PayPal, launched way back in 1998, is the digital wallet pretty much everyone has used at some point. It's great for paying for things online, but it's also the place where forgotten subscriptions go to drain your bank account. Maybe you signed up for a free trial that auto-renewed or got hooked on a service to watch one specific show that everyone on TikTok was talking about. This guide helps you find and cancel those pesky recurring payments. Subscriptions managed through PayPal can range from $5 to over $100, and you can cancel them on desktop and mobile. Taking a few minutes to clean house could save you up to $200 a year or more. Don't let that random subscription you forgot about become a financial ghost.
How to Cancel PayPal Subscription on Desktop
Canceling a recurring payment on a desktop is probably the easiest way to do it. The interface is bigger, and you're less likely to mis-tap. I had to do this myself and found the button was exactly where they said it would be, for once.
1 Log In to Your PayPal Account
Go to the PayPal website and log in to your account. Simple enough, right?
2 Navigate to Settings
Find the gear icon (⚙️) at the top right of the page. This is your main settings menu.
3 Click the Payments Tab
In the settings menu, you'll see a few tabs near the top. Click on the Payments tab.
4 Manage Automatic Payments
Under 'Automatic payments', you'll see a button that says Manage automatic payments. Click it. This is where all your recurring subscriptions are hiding.
5 Find the Subscription
On the left, you'll see a list of all the companies you're paying automatically. Find the one you want to stop paying and click on it. Sometimes this list is surprisingly long.
6 Cancel and Confirm
Once you've selected a subscription, you'll see a Cancel button. Click it. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Click Cancel Automatic Payments again to confirm. That's it. It should be done.
How to Cancel PayPal Subscription on Mobile
You can cancel from your phone, but you have to use the browser, not the app. The PayPal app is fine for sending money, but for account management like this, it's a bit of a mess. Stick to the website.
1 Log In via a Web Browser
Open your phone's web browser (like Chrome or Safari) and go to the PayPal website. Do not use the app. The app makes it harder to find this setting. Log in.
2 Go to Settings
Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) in the top corner, then tap the gear icon (⚙️) to get to your settings.
3 Tap on Payments
Just like on desktop, find and tap the Payments tab from the top menu.
4 Manage Your Automatic Payments
Tap the Manage automatic payments button. This will take you to the same list of subscriptions.
5 Select the Merchant
Scroll through the list of active payments and tap the one you want to get rid of.
6 Tap Cancel and Confirm
Tap the Cancel button and then confirm you want to stop the payment. Weirdly, I had to refresh the page once on my phone before the confirmation went through. So if it glitches, just try again.
Cancel PayPal Subscription with phone
You can call PayPal's customer service at (888) 221-1161. They are generally available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time. Be prepared for a wait and to verify your identity multiple times.
Cancel PayPal Subscription with email
PayPal doesn't really use a direct support email. Instead, you have to log in and use their Message Center. Go to the 'Help' section and look for the option to send a secure message. Response times can be anywhere from a few hours to a day.
Cancel PayPal Subscription with live chat
Live chat is available through the PayPal Help Center. After logging in, click 'Help' and then 'Contact Us'. You'll usually see a chat bubble or a 'Message Us' button if agents are available. It's often faster than waiting on the phone.
Before you cancel, know this: canceling the automatic payment in PayPal only stops PayPal from sending the money. It does not cancel your actual subscription with the company. You need to contact the merchant to close your account. Also, PayPal won't give you a refund. Refunds are strictly between you and the merchant. There's no 'pause' button either, you can only cancel the payment.
PayPal Plans and Pricing 2025
PayPal itself is free for personal accounts. You don't pay a subscription to have a PayPal account. The 'plans' and 'pricing' come from the services you subscribe to using PayPal as the payment method. Think of PayPal as the middleman who processes the payment.
| Service Example | Typical Price | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Service | $10 - $25 / month | This could be for Netflix, Hulu, or a niche service. You signed up on their site and chose PayPal at checkout. |
| Software Subscription | $5 - $50 / month | Think Adobe, Canva, or other software tools. The automatic payment is managed in your PayPal wallet. |
| Online Memberships | Varies | This could be anything from a Patreon subscription to a news site membership. The merchant sets the price. |
To cancel the service, you must contact the merchant. To cancel the payment, you follow the steps in this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions about PayPal
Can I unsubscribe from PayPal anytime?
Can I get a refund from PayPal if I forgot to cancel?
How do I know my PayPal subscription is cancelled?
How long does it take for PayPal to cancel?
What else should I know before I cancel my PayPal subscription?
How do I raise a complaint to PayPal?
Olivia Harper
Content Manager
Olivia Harper, a Content Manager with nine years of experience, creates user-focused guides on subscription services. Featured in Digital Consumer Reports, her work simplifies subscription terms and cancellations.
