Cancel Medium: Your Step-by-Step Guide

How to cancel your Medium subscription in ireland and protect your money

Why you're here and what Medium actually costs you

Medium is a global publishing platform where writers, journalists, and independent creators publish long-form articles, essays, and stories. You can read a limited number of articles for free each month, but a paid membership gives you unlimited access to premium content and the chance to earn money if you publish your own work. As a consumer in Ireland, you have clear rights when you subscribe to any online service, and that includes Medium. This guide from Tocancel walks you through how to cancel, what you're legally entitled to, and how to avoid being charged again by accident.

What you're actually paying for Medium membership

Medium operates a recurring subscription model. Your payment happens automatically on the same date every month or year unless you cancel before that date arrives. Understanding your exact billing cycle is the first step to taking back control.

These charges hit your card automatically. If you don't cancel by your renewal date, you will be charged again without a warning text or email reminder. Writing down your first charge date and calculating when your next renewal arrives is your strongest defence against unwanted charges.

When cancelling Medium makes sense for your budget

Cancellation isn't always the right choice, so pause and ask yourself honestly whether Medium deserves space in your spending.

• You read fewer than four or five articles a month on the platform.
• You've found free alternatives like newspaper websites, podcasts, or social media feeds that meet your needs.
• You signed up for a free trial and don't want to pay full price when it expires.
• A friend or family member paid for a gift membership that is about to auto-renew without their help.
• You've hit financial hardship and need to cut subscriptions to essentials.
• You believe you've been charged twice or in error and want to dispute the charge.

Each of these is a valid reason. Your job is to act before your next billing date, not after.

Your legal rights as a Medium subscriber in ireland

Irish and UK consumer law gives you strong protections when you buy digital services online. Knowing what the law promises you makes cancellation less stressful.

What irish consumer law says you can do

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects you when you buy any service at a distance, which includes online subscriptions. You have a 14-day cooling-off period starting from the date you first subscribe. During those 14 days, you can cancel and ask for a full refund, as long as you haven't already used a substantial amount of the service. After those 14 days pass, you cannot demand your money back just because you changed your mind, but you can cancel your subscription at any point and stop future charges. This is crucial: Medium cannot make cancellation deliberately hard to find or complete. If the company hides the cancel button, makes you call a phone line instead of offering an online option, or sends you in circles, that breaks Irish consumer law. Your legal position is simple: you own the right to cancel whenever you want, and the company must make that option easy to find and use.

Who to contact if Medium refuses to cancel

If you cancel correctly but Medium keeps charging you, or if the company refuses to let you cancel, escalate to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The CCPC is Ireland's independent consumer authority and has the power to investigate complaints and force companies to refund you. You can file a complaint at www.ccpc.ie. Tocancel recommends saving screenshots of your cancellation request, confirmation emails, and any bank statements showing unwanted charges. These documents are your proof if a dispute goes to the CCPC or your bank.

How to cancel your Medium subscription step by step

Cancellation is usually quick if you know where to look. Follow these steps exactly to ensure Medium stops charging you.

Cancel Medium on web or desktop

1. Log into your Medium account at medium.com using your email address and password.
   • If you've forgotten your password, click "Can't read your email?" on the login page and follow the recovery process.
   • If you signed up using Google or Apple, use those buttons to log in instead.
2. Click your profile photo or avatar in the top right corner of the page.
   • This opens a dropdown menu with several options.
3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
   • You will be taken to your account settings page.
4. On the settings page, look for a section called "Membership" or "Subscription" on the left sidebar.
   • Click on it to expand your subscription details.
5. Find the button that says "Cancel subscription" or "Manage membership".
   • Click it immediately.
6. Medium will ask you why you're leaving. You can skip this question or answer briefly.
   • This feedback is optional and does not affect your cancellation.
7. Confirm your cancellation by clicking the final "Cancel" or "Confirm" button.
   • Do not close the page until you see a confirmation message.
8. Screenshot the confirmation page and save it to your files.
   • This proves you cancelled on a specific date.

Cancel Medium on an iPhone or iPad

1. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, you must cancel through your Apple ID settings, not within the Medium app itself.
   • Open the Settings app on your device.
   • Scroll down and tap "Apple ID" (usually at the top of the Settings menu).
   • Tap "Subscriptions".
   • Find "Medium" in the list of active subscriptions.
   • Tap "Medium" and then tap "Cancel Subscription".
   • Confirm the cancellation by following the on-screen prompts.
2. If you subscribed directly on Medium's website, log into your Medium account through the app, then follow the web steps above.
   • The Medium app has a settings option within the app menu as well.
3. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation.
   • Apple will send you a confirmation email; keep this too.

Cancel Medium on android

1. If you subscribed through the Google Play Store, cancel through Google Play, not the Medium app.
   • Open the Google Play Store app.
   • Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
   • Tap "Manage subscriptions".
   • Find and tap "Medium".
   • Tap "Cancel subscription".
   • Confirm by tapping "Yes, cancel" or the equivalent button on your screen.
2. If you subscribed directly via Medium, log into your account through the Medium app and access your subscription settings.
   • The process mirrors the web-based steps listed above.
3. Screenshot the cancellation screen for your records.
   • Google Play will email you a cancellation confirmation.

Contact Medium directly if you cannot cancel online

If you've tried the steps above and cannot find the cancellation button, or if Medium's website shows an error, you have the right to cancel by email.

1. Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "Subscription Cancellation Request".
   • Include your full name and the email address linked to your Medium account.
   • State clearly: "I request the immediate cancellation of my Medium subscription effective today."
   • Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation.
2. If you are in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, you can also contact Medium's privacy representative.
   • Email: [email protected]
   • Address: VeraSafe Ireland Ltd., Unit 3D North Point House, North Point Business Park, New Mallow Road, Cork, Ireland.
3. Send your email from the same address registered to your Medium account.
   • This helps Medium match your request to your subscription instantly.
4. Keep a copy of your email and any response you receive.
   • This email chain is your proof of cancellation if Medium charges you again.

What happens after you cancel Medium

Cancellation is only the first step. Understanding what comes next protects you from surprise charges and confusion.

When your access ends

Your Medium membership access ends on your next scheduled renewal date. If you cancel on the 15th of a month and your renewal date is the 30th, you keep full membership access until the 30th, then it stops. You cannot read premium articles after that date. You will still be able to read your own published stories and access any free content on the platform, but you lose the unlimited reading privilege. Tocancel recommends checking your Medium settings one week before your renewal date to confirm the cancellation is still active. Companies sometimes fail to process cancellations correctly, and this check catches errors early.

Your bank statement after cancellation

Check your bank or credit card statement on the date Medium would normally charge you. If no charge appears, your cancellation worked. If a charge does appear, you have been charged in error and must take action immediately. Contact your bank or card provider and explain that you cancelled your subscription. Ask them to reverse the charge and file a dispute if Medium won't refund it. Tocancel advises keeping screenshots of your cancellation confirmation and your bank statements together in a folder. This evidence makes it easy to challenge any wrongful charges later.

Can you get a refund after cancellation

Refunds depend on when you cancel and what Medium's terms say. If you cancel within 14 days of your first charge and have not used the service much, you can request a refund under Irish consumer law. After 14 days, Medium is not legally required to refund you for time already paid. However, if you've been charged twice in one month, or charged after you cancelled, you have the right to demand a refund for those erroneous charges. Email [email protected] and explain the double charge clearly, with dates and amounts. Medium's customer support usually responds within 5 business days. If they refuse a legitimate refund claim, contact your bank or escalate to the CCPC.

Common mistakes people make when cancelling Medium

Cancellation sounds simple, but small errors can leave you trapped in a subscription you no longer want. Here's how to avoid the traps that catch others.

Mistake 1: cancelling through the wrong platform

If you subscribed to Medium through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel through that same store, not through Medium's website. Many people cancel on Medium's website, see a confirmation message, and think they're done, only to be charged by Apple or Google a month later. Check which method you used when you first signed up (look at your first charge in your bank statement or email receipts). Cancel the same way you paid.

Mistake 2: confusing "pause" with "cancel"

Some apps and services offer a "pause subscription" option that looks like cancellation but isn't. Pausing temporarily stops charges for a month or two, but the subscription auto-resumes and charges you again unless you actually cancel. Read every button carefully before clicking. You want a button that says "Cancel" or "End subscription", not "Pause" or "Pause membership".

Mistake 3: not saving proof of cancellation

If you don't take a screenshot or save the confirmation email, you have no evidence that you tried to cancel if Medium charges you again. Companies sometimes claim they never received a cancellation request, and without proof, your bank may side with them. Screenshot the confirmation page immediately after you cancel. If you cancelled by email, save that email and any reply from Medium's support team.

Mistake 4: cancelling too close to the renewal date

If you cancel on the same day as your renewal, Medium may have already processed your charge before your cancellation went through. The timing of the two processes matters. Always cancel at least one week before your renewal date to give Medium time to stop the charge. Check when your renewal happens (visible in your settings) and mark that date on your calendar minus seven days.

Mistake 5: assuming cancellation applies to all your accounts

If you have more than one email address and signed up for Medium on both, cancelling one account does not cancel the other. You must log into each account separately and cancel each subscription individually. If a friend or family member has a subscription attached to your payment method, cancelling your account won't stop their charges.

After Medium cancellation: protect yourself from re-subscription

Even after a successful cancellation, staying vigilant keeps charges from creeping back into your life.

Monitor your bank statements for three months

Errors happen. Set a phone reminder to check your bank statement on the date Medium would have charged you. Do this for at least three billing cycles after your cancellation. If an unexpected charge appears months later, contact your bank immediately and reference your cancellation confirmation. Tocancel recommends saving your cancellation proof to your phone so you always have it ready.

Uninstall the Medium app if you no longer need it

Keeping the app on your phone makes it easy to accidentally re-subscribe if you click the "Upgrade" button while browsing. Once you've cancelled and are no longer reading Medium regularly, delete the app. This removes temptation and the risk of accidental re-subscription through a single tap.

Keep your password secure but check login history

If someone else has access to your Medium password, they could re-subscribe or change your payment method. Log into your Medium account monthly and check if there are any unrecognised login attempts in your activity log. Change your password every six months, especially if you share devices with others.

Comparison table: Medium vs. other reading platforms in ireland

If you're cancelling Medium, you might be weighing it against other ways to read quality journalism and essays. Here's how Medium stacks up against common alternatives.

Consider what content you actually read before you spend money on any platform. Free sources like BBC News, local Irish newspapers, and open-access journalism sites may cover 80% of what you need.

Contact Medium directly: addresses and support details

If you need to reach Medium for any reason beyond the app or website, use these official channels.

Email support for subscription cancellations

Send cancellation requests or subscription disputes to: [email protected]. Include your email address, full name, and reason for contacting them. Responses usually arrive within 5 business days.

EU privacy and data representative

If you're in Ireland, the UK, or the European Economic Area and want to discuss your data or rights, contact:

VeraSafe Ireland Ltd.
Unit 3D North Point House
North Point Business Park
New Mallow Road
Cork, Ireland

Email: [email protected]

Escalation path if Medium ignores you

If Medium doesn't respond or refuses to cancel your subscription, report the issue to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Visit www.ccpc.ie to file a formal consumer complaint. Provide your cancellation request, confirmation attempts, and any charges that followed. The CCPC has the authority to investigate and force Medium to comply with Irish consumer law.

Final checklist before you complete your Medium cancellation

Use this list to ensure you've taken every step and won't be caught off guard by future charges.

• I know the date of my next renewal charge (visible in my Medium settings).
• I have identified which platform I subscribed through: web, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store.
• I have logged into my Medium account successfully and located the cancellation button.
• I have clicked "Cancel subscription" and received a confirmation message or email.
• I have taken a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation.
• I have saved any email confirmation from Medium or my app store.
• I have saved my cancellation email (if I emailed [email protected]) and Medium's response.
• I have made a note of the cancellation date in my calendar and set a reminder to check my bank statement one week after my renewal date.
• I have bookmarked the CCPC website (www.ccpc.ie) in case I need to file a complaint later.

Summary: taking control of your Medium subscription today

Cancelling Medium is straightforward when you follow the correct method for your account type. Your legal right to cancel is protected under Irish consumer law, and companies cannot make cancellation deliberately hard or hidden. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission enforces these rights if a company breaks them. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and avoid surprise charges by walking through these exact steps. Whether you cancelled Medium because you're not reading enough, your budget is tighter, or you found a better alternative, you now have the knowledge to protect yourself. Check your bank statement one week after your renewal date to confirm the charge stops. If Medium charges you after you've cancelled, contact your bank and escalate to the CCPC if the company refuses to refund. Keep your cancellation proof forever. Tocancel remains here to support you if you need to cancel any other subscription service in the future.