Cancel PressReader: The Right Way

How to cancel PressReader and take control of your reading costs

What PressReader is and why you might want to leave

PressReader gives you access to thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world through a single app or website. You can read titles from The New Zealand Herald to international publications, all on your phone, tablet, or desktop. The service operates through three main channels: the PressReader website, iOS and Android mobile apps, or through your local library if you hold a valid library card.

Many readers find the breadth of content genuinely useful at first. However, subscription costs accumulate quickly, the magazine and newspaper catalogue rotates regularly, or you realise you're duplicating titles you already subscribe to separately. Whether you've hit your budget limit, prefer individual publication subscriptions, or simply lost the reading habit, cancelling PressReader is straightforward once you know the right steps.

At Tocancel, we help thousands of New Zealand consumers navigate subscription cancellations every month. PressReader appears regularly on the list of services people want to exit. This guide walks you through every cancellation option and explains your consumer rights in plain language.

How your subscription method determines your cancellation path

Before you cancel, identify where you purchased your subscription. This single detail determines your entire cancellation process. Did you buy directly from PressReader's website, or through Apple's App Store or Google Play Store?

Subscriptions bought through Apple or Google are managed by those platforms, not by PressReader directly. This means you cancel through Apple or Google, not through PressReader's account settings. This distinction trips up many people, so understanding your purchase channel first saves you time and frustration.

Why your purchase date matters right now

Your purchase date is legally significant under New Zealand consumer protection law. If you purchased PressReader within the last 14 days, you may be entitled to a full refund regardless of what PressReader's terms say about refund policies. Keep your receipt or order confirmation email handy-you'll need it if you claim this right.

Your consumer rights and what they mean for you

New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act protects you when you buy digital services like PressReader. Understanding these rights gives you genuine leverage when you cancel.

The consumer guarantees act and your subscription

The Consumer Guarantees Act guarantees that any service you purchase must be of acceptable quality and fit for the purpose you intended. If you purchased PressReader and it doesn't work as advertised, crashes frequently, loses access to content you're paying for, or fails to deliver what the marketing promised, you have grounds to ask for a refund or cancellation.

Critically, the Act applies regardless of what PressReader's terms and conditions say about refunds. Terms that contradict consumer law are unenforceable in New Zealand. Additionally, if you cancel within 14 days of purchase for any reason, you may be entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act, even if PressReader doesn't advertise this option.

Your legal position is clear: if PressReader is faulty or doesn't match what you were promised, you have the right to a refund.

What to do if PressReader refuses to help

If you request a refund and PressReader declines, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission or your local Citizens Advice Bureau. These organisations handle consumer disputes when companies won't budge. Keep records of all your communications with PressReader-emails, screenshots, dates, subscription invoices-so you have evidence if you need to lodge a formal complaint.

Most importantly, never feel pressured to accept PressReader's first answer. Consumer law in New Zealand is firmly on your side, and enforcement bodies exist specifically to help consumers in your situation.

How to cancel if you bought directly from PressReader.com

If you purchased your subscription directly from PressReader's website, follow these steps to turn off auto-renewal and stop future charges.

Step-by-step cancellation through your account

1. Go to PressReader.com and log in with your email address and password
   • If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it first
2. Look for your account menu, usually in the top right corner or under a hamburger icon (three horizontal lines)
   • On mobile, this may be labelled "Menu" or show your profile picture
3. Select "Account settings" or "My account" from the dropdown menu
   • This takes you to your subscription and billing information
4. Find the "Subscription" or "Billing" section
   • You should see your active subscription listed with the renewal date
5. Click "Cancel subscription" or "Turn off auto-renewal"
   • The exact wording varies, but the button is always in this section
6. PressReader will ask you why you're leaving-answer honestly, as your feedback helps them improve
   • You may see an offer to pause your subscription or reduce your payment-ignore this unless you genuinely want to stay
7. Confirm your cancellation by clicking the final "Cancel subscription" button
   • You'll receive an email confirmation within minutes

Save this confirmation email as proof that you've cancelled. You won't be charged again after your current billing period ends.

How long until your access stops

When you cancel through PressReader's website, your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid monthly and cancelled on the 15th of the month, you can read until the end of that month. If you paid annually, you keep access for the remainder of the year. You are never charged again, and you can request a refund for the unused portion of your subscription if you cancel partway through a billing cycle.

How to cancel if you bought through apple app store or google play

If you subscribed to PressReader through Apple or Google, you must cancel through their platforms, not through PressReader itself. This is because Apple and Google process the payment and own the subscription relationship with you, not PressReader.

Cancelling your apple subscription

1. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Settings app
   • On Mac, open System Preferences instead
2. Tap or click your name at the top of the screen
   • This opens your Apple ID settings
3. Select "Subscriptions"
   • You'll see all active subscriptions linked to your Apple ID
4. Find PressReader in the list and tap it
   • If PressReader doesn't appear, swipe down-it may be further down the list
5. Tap "Cancel subscription" at the bottom of the screen
   • Apple will show you the current renewal date and ask you to confirm
6. Confirm the cancellation by tapping "Confirm"
   • You'll receive an email from Apple within minutes confirming the cancellation

After you cancel through Apple, you'll keep access to PressReader until the end of your current billing period. Apple never charges you again, and you can request a refund from Apple directly if you cancelled within 14 days of purchase.

Cancelling your google play subscription

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store app
   • This is the app store where you installed PressReader
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner
   • This opens your Google Play account menu
3. Select "Payments and subscriptions"
   • This shows all subscriptions linked to your Google account
4. Tap "Subscriptions"
   • A list of all active subscriptions appears
5. Find PressReader and tap it
   • The subscription details screen opens
6. Tap "Cancel subscription"
   • Google asks you to confirm and may offer a discount-ignore the offer and proceed
7. Confirm by tapping "Cancel subscription" again
   • You'll receive an email from Google confirming the cancellation

Once you cancel through Google, your PressReader access ends at the end of your current billing period. Google will not charge you again, and you're eligible for a refund if you cancelled within 14 days of your purchase.

Refunds and what you're entitled to claim

Your eligibility for a refund depends on when you cancelled and why.

Refund eligibility within 14 days

If you cancelled PressReader within 14 days of purchase, you're entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act. This applies regardless of whether PressReader advertises a refund period or not. To claim this refund, contact PressReader directly (or Apple/Google if you bought through them) and state that you're exercising your right under the Consumer Guarantees Act to cancel within 14 days.

Provide your order number and the date you purchased. Processing times vary, but expect the refund within 7 to 14 business days.

Refunds after 14 days for a faulty service

If you cancelled after 14 days but PressReader isn't working as advertised-it crashes repeatedly, loses content access, or doesn't match what the marketing promised-you may still be entitled to a refund for the period you couldn't use the service.

Contact PressReader and explain the fault in detail. Provide screenshots or evidence of the problem. If they refuse, escalate to the Commerce Commission or Citizens Advice Bureau. These bodies can compel companies to honour consumer law.

What PressReader owes you if you cancel mid-cycle

If you paid for a full month or year and cancelled partway through the cycle, you can request a pro-rata refund for the unused portion. For example, if you paid NZD 15 for a month and cancelled after 10 days, you're owed roughly NZD 5 for the unused days.

Calculate the pro-rata amount yourself and include it in your refund request. Most companies will process this without argument if you're polite and clear about the calculation.

What happens immediately after you cancel

Cancelling can feel like loss, even when it's the right decision. You might worry about missing headlines or feel a pang about unused access. These feelings are normal-you've simply outgrown a service, which is healthy.

Your access and the immediate aftermath

After you cancel, you retain full access to PressReader until the end of your current billing period. You can continue reading all newspapers and magazines you normally access. When the billing cycle ends, your login stops working and you can no longer open the app or website.

If you realise within a few days that you've made a mistake, you can reactivate your subscription by logging back in and purchasing again. Tocancel recommends waiting at least a week before deciding-most impulse cancellations feel right by day three.

Alternative ways to read news without paying

Many New Zealand libraries offer free digital access to newspaper and magazine collections through local library apps. Contact your library or visit their website to check what's available. The New Zealand Herald offers a free version with limited articles daily. International outlets like BBC News, The Guardian, and Reuters publish free content online. Independent Kiwi news sites like Stuff.co.nz and 1News offer substantial free coverage.

These alternatives combined often cover the same stories PressReader does-without the subscription cost.

Pricing and value comparison

Understanding what PressReader costs helps you decide whether the service is worth your money.

If you read only two or three specific publications, buying them individually is often cheaper than PressReader. If you genuinely read across 10+ titles weekly, the annual plan offers value. If you read sporadically, library access is unbeatable.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Many people cancel and then accidentally get charged again because they overlooked a critical step. You're not alone if this has happened to you-it's a deliberate design pattern, not a user error.

Mistake one: cancelling the app without cancelling the subscription

Deleting the PressReader app from your phone does not cancel your subscription. The app and the subscription are separate. You can delete the app, but if your subscription is still active, you'll be charged on the renewal date.

Always cancel the subscription first (through your account, Apple, or Google), then delete the app if you like. Not the other way around.

Mistake two: assuming library access means you're cancelled

If you access PressReader through your library card, you have a free subscription-you don't need to cancel anything. However, if you're paying PressReader directly and also use the library version, you're paying for two subscriptions simultaneously. Cancel your paid subscription to eliminate the duplicate charge.

Mistake three: not saving your cancellation confirmation

Always save the cancellation confirmation email or screenshot. If PressReader charges you again (which happens), this proof demonstrates you cancelled and strengthens your refund claim. Without it, the burden falls on you to prove cancellation, which takes longer.

Mistake four: forgetting your auto-renewal date

Mark your renewal date in your phone calendar. If you don't cancel by that date, you'll be charged for another cycle. Tocancel recommends setting a reminder three days before renewal-enough time to cancel if you've changed your mind about keeping the service.

Getting help if PressReader won't cooperate

Most cancellations are straightforward, but occasionally PressReader makes things difficult-ignoring cancellation requests, charging after cancellation, or claiming they never received your request.

Step one: document everything in writing

If you cancel and PressReader charges you again, send them a formal email. Use the subject line "Cancellation confirmation request." State your subscription number (if you have it), the cancellation date, and the unwanted charge. Ask them to confirm the cancellation in writing and reverse the charge. Give them five business days to respond.

Keep this email and any reply as evidence.

Step two: contact your bank or payment provider

If PressReader ignores your cancellation request and charges you without consent, contact your bank. You can dispute the charge as an unauthorised transaction. Your bank can reverse the charge, impose penalties on PressReader, and investigate whether they've breached payment processing rules.

Banks take unauthorised charges seriously and often succeed where consumers cannot.

Step three: escalate to the commerce commission

If PressReader refuses to refund and your bank can't help, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission. Describe what happened, when, and what you've tried. Attach your emails and cancellation evidence. The Commerce Commission can issue compliance orders and investigate whether PressReader has breached consumer law.

Filing a complaint is free, and the Commerce Commission handles thousands of cases like yours every year.

Checklist before and after you cancel

Use this checklist to ensure you've completed every step and are protected from surprise charges.

What readers say about PressReader

PressReader holds a 4.5 out of 5 star rating across app stores, which reflects a genuinely useful service for people who read across multiple publications. Users praise the breadth of content, ease of searching, and offline reading. Critics mention the rising cost, rotating catalogue, and the frustration of titles disappearing mid-subscription.

Most cancellations occur because subscribers realise they're reading the same three publications repeatedly-a sign they'd save money buying those titles individually or using library access.

Comparison: PressReader vs. alternatives

Comparing PressReader to alternatives helps confirm whether cancellation is the right move for your reading habits.

Your next step: cancel with confidence

You now understand your consumer rights under New Zealand law, how to cancel PressReader through every platform, and what to do if the company refuses to cooperate. You have leverage-use it.

Go back to the relevant section above for your specific cancellation method. Follow the steps in order. Save your confirmation email. If PressReader charges you again or refuses a legitimate refund request, escalate immediately to the Commerce Commission-this is precisely what they exist for.

Tocancel has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers cancel subscriptions they no longer value. Whether you're cancelling PressReader to cut costs, switch to library access, or because the service no longer fits your reading habits, the process is straightforward once you know your rights. You are entirely within the law to cancel at any time, and consumer protection bodies in New Zealand will enforce your rights if PressReader refuses to cooperate.

Cancel today, save money starting now, and reclaim control of your digital spending.

Contact information for PressReader

PressReader Inc. is registered in Canada and operates globally. While there is no separate New Zealand postal address, you can contact PressReader through their website or reach out to the billing support team via email. For any dispute that PressReader won't resolve, contact the Commerce Commission at www.comcom.govt.nz or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Tocancel provides guides like this to empower you to take control of your subscriptions. Tocancel is your go-to resource for understanding your cancellation rights, whether you're leaving PressReader, streaming services, or any other recurring charge.