Cancel Notability: The Right Way to Protect Your Notes

How to cancel your Notability subscription and protect your notes

Why you might want to cancel Notability

Notability is a note-taking and PDF annotation app that lets you handwrite, type, record audio, and sync your work across devices. It offers a free Starter tier, plus paid subscription plans (Plus and Pro) that unlock AI summaries, live transcription, and advanced collaboration features. The catch: you manage your Notability subscription through the Apple App Store, not directly through the app itself, which surprises many users when it's time to cancel.

Whether you're switching to another app, cutting back on subscriptions, or simply no longer need the premium features, cancelling Notability is straightforward once you know where to go. This guide walks you through every step, explains what happens to your notes, and shows you your consumer rights under Australian law.

Common reasons australians cancel Notability

Users report cancelling Notability for several reasons: discovering they prefer a simpler app, finding the AI features less useful than expected, or deciding the annual cost no longer fits their budget. Some switch to competing note-taking platforms with lower subscription fees, while others return to pen and paper or free alternatives. Tocancel has seen these patterns repeatedly and can guide you through the process smoothly.

The billing location issue: why you cancel through apple, not the app

This is the single most important thing to understand before you cancel. Notability charges your Apple ID through the Apple App Store, which means your subscription lives in your Apple account settings, not inside the Notability app itself. Many users assume they can cancel inside the app and are shocked when charges keep appearing on their Apple bill. Your legal right to cancel applies regardless of where the billing happens, so Tocancel recommends you manage your cancellation through Apple's system, not the app.

Understanding Notability pricing and your subscription plan

Notability uses a freemium pricing model with tiered annual subscription plans in Australian dollars (AUD).

Prices on the Australian App Store can fluctuate based on currency movements and seasonal promotions. Always check your Apple App Store billing page to confirm your exact plan and renewal date before you cancel.

How Notability subscriptions renew automatically

Notability subscriptions renew automatically on the anniversary of your purchase date unless you cancel before that date arrives. Your Apple ID payment method is charged automatically, so if your payment method has expired or your balance is too low, the charge may fail but renewal attempts will continue on your account. Cancelling stops future renewals but does not grant a refund for charges already made, unless you qualify under Australian Consumer Law (which we cover in the next section).

Your consumer rights when cancelling in australia

Australian consumer protection laws give you specific rights when cancelling digital subscriptions, and understanding these rights empowers you to take action if something goes wrong.

What australian consumer law says about digital subscriptions

The Australian Consumer Law (part of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) protects you when you buy digital content or services, including app subscriptions. Your legal position is clear: you have the right to cancel a subscription, and you have the right to receive accurate information about when charges will be made and how to cancel. If Notability or Apple fails to make cancellation clear or simple, or if you are charged after you have cancelled, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Additionally, the ACCC's Australian Consumer Law protects you from "unfair contract terms" - terms that would be difficult for a consumer to understand or that create a significant imbalance in your favour and the company's. This means Notability cannot hide cancellation instructions or make the cancellation process deliberately hard.

Your right to a refund under australian law

Under Australian Consumer Law, you have a right to a refund if you have not received the service you paid for or if the service is not of acceptable quality. This means if Notability or the Apple App Store charged you but you did not receive access to the features you paid for, or if the app crashes and is unusable, you can request a refund. However, if you simply changed your mind about the subscription (and the service works as described), you generally do not have an automatic right to a refund - this is why cancelling before your renewal date is crucial.

If Notability charges you after you have cancelled, you absolutely have the right to a refund. This is not a matter of opinion - it is your right under Australian law.

How to cancel Notability through apple app store on iOS

Notability subscriptions are billed through the Apple App Store, so you cancel directly through your Apple device settings, not through the Notability app itself.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
   • Tap the Settings icon (the grey gear icon) on your home screen
2. Tap your Apple ID name at the top of the Settings screen
   • You will see your name, iCloud email, and Apple ID photo (if you have one)
3. Tap Subscriptions
   • This option appears near the middle of the menu, below "iTunes and App Stores"
4. Look for Notability in the list and tap it
   • Scroll through your active and expired subscriptions until you find Notability
   • If you do not see Notability, it may have already been cancelled, or you may be using a different Apple ID
5. Tap Cancel Subscription (or Edit Subscription)
   • Read the details carefully to confirm this is the Notability plan you want to cancel
   • Tap the red Cancel Subscription button
6. Confirm your cancellation
   • Apple will ask you to confirm. Select the reason for cancellation (optional) and tap Confirm
   • You will see a confirmation message: "Subscription cancelled"

Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle, and then it will stop automatically. You will not be charged again after the cancellation date has passed. Take a screenshot of the confirmation screen for your records.

Cancelling Notability on mac

If you use Notability on a Mac, you also cancel through Apple, but the steps are slightly different.

1. Open System Settings on your Mac
   • Click the Apple menu (top left) and select System Settings
2. Click your Apple ID name in the sidebar (top left of the window)
   • You may need to scroll up to see this option
3. Click Subscriptions
   • This appears in the main panel under your account name
4. Find Notability and click it
   • Scroll down the subscription list to locate Notability
5. Click Edit next to your Notability subscription
   • A dropdown menu will appear
6. Click Cancel Subscription and confirm
   • Follow the on-screen prompts to complete your cancellation

As with iOS, your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period.

What happens to your notes after you cancel Notability

Cancelling your Notability subscription does not delete your notes or lock you out of your account immediately.

Your notes and data on the free starter plan

If you downgrade to Notability's free Starter tier after cancellation, your notes remain accessible. You keep unlimited note creation, basic cloud sync, PDF annotation, and handwriting and typing tools. You lose access to AI summaries, transcription, and advanced collaboration features, but your existing notes stay in your account and are not deleted. This means you can continue using Notability for free and access all your past notes even after cancelling your paid subscription.

Keeping your notes if you switch apps

Before you cancel, export your notes to a format you can use in another app. Notability lets you export notes as PDF or as image files (PNG or JPEG). To export: open a note in Notability, tap the three-dot menu, select Share, and choose your file format. You can also export your notes and backup data through the Notability settings. Tocancel recommends you do this before you cancel your subscription, so you have a permanent copy of your work independent of Notability's cloud system.

How to request a refund if you were charged unfairly

If Notability charged you after your cancellation date, or if you were charged for a service you did not receive, you have the right to request a refund under Australian Consumer Law.

Step-by-step refund request process

1. Collect your evidence
   • Screenshot or download your Apple billing history showing the charge date and amount
   • Take a screenshot of your Notability subscription cancellation confirmation
   • Note the date you cancelled and the date the unwanted charge appeared
2. Contact Apple first (since Apple processes the payment)
   • Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID
   • Click on "Payment and Shipping" or "Billing" (depending on your region)
   • Find the charge you want to dispute and click "Report a Problem"
   • Explain that you cancelled Notability and were charged after the cancellation date
   • Attach your screenshots as evidence
3. If Apple does not respond within 14 days, contact Notability's support team
   • Email [email protected] (the publisher of Notability)
   • Include your Apple ID, the charge date, and your cancellation confirmation
   • Ask for a refund and explain that the charge was made after you cancelled
4. Escalate to the ACCC if the company refuses
   • Lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) at accc.gov.au or call 1300 302 502
   • Provide your evidence and explain that you cancelled but were charged again, and the company refused to refund
   • The ACCC will investigate and can compel the company to refund you

Your right to a refund is enforceable by law, not negotiable by the company. If you have cancelled and been charged, you are entitled to your money back.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling Notability

It is easy to think you have cancelled when you have not, or to miss a deadline that costs you money. Here are the pitfalls Tocancel sees most often.

Mistake 1: cancelling inside the Notability app instead of through apple settings

This is the most common error. The Notability app has no cancellation option, so if you look for it inside the app, you will waste time and your subscription will keep charging. Always cancel through Apple Settings, not the app.

Mistake 2: forgetting to check your renewal date before cancelling

Your subscription renews on the anniversary of your purchase date, not on a fixed calendar date. If you purchased Notability on 15 March 2024, it will renew on 15 March 2025. If you cancel on 20 March 2025, you will have already been charged for the year. Check your renewal date in Apple's Subscription settings before you cancel, and cancel at least one day before that date to avoid an unwanted charge. Tocancel recommends setting a phone reminder two weeks before your renewal date.

Mistake 3: not taking a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation

Apple displays a "Subscription cancelled" message when you cancel. Take a screenshot immediately, including the date and time. If you are ever charged after cancellation and need to request a refund, this screenshot is your proof that you cancelled. Without it, the company can claim you never cancelled at all.

Mistake 4: thinking your notes will be deleted when you cancel

They will not be. Your notes remain in your Notability account on the free Starter plan. You keep access to all your existing notes and can export them at any time. There is no reason to delay your cancellation out of fear of losing your work.

Your checklist before and after cancellation

Use this checklist to make sure you cancel correctly and protect yourself.

This checklist protects you from the most common cancellation problems and gives you evidence if you need to dispute an unwanted charge.

What to do if Notability keeps charging you after you cancel

If you cancelled Notability and a charge still appears on your Apple bill, you have clear rights under Australian Consumer Law and several ways to get your money back.

Immediate steps to take

1. Verify your cancellation status in Apple Settings
   • Go to Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions and confirm Notability is no longer listed under "Active" subscriptions
   • If it still shows as active, you may not have completed the cancellation. Repeat the cancellation steps in this guide
2. Contact Apple's billing support
   • Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, and click "Payment and Shipping"
   • Find the disputed charge and click "Report a Problem"
   • Explain that you cancelled Notability and were charged after the cancellation date
   • Attach your cancellation screenshot as proof
3. Follow up with Notability's support team if Apple does not act within 14 days
   • Email [email protected] with your evidence and ask for a refund
   • Reference the Australian Consumer Law and your right to a refund

If both Apple and Notability refuse to refund you, escalate to the ACCC. Tocancel strongly advises you not to accept a "no refund" response - your legal right to this money is backed by Australian law, not company policy.

Comparing Notability to other note-taking apps

If you are cancelling because you want to try another app, here is how Notability compares to common alternatives.

Tocancel recommends testing a free alternative (such as OneNote or Apple Notes) for at least two weeks before you commit to another paid subscription. This ensures you will not switch from one expensive app to another that does not suit you.

Summary: your next steps to cancel Notability safely

Cancelling Notability is simple once you know that subscriptions are managed through Apple, not through the app itself. You have the legal right to cancel, the right to a refund if you are charged unfairly, and the right to escalate to the ACCC if the company refuses to help you. Your notes will not be deleted, and you can export them before you cancel.

Here is your action plan: check your renewal date in Apple Settings today, export your notes tomorrow, and cancel through Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions at least one day before your renewal date. Take a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation and keep it safe. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions with confidence, and this guide gives you the knowledge and legal backing you need to do the same.

If you have any questions about your cancellation rights under Australian Consumer Law, or if you are charged after you cancel, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on 1300 302 502 or visit accc.gov.au. Tocancel remains here to support your rights as a consumer.