubscribe separately
Verify no charges on your next billing statement
If charges continue, dispute with your bank
Quick Reference
Cancel phone: 1-800-874-2863
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm CT, Sat 7am-12pm CT
Online: membership.chicagotribune.com (limited)
Difficulty: Hard โ phone required, retention offers
๐ก How many news subscriptions are quietly billing you?Upload your bank statement to JustCancel โ we will find every newspaper, magazine, and media subscription on your account.