How to Cancel Newspaper and Magazine Subscriptions (Print and Digital)

Complete guide to canceling newspaper and magazine subscriptions, stopping unwanted renewals, getting refunds, and avoiding resubscription traps.

Last edited on May 17, 2026

4 min read

How to Cancel Newspaper and Magazine Subscriptions (Print and Digital)

Between promotional trial rates that silently convert to full price, auto-renewals buried in fine print, and cancellation processes designed to frustrate you into giving up, newspaper and magazine subscriptions are among the trickiest recurring charges to eliminate.

Whether it's a $4/month digital news trial that became $25/month, or print magazines you haven't opened in six months, here's how to cancel cleanly and get your money back.

The Most Common Subscription Traps

Trial-to-paid conversions: $1/week introductory rates that jump to $5-$8/week
Annual auto-renewal: Charged $200+ before you realize the renewal happened
"Cancel anytime" that requires calling: Online signup, phone-only cancellation
Continued delivery after cancellation: Bills keep coming for "service through end of term"
Gift subscriptions that auto-renew: Someone gave you a gift; now you're paying

How to Cancel Major Newspaper Subscriptions

New York Times

Online: Account → Subscription → Cancel at nytimes.com/subscription/manage
Phone: 1-800-698-4637 (Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET)
Chat: Available through Help section
Tip: The cancellation flow shows multiple retention offers. Click through all of them to reach the actual cancel button.

Wall Street Journal

Online: My Account → Cancel Subscription at accounts.wsj.com
Phone: 1-800-568-7625
Tip: WSJ often won't cancel online and redirects to phone. Call early in the day for shorter wait times.

Washington Post

Online: Account → Subscription → Cancel at washingtonpost.com/my-account
Phone: 1-800-477-4679
Tip: They offer significant discounts during cancellation. If you'd keep it at a lower price, ask for the "$4/month for 12 months" retention offer.

Local/Regional Papers

Check your credit card statement for the publisher name
Search "[paper name] cancel subscription" for direct contact info
If phone-only, call and say "I'd like to cancel my subscription effective immediately"
Request written confirmation via email

How to Cancel Magazine Subscriptions

Digital Magazines (Apple News+, Kindle Unlimited, etc.)

Apple News+ ($12.99/month):

Settings → [Your name] → Subscriptions → Apple News+ → Cancel

Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/month):

Amazon → Account → Memberships → Kindle Unlimited → Cancel

Individual publisher apps: Check both the App Store/Play Store subscriptions AND the publisher's website. Some bill through the app store, others bill directly.

Print Magazines

Find the publisher: Check the magazine's masthead or your credit card statement
Call customer service: Number usually on the magazine's website under "Customer Service"
Request cancellation and refund: Ask for a prorated refund on remaining issues
Get confirmation in writing: Email confirmation with cancellation date and any refund amount

Getting Refunds for Unwanted Renewals

Within 30 Days of Charge

Contact the publisher directly:

State: "I was auto-renewed without adequate notice. I'd like a full refund."
Most publishers will refund within 30 days of renewal, especially for annual plans
Ask for the refund to your original payment method (not account credit)

After 30 Days

If the publisher refuses:

File a credit card dispute: Call your card issuer, cite "unauthorized recurring charge"
Provide documentation: Your cancellation request, lack of renewal notice, etc.
FTC complaint: File at ftc.gov/complaint for deceptive auto-renewal practices

Your Legal Rights

California ARL (Auto-Renewal Law): Requires clear disclosure of auto-renewal terms and easy cancellation
FTC Negative Option Rule: Sellers must clearly disclose material terms before charging
State consumer protection laws: Many states require renewal notices 30-60 days before charging

Preventing Future Subscription Creep

[ ] Use a virtual credit card (Privacy.com) with spending limits for trials
[ ] Set calendar reminders 7 days before any trial expires
[ ] Review credit card statements monthly for unfamiliar recurring charges
[ ] Use your email's search function to find "subscription," "renewal," or "billing" notices
[ ] Consider a subscription tracking app to monitor all recurring charges
[ ] Never save payment info on publisher websites

How to Stop Unwanted Mail Subscriptions

If you're receiving magazines or newspapers you never ordered:

DMAchoice.org: Register to reduce unsolicited mail (free)
CatalogChoice.org: Opt out of specific publications
Direct contact: Call the publisher and request removal from their mailing list
USPS Informed Delivery: Monitor what's coming and identify unwanted senders

Bottom Line

The subscription industry relies on inertia — most people pay for things they don't use because canceling seems like too much hassle. But a 10-minute phone call can save you $200-$500 per year in unwanted newspaper and magazine charges. Cancel everything you haven't read in 30 days, dispute unauthorized renewals aggressively, and use virtual cards to prevent future surprise charges.