Cancel Citation Machine: Step-by-Step Guide

How to cancel Citation Machine in UAE and reclaim your study budget

Understanding Citation Machine and why you might want to cancel

Citation Machine is an online citation generator that formats your research references in APA, MLA, Chicago and other academic styles. Chegg, the educational technology company, owns and operates Citation Machine as part of its broader suite of study tools.

The free version handles basic citations. Citation Machine Plus, the paid tier at around AED 37 per month (equivalent to USD 9.95), adds plagiarism detection, grammar checking and expert writing feedback. Many students in the UAE subscribe through the web platform or mobile app stores without realising how quickly these monthly charges accumulate.

You might want to cancel if you've completed your studies, found cheaper alternatives, or simply no longer need the premium features. At Tocancel, we help thousands of students and professionals streamline their digital subscriptions and redirect money toward what matters.

Who typically uses Citation Machine

University students, researchers, educators and academic writers rely on Citation Machine to save time on formatting research references. The service is especially popular among UAE-based students attending online universities or completing distance-learning degrees.

Many users subscribe without reading the renewal terms and wake up to surprise billing cycles each month. If you fall into this category, you're not alone, and cancelling is straightforward once you know where to look.

Why subscription creep matters to your budget

A AED 37 monthly subscription seems small until you multiply it by 12 months. That's over AED 440 per year spent on a tool you may use sporadically. Consolidating unused subscriptions is one of the fastest ways to reclaim your budget, which is why Tocancel exists to help you identify and cancel unwanted services.

Citation Machine pricing and plan comparison

Understanding what you're paying for helps you decide whether cancellation makes sense for your workflow.

Current pricing structure

Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check your app store's local pricing for the exact AED amount before you cancel, as Apple App Store and Google Play often apply regional markups on top of USD conversion.

Where you might be paying

Your subscription lives in one of three places: the Citation Machine website directly, Google Play (Android), or Apple App Store (iOS). Each location has its own cancellation method and refund rules. Identify your payment method first by checking your subscription email receipt or payment history.

Your consumer rights and what they mean for you

The UAE has specific consumer protection rules that apply even to digital subscriptions, and understanding these rules gives you leverage if Citation Machine refuses to cancel or refund your money.

UAE consumer protection law for digital services

The UAE Federal Law No. 24 of 2006 on Consumer Protection applies to all goods and services, including online subscriptions. While the law does not mandate a universal 14-day cooling-off period for all digital services (unlike the European Union), it does require merchants to provide clear information about cancellation terms before you purchase.

Your legal position: You have the right to expect transparent billing practices, clear cancellation instructions, and access to customer support. If Citation Machine charges your account without clear consent or makes cancellation deliberately difficult, you can file a complaint with the General Authority for Consumer Protection (GACP) in your emirate.

In practice, this means Citation Machine must honour your cancellation request without delay, and they cannot charge you after you've cancelled. If they do, you have grounds to dispute the charge with your bank or payment provider.

Your rights regarding refunds and cancellation timing

UAE consumer law does not automatically entitle you to a refund once you've used the service for any part of a billing cycle. However, many platforms, including Citation Machine, offer pro-rata refunds if you cancel early in your billing period. This means you may receive a partial refund for unused days.

Your right to cancel: You can cancel your Citation Machine subscription at any time without penalty. The company cannot require you to pay for a full month if you cancel mid-cycle, though this depends on their specific terms. Tocancel recommends checking your subscription agreement to confirm whether pro-rata refunds apply.

How to cancel Citation Machine on the web

Cancelling Citation Machine directly through its website is the most straightforward method if you signed up there.

Step-by-step web cancellation

1. Log in to your Citation Machine account at the official website
   • Use the same email address and password you created during sign-up
2. Navigate to your account settings
   • Look for a "Profile," "Account," or "Settings" option in the top-right menu
3. Find your subscription or billing section
   • Click on "Subscription," "Billing," or "Manage Plans"
   • You should see your current plan (Citation Machine Plus) and next billing date
4. Select "Cancel subscription" or "Downgrade to free"
   • Citation Machine may ask why you're leaving; provide honest feedback if you wish, or skip this step
5. Confirm the cancellation
   • You will receive a confirmation email within minutes
   • Save this email for your records
6. Verify the cancellation in your next billing cycle
   • Check that no charge appears on your credit card or debit card statement 30 days after cancellation

Your access to Citation Machine Plus features will end immediately or at the end of your current billing period, depending on Citation Machine's policy. You will retain access to the free version of Citation Machine indefinitely.

How to cancel Citation Machine on apple app store

If you subscribed to Citation Machine Plus through Apple's App Store, you must cancel through your Apple ID settings, not through the app itself.

Step-by-step iPhone and iPad cancellation

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone, iPad or Mac
   • Tap the profile icon in the bottom-right corner (it shows your Apple ID photo or initials)
2. Tap "Subscriptions"
   • This shows all active and expired subscriptions linked to your Apple ID
3. Find and tap "Citation Machine"
   • You will see your subscription level (Plus), renewal date, and price
4. Tap "Cancel subscription"
   • Apple will confirm the cancellation and show your final access date
5. Confirm your choice
   • You may be prompted to confirm why you're cancelling; this is optional
6. Check your email for confirmation
   • Apple sends a cancellation confirmation to your registered email address
   • Your billing will stop at the end of your current period

You will lose access to Citation Machine Plus features on your next renewal date, but you can continue using the free version by reinstalling the app or visiting the website.

How to cancel Citation Machine on google play

Cancelling through Google Play is similar to Apple's process but uses a different interface.

Step-by-step android cancellation

1. Open Google Play Store on your Android device
   • Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner
2. Tap "Manage my subscriptions" or "Subscriptions"
   • You will see a list of all active subscriptions on your Google account
3. Find and tap "Citation Machine"
   • Review your plan details and the renewal date
4. Tap "Cancel subscription"
   • Google will ask for a cancellation reason, which is optional
5. Confirm the cancellation
   • You will see a confirmation message on screen
6. Wait for a confirmation email
   • Google sends confirmation to the email linked to your Google Play account
   • Your billing will end at the close of your current billing period

Access to paid features stops at the end of your current subscription period, and no further charges will appear on your payment method.

What happens after you cancel Citation Machine

Cancellation is not immediate, and understanding the timeline helps you avoid confusion.

Your access timeline and final charges

When you cancel Citation Machine Plus, you retain full access to premium features until your current billing cycle ends. This means if you cancel on day 15 of a 30-day month, you can still use plagiarism checking and expert feedback until day 30. After that date, your account automatically downgrades to the free version.

No charge will appear after your final billing date. However, it can take 3 to 5 business days for a refund (if eligible) to appear in your bank account. During this time, check your bank statement to confirm the final charge, then verify that no further charges follow 30 days later.

Transitioning to free Citation Machine

The free version of Citation Machine remains fully functional. You can still format citations in APA, MLA, Chicago and other styles, but you will lose access to plagiarism detection, grammar checking and expert feedback. Save any important work or documents before your paid subscription expires.

If you need citation tools after cancellation, Tocancel recommends exploring free alternatives such as EasyBib, Mendeley (free plan) or your university library's citation services, many of which are included in your student fees.

Refunds, disputes and escalation

Citation Machine's refund policy depends on when you cancel and which payment method you used.

When you qualify for a refund

Citation Machine generally does not issue refunds once you've used the service, but many app stores allow refunds within 48 hours of purchase if you cancel immediately. If you subscribed within the last 2 days, contact Citation Machine support or your app store to request a full refund.

For mid-cycle cancellations beyond the 48-hour window, refunds are typically not available. However, if Citation Machine charged your account without clear consent or made cancellation deliberately difficult, you have grounds to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card provider under UAE consumer protection law.

How to dispute a charge with your bank

1. Gather your evidence
   • Collect your subscription confirmation emails, billing statements and cancellation request confirmation
2. Contact your UAE bank
   • Call the customer service number on the back of your card or use your online banking app
   • Explain that Citation Machine charged you after you cancelled or without consent
3. File a chargeback dispute
   • Your bank will initiate a dispute process with Citation Machine's payment processor
   • This usually takes 10 to 30 days
4. Provide documentation
   • Submit copies of your cancellation confirmation and bank statements to your bank
5. Wait for resolution
   • Your bank will notify you of the outcome in writing
   • If the dispute succeeds, the charge is reversed and credited back to your account

If Citation Machine refuses to honour your cancellation or continues to charge after you've cancelled, escalate to the General Authority for Consumer Protection (GACP) in your emirate. Tocancel can help you gather the documentation you need to file an official complaint.

Common cancellation mistakes to avoid

Many users cancel incorrectly and end up charged again the following month, which is frustrating and avoidable.

Mistake 1: deleting the app without cancelling the subscription

Uninstalling Citation Machine from your phone does not cancel your subscription. The app will continue to auto-renew and charge your payment method every month. You must actively cancel through your app store or the Citation Machine website.

Mistake 2: not confirming the cancellation in writing

After you click "Cancel," save your confirmation email and screenshot the cancellation page. If Citation Machine later claims you never cancelled, this proof protects you. Tocancel recommends keeping these records for at least 12 months.

Mistake 3: cancelling too close to your billing date

If you cancel on day 29 of a 30-day cycle, you may still be charged on day 30 because the payment processes before the cancellation takes full effect. Cancel at least 5 days before your renewal date to ensure the charge does not process.

Mistake 4: assuming app store cancellation covers all platforms

If you subscribed through both the web and the app store, you must cancel on each platform separately. Cancelling on Apple App Store does not cancel your web subscription. Check all three locations (web, iOS, Android) to confirm you've cancelled everywhere.

How to check if you've successfully cancelled

Verification is the final step and the most important.

Verification checklist

If any of these checks fail, cancel again immediately or contact Citation Machine support to confirm your request was processed.

Alternatives to Citation Machine plus

Before you cancel, consider whether a cheaper or free alternative might serve your needs equally well.

Free and low-cost citation tools you can switch to

Many universities in the UAE provide free access to citation tools as part of your library resources. Contact your university library before paying for Citation Machine Plus; you may already have access to better tools at no cost.

Should you keep or cancel Citation Machine plus

This final decision depends on your usage and budget.

Keep Citation Machine plus if you

• Submit more than 10 academic papers per semester and need plagiarism detection
• Write regularly and value expert writing feedback from qualified editors
• Work across multiple citation styles daily and prefer a unified platform
• Are in the middle of a long-term research project and switching tools would disrupt your workflow

Cancel Citation Machine plus if you

• Submit fewer than 5 papers per semester and the free version meets your needs
• Have found a free or cheaper alternative that works equally well
• Have completed your studies or are no longer writing academic papers regularly
• Are charged without remembering the subscription or seeing value in the features
• Noticed the charge only when reviewing your bank statement

If you're uncertain, cancel now and re-subscribe later if you genuinely need the premium features. This approach costs you at most a month's subscription (AED 37) but prevents you from paying for a tool you don't use. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers make this exact decision and saved them hundreds of dirhams annually.

Summary and your next steps

Cancelling Citation Machine Plus in the UAE is straightforward once you identify where you subscribed and follow the correct cancellation steps for that platform.

Your rights under UAE Federal Law No. 24 of 2006 protect you: Citation Machine must honour your cancellation request without delay, provide clear information about charges, and allow you to dispute any charge made after you've cancelled. If the company refuses to comply, you can escalate to the General Authority for Consumer Protection (GACP) in your emirate.

Take action now by choosing your cancellation method (web, Apple App Store or Google Play), following the step-by-step instructions above, and verifying your cancellation with a confirmation email and bank statement check 30 days later. Save all documentation in case you need to dispute a charge or file a complaint.

If you encounter resistance from Citation Machine or need help collecting evidence for a consumer protection complaint, Tocancel provides free resources and guidance to help you understand your rights and take confident action. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions, recover overcharges and reclaim their budgets.

Contact information for escalation

If Citation Machine continues to charge after cancellation or refuses to process your request, contact the General Authority for Consumer Protection (GACP):

• Website: gacp.gov.ae
• Hotline: 16000 (toll-free in UAE)
• Email: [email protected]

File a formal complaint with your cancellation confirmation, bank statements and communication records. Include the dates you cancelled, the dates you were charged, and your payment method details. The GACP will investigate and issue a directive requiring Citation Machine to refund any unlawful charges.

Tocancel remains your trusted resource throughout this process. Visit tocancel.com to explore guides for cancelling other subscriptions, understand your consumer rights in greater detail, and access tools to track your active subscriptions and prevent future billing surprises.