Thinking about canceling your PBS subscription? You're not alone. Maybe you signed up to watch the latest season of All Creatures Great and Small and now you're done. It happens. PBS, founded in 1970, provides amazing educational content, but its Passport streaming service works more like a donation than a typical subscription. This guide will help you cancel without the headache. The service costs from $5 to $60, and you can cancel on your desktop, iOS, or Android device. By canceling, you could save up to $60 a year. Let's get it done.
How to Cancel PBS Subscription on Desktop
Canceling on a desktop is the most common way, but it can also be the most confusing. Why? Because your PBS Passport access is a thank you gift from your local station, not PBS national. So, the process can feel a little clunky.
1 Log In to Your PBS Account
First, head over to the PBS website and sign in. The login button is usually at the top right. This part is easy enough.
2 Navigate to Your Profile
Once you're in, click on your name to open a dropdown menu. Select My PBS to get to your account settings. It's a bit hidden.
3 Find Your Membership Details
Here's where it gets tricky. Look for a tab or section called My Passport Membership. Your membership is tied to your local station, so the exact wording can change. It's not always obvious.
4 Cancel Your Recurring Donation
You should see information about your donation and a link to cancel your recurring donation or update payment. Click the link to cancel. You might be redirected to a different site, like Stripe or another payment processor, to finalize it. I had to refresh the page once because the link didn't load correctly the first time.
How to Cancel PBS Subscription on iOS
If you signed up through the PBS app on your iPhone or iPad, canceling is managed by Apple. This is usually the most straightforward method.
1 Open Your Device Settings
Grab your iPhone or iPad and open the Settings app. It's the gray gear icon.
2 Access Your Apple ID
Tap on your name and Apple ID at the very top of the screen.
3 Go to Subscriptions
On the next screen, tap on the Subscriptions option. You'll see a list of all your active and expired app subscriptions.
4 Find PBS and Cancel
Find PBS in the list and tap on it. Then, just hit that big Cancel Subscription button. Done. So much easier than the website.
How to Cancel PBS Subscription on Android
Canceling on an Android device is similar to iOS. Your subscription is handled directly by the Google Play Store, which keeps things simple.
1 Launch the Google Play Store
Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2 Open the Profile Menu
Tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner to open the menu.
3 Select Payments & Subscriptions
From the menu, select Payments & subscriptions. It's right there in the middle.
4 Find PBS and Cancel
Tap on Subscriptions to see everything you're paying for through Google Play. Find PBS, tap it, and then select Cancel subscription. Follow the final prompts, and you're all set.
Cancel PBS Subscription with phone
There is no single phone number to cancel PBS. You must contact the local member station you donated to. To find their contact info, go to the PBS Station Finder, enter your zip code, and visit your local station's website. Look for a 'Contact Us' or 'Membership Support' page. One user on a forum said, 'I had to call my local station twice. The first person had no idea what PBS Passport even was.' So be prepared for a bit of a runaround.
Cancel PBS Subscription with email
Just like with phone support, you need to email your local member station, not PBS national. Use the PBS Station Finder to locate your station's website and find their membership or support email address. Response times can vary a lot, from a day to over a week, depending on the station.
Before you cancel, know this. Your donation is generally non-refundable. Seriously, don't expect to get your money back if you cancel mid-cycle. You're canceling a recurring donation to a non-profit, not a standard streaming service. Your access to PBS Passport will continue until your current paid period ends. Your PBS account itself won't be deleted, you just lose the Passport video access.
PBS Plans and Pricing 2025
| Plan / Donation Level | Price (Typical) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Donation | $5 / month | This is the most common option. A recurring $5 donation to your local station grants you access to the full PBS Passport library of shows. |
| Annual Donation | $60 / year | An upfront, once-a-year donation. It works out to the same price as monthly but you only have to think about it once. Some stations might offer a small gift for an annual donation. |
Frequently Asked Questions about PBS
Can I unsubscribe from PBS anytime?
Can I get a refund from PBS if I forgot to cancel?
How do I know my PBS subscription is cancelled?
How long does it take for PBS to cancel?
What else should I know before I cancel my PBS subscription?
How do I raise a complaint to PBS?
Chloe Anne-Bennett
Streaming & Entertainment Editor
Chloe Anne-Bennett is the Streaming & Entertainment Editor at Pine AI. Chloe is a leading voice on the business of streaming, entertainment and the evolving landscape of digital media. Before contributing to Pine AI, Chloe was an entertainment correspondent for a major news outlet, where she reported on everything from box office trends to the impact of streaming services on traditional media. At Pine AI, Chloe leverages her deep industry knowledge to provide our readers with insightful analysis of the latest trends, helping them make sense of their subscriptions and where to hit the sweet spots in how to handle customer service reps.
