How to Cancel Your New York Times Subscription in 2026

The New York Times is notoriously difficult to cancel — you can't just click a button online. They require you to call or chat with a retention agent who will try hard to keep you. Here's how to get through it quickly.

🚨 Heads up: NYT does NOT have a simple "cancel" button. You must contact them directly. This is intentional — they make it hard on purpose.

Option 1: Cancel by Chat (Fastest)

Go to help.nytimes.com
Click "Chat with us"
Say: "I want to cancel my subscription. Please process the cancellation."
They'll offer discounts — say "No thank you, please cancel."
Keep declining offers until they process it (usually 2-3 attempts)
Get a confirmation email

Option 2: Cancel by Phone

Call 1-800-591-9233 (Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 7am-3pm ET)
Say "cancel subscription" to the automated system
Be firm with the retention agent — you'll get 2-3 discount offers

⚡ Script that works: "I've already decided to cancel and I'm not interested in any offers. Please process my cancellation now." Repeat this exact phrase for each offer. Most agents process it after 2-3 attempts.

If You Subscribed Through Apple

App Store subscriptions are easier — no phone call needed:

Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → NYT → Cancel

Check your bank statement to see if the charge is from Apple or NYT directly — this tells you which method to use.

Cancel NYT Games, Cooking, or Wirecutter

These standalone subscriptions have their own cancellation process:

NYT Games ($6.99/mo): Same chat/phone process as news subscription
NYT Cooking ($5/mo): Same chat/phone process
Wirecutter ($5/mo): Same chat/phone process
The Athletic ($9.99/mo): Can cancel at myaccount.nytimes.com → The Athletic → Cancel

The Retention Offers You'll Get

NYT retention agents follow a script. Expect these offers in order:

First offer: 50% off for 6 months
Second offer: $1/week for 1 year
Third offer: Free access for 1-3 months

If you actually want a discount: The retention offers are genuinely good. If you still read the NYT but feel it's overpriced, threatening to cancel and taking the $1/week offer is a legitimate money-saving strategy.

Free Access Without Subscribing

Library card: Many public libraries offer free NYT digital access
College/university: Most .edu emails get free access
Archive.org/Google cache: Many articles are accessible through web archives
T-Mobile Tuesdays: Occasional free NYT access promotions
Free articles: NYT gives 10 free articles/month without subscribing

Print Subscription Cancellation

Print subscriptions require a phone call to 1-800-591-9233. You cannot cancel print delivery online or by chat. Give at least 7 days notice before your desired stop date. You may be entitled to a refund for unused weeks of prepaid delivery.

💡 Pro tip: Check your local library's website for NYT access. Over 7,000 US libraries offer free NYT digital subscriptions. You get full access — articles, Games, Cooking, everything — at no cost.

Annual Savings: $60-$780/Year

NYT subscriptions range from $5/mo (Games only) to $65/mo (All Access + Print). The typical digital-only subscriber pays $17/mo or $204/year. With free library access available, that's $204 you could save with zero sacrifice.

🔍 What other subscriptions are eating your budget? Upload your bank statement to JustCancel — we'll find every recurring charge, including ones you forgot about.