Cancel Medium: The Right Way

How to cancel Medium membership in malaysia and stop recurring charges

What Medium is and why malaysians are cancelling

Medium is an online publishing platform where you pay a monthly or yearly membership to read unlimited stories, listen to audio versions, and support writers. The service launched in 2012 from San Francisco and operates globally, including Malaysia, but it does not maintain a local office or phone support line here. If you subscribed on Medium's website, through Apple, or via Google Play, your cancellation path differs depending on your payment method.

Many Malaysian users sign up expecting full value, then realise the content does not match their reading habits, the paywall blocks too many stories, or they simply forget the subscription is active until they see the charge on their bank statement. Whatever your reason, Tocancel is here to walk you through cancelling safely and reclaiming control of your billing.

Medium membership costs and what you are paying for

Medium offers two paid tiers. The standard Medium Member plan costs RM24 per month or RM236 per year. The premium tier, Friend of Medium, costs RM71 per month or RM708 per year and includes extra writer support and exclusive features.

Your membership renews automatically on the same day each month or year, depending on your chosen plan. If you signed up on the 15th, your next charge hits on the 15th of every renewal period. This means you must cancel before that date to avoid being charged again.

Your legal position as a consumer in malaysia

Under Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999, you have the right to cancel a recurring subscription without penalty during a cooling-off period, and the supplier must clearly disclose your billing date and cancellation method before you subscribe. Medium's terms refer to California law because the company is U.S.-based, but as a Malaysian consumer, you remain protected by your own law when the transaction affects you here.

This means if Medium's cancellation process is deliberately hidden, unclear, or if you are charged after a good-faith cancellation attempt, you can lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDNHEP) or seek assistance from Tocancel to document your case and escalate it if needed.

How to cancel Medium if you subscribed on the website

The most direct cancellation route is through Medium's own website if you signed up there directly with your email or social login.

Step-by-step cancellation on the Medium website

1. Log in to your Medium account at medium.com using your email or social account.
   • Use the same login method you used when you subscribed.
   • If you have forgotten your password, use the Forgot Password link to reset it.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner.
   • A dropdown menu appears with account options.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
   • You are now in your account settings page.
4. Look for the Membership and payment section, usually listed under Account or Billing.
   • This section shows your current plan, next billing date, and payment method.
5. Click Cancel your membership or Cancel subscription.
   • Medium will ask you why you are leaving; you may skip this or provide feedback.
   • Confirm the cancellation when prompted.
6. Screenshot or save the cancellation confirmation page showing the date and time of cancellation.
   • Medium may send you a confirmation email; save this too.

Your access to paid content will end on your next scheduled billing date, not immediately. This is normal and protects you: you keep reading until your paid period runs out, then revert to the free tier. Do not panic if access does not vanish instantly.

When to cancel for safety and clarity

Cancel at least 48 hours before your next billing date, never on the same day. This window gives you time to confirm the cancellation took effect and to reach out to Medium support if something looks wrong. If your next billing date is the 20th, cancel by the 18th to be safe.

Check your bank or card statement 5 to 7 days after the cancellation date to verify no charge appears on the renewal date. If a charge still hits your account, Tocancel has step-by-step guidance for disputing the charge and escalating to Medium's U.S. support team or your bank's dispute service.

How to cancel Medium if you subscribed through apple

If you signed up or renewed your Medium membership through Apple (iTunes, App Store, or in-app purchase on iPhone or iPad), your subscription is managed in your Apple ID settings, not inside the Medium app.

Cancel Medium on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
   • This is not the Medium app; use Apple's Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
   • Your Apple ID profile section appears.
3. Select Subscriptions.
   • You see all active subscriptions tied to this Apple ID.
4. Find and tap Medium.
   • A details screen shows your plan, next renewal date, and payment method.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription or Delete Subscription.
   • Apple asks for confirmation.
   • Confirm by tapping again.
6. Screenshot the confirmation screen that shows your subscription has been cancelled.
   • Apple also sends a confirmation email to your registered Apple ID email address.

You will retain full access to Medium until the end of your current billing period. The cancellation stops the automatic renewal, not your current membership. On your renewal date, you will be moved to Medium's free plan automatically.

Important note for apple users

If you have Medium subscriptions under multiple Apple IDs (perhaps a personal ID and a shared family ID), check both and cancel each one separately. Many Malaysians miss cancelling one subscription because it is buried under a second Apple ID, leading to surprise charges. Tocancel recommends checking all Apple IDs linked to your email addresses and payment methods.

How to cancel Medium if you subscribed through google play

If you signed up or renewed on an Android device or through Google Play Store, your subscription lives in your Google Play account, not in the Medium app itself.

Cancel Medium on google play

1. Open Google Play Store on your Android device or visit play.google.com on a web browser.
   • Log in with the Google account you used to purchase the Medium subscription.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
   • On web, it is a circle with your initial or picture.
3. Select Payments and subscriptions or Manage your subscriptions.
   • This section lists all active subscriptions on this Google account.
4. Tap or click Medium.
   • The subscription details appear, including your next billing date.
5. Tap Cancel subscription.
   • Google Play asks why you are leaving; you can skip this.
   • Confirm the cancellation.
6. Take a screenshot of the confirmation message.
   • Google sends a confirmation email within a few minutes.

Like Apple, your paid access continues until the end of your current billing cycle. Google Play stops the automatic renewal and does not charge you again after your membership period ends.

Watch out for multiple google accounts

If you have switched Google accounts or have work and personal Gmail addresses, each account may have its own Medium subscription active. Log in to all your Google accounts and check Manage subscriptions on each one. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers discover hidden subscriptions under old email addresses they forgot they owned.

What happens after you cancel Medium

Cancelling your membership is not the same as deleting your account. You keep your profile, saved stories, and reading lists, but you lose access to paid content and the ability to read unlimited stories.

After cancellation, your access changes

Once your paid period expires, you automatically drop to Medium's free tier. You can read up to 3 free stories per month on Medium, but you cannot access member-only content, audio narrations, or offline reading. Your draft articles and notes remain in your account if you are a writer.

If you want to delete your entire account (profile, saved articles, everything), you can do that separately in Medium settings, but there is no reason to delete your account just to stop the charge. Cancelling the membership alone is enough.

Check your bank statement for confirmation

Allow 5 to 7 days after your renewal date to confirm no charge appears. Log into your bank's app or website and search for Medium or the transaction amount (RM24 or RM71) in your statement. If the charge appears after you cancelled, this is a billing error, and you must dispute it immediately.

What to do if Medium keeps charging you after cancellation

It is stressful to see a charge after you thought you cancelled, but this is fixable, and you have legal rights here.

Steps to stop unwanted charges

1. Check that your cancellation actually went through.
   • Log back into Medium (or Apple/Google Play) and confirm the subscription status shows cancelled or inactive.
   • It is possible the cancellation did not process; try again if needed.
2. Wait 7 to 10 days from your next renewal date.
   • Billing systems can be slow; the charge may not appear immediately on your statement.
   • Do not assume a charge is final until you see it clearly on your bank statement.
3. If a charge does appear after a confirmed cancellation, contact your bank immediately.
   • Tell your bank you cancelled the subscription and do not authorise the charge.
   • Ask your bank to dispute or reverse the charge.
   • Most banks process disputes within 14 to 30 days.
4. Also contact Medium support directly.
   • Go to help.medium.com, click Contact us, and describe what happened.
   • Include screenshots of your cancellation confirmation and the unwanted bank charge.
   • Medium usually responds within 48 hours with a refund or explanation.
5. Keep all evidence: cancellation screenshots, emails, and bank statements.
   • If this escalates, you will need proof.

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, any charge after a valid cancellation is unlawful. If Medium does not refund you within 14 days of your dispute, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDNHEP), and Tocancel can help you prepare that case.

Refunds and cooling-off rights

Malaysia's consumer law gives you 14 days from the purchase date to cancel for any reason and request a full refund, but this applies mainly to distance purchases made online. Medium's membership is a recurring subscription, so the cooling-off window applies to your initial purchase, not every renewal.

If you cancel within 14 days of first signing up and request a refund, Medium should honour it. After 14 days, cancellation stops future charges but does not refund charges already made, unless Medium made an error.

Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them

You have taken the time to cancel; it is frustrating when a small oversight undermines it. Here are the traps Tocancel sees most often.

Mistake 1: cancelling in the Medium app, not in apple or google play settings

Many users tap Cancel inside the Medium mobile app, thinking that is enough. It is not. If you subscribed through Apple or Google Play, the subscription lives with them, not with Medium. Cancelling inside the Medium app does not stop the charge; you must cancel in your Apple ID or Google Play settings.

Mistake 2: cancelling on the last day before the billing date

If your renewal is the 20th and you cancel on the 19th, you are cutting it dangerously close. Server delays or slow processing can mean your cancellation does not register in time. Cancel at least 48 hours early to build a safety margin.

Mistake 3: not taking screenshots or saving confirmation emails

Without proof of cancellation, if a charge appears later, you have no evidence you actually cancelled. Screenshot the confirmation page immediately. Save the confirmation email Medium or Apple or Google sends you. These are your legal shield if you need to dispute a charge.

Mistake 4: forgetting multiple subscriptions under different email addresses

If you have multiple Google accounts, Apple IDs, or email addresses, you may have subscribed with more than one. Check all of them. Log in to play.google.com and your Apple ID settings under all your email accounts, not just the current one.

Mistake 5: assuming a refund is automatic

Cancelling stops future charges but does not automatically refund money already paid, unless you cancel within 14 days of your first purchase. If you want a refund for your last month, you must ask Medium support directly or dispute the charge with your bank; do not assume it is coming.

Should you cancel Medium or keep it

Deciding whether to cancel is personal, but Tocancel wants you to make that choice with clear eyes.

Be honest: are you using it? If you have not opened Medium in a month, cancellation is the right move. If you read a story every few days and value the experience, keeping it makes sense. Tocancel is here to help you cancel if you decide that is best, not to push you either way.

Checklist: cancellation before, during, and after

Use this checklist to make sure you have covered every step and protected yourself legally.

Before you cancel

• Note your next billing date (check your bank statement or subscription settings).
• Confirm which platform you subscribed on: Medium website, Apple, or Google Play.
• Save any reading lists, draft articles, or notes you want to keep.
• Take screenshots of your current plan and billing information.

During cancellation

• Cancel at least 48 hours before your renewal date, not the day before.
• Follow the steps for your specific platform (Medium website, Apple, or Google Play).
• Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation immediately.
• Save any confirmation email you receive within an hour of cancelling.

After cancellation

• Log back in after 24 hours to verify your subscription status shows cancelled or inactive.
• Check your bank statement 7 to 10 days after your renewal date to confirm no charge appears.
• If a charge appears, contact your bank to dispute it and email Medium support with proof of cancellation.
• Keep all screenshots, emails, and bank statements for at least 6 months.

Your consumer rights and where to escalate if Medium will not help

Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999 protects you from unfair billing practices, hidden charges, and suppliers who ignore cancellation requests. Here is where you stand legally and who to contact if Medium refuses to cooperate.

Your legal rights as a malaysian consumer

You have the right to clear information about the cost, billing date, and cancellation method before you pay anything. You have the right to cancel a recurring subscription without jumping through loops. You have the right to a refund if you cancel within 14 days of your first purchase. And you have the right to dispute any charge made without your permission.

If Medium breaches these rights, you can lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDNHEP) at www.kpdnhep.gov.my or call the Consumer Hotline at 1-800-80-2020. The ministry investigates complaints and can force suppliers to refund consumers if the evidence is clear.

Medium's support address and escalation path

Medium does not maintain a physical office or phone number in Malaysia. For all support, contact Medium Help Center at help.medium.com or use the in-app Help button. Fill in your name, email, and a clear description of your problem (e.g., "I cancelled my subscription on [date], but was charged again on [date]"). Include screenshots of your cancellation confirmation and the unwanted charge.

Medium's support team responds via email within 48 hours in most cases. If Medium refuses to refund an unwanted charge or ignores your cancellation, take your screenshots and correspondence to KPDNHEP, and Tocancel can help you draft a formal complaint.

Disputing charges with your bank

If Medium will not refund you and support is unresponsive, your bank has a dispute process. Log into your bank's app, find the Medium charge, and select "Dispute" or "Report Unauthorised Charge." Your bank will ask Medium to prove you authorised the charge. If Medium cannot, your bank refunds you. This process takes 14 to 30 days but has a high success rate if your cancellation proof is solid.

Tocancel's final word on cancelling Medium safely

Cancelling Medium is straightforward once you know which platform hosts your subscription and when your next renewal date is. The three routes (Medium website, Apple, Google Play) are simple if you follow the steps in order and take screenshots as you go.

The key to protecting yourself is timing: cancel 48 hours before renewal, save proof, and verify the charge does not appear on your bank statement. If it does, your bank and Malaysia's consumer law are on your side, and you can dispute it with confidence.

Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions they forgot about, stop unwanted charges, and reclaim money they were owed. If you need extra help, evidence to support a dispute, or guidance on escalating to KPDNHEP, visit Tocancel at tocancel.com and let us help you finish the job. Your cancellation is our mission.