Cancel Substack: The Right Way

How to cancel Substack and avoid unexpected charges in the philippines

What Substack is and how it works for filipino readers

Substack is a publishing platform where independent writers and creators charge readers for access to exclusive newsletters, articles, and community features. You subscribe to individual publications created by writers you follow, not to a single Substack membership. Understanding this distinction is critical because your cancellation happens per publication, and refund decisions rest with each creator, not with Substack directly. This means you need to track which publications you have paid for and cancel each one separately.

The paid subscription model on Substack

When you subscribe to a paid publication on Substack, you gain access to subscriber-only content such as full archives, comment sections, podcast episodes, chat threads, and founding member perks. Most publications offer free newsletters alongside their paid tiers, which typically cost between ₱200 to ₱500 per month depending on the creator's pricing strategy. Annual subscriptions and founding member plans may also be available, often at a discount compared to monthly renewal rates.

Substack uses automatic recurring billing. Your subscription renews on the same date each month or year unless you cancel before the renewal date arrives. Substack sends you a reminder email approximately one week before your next charge, giving you a window to cancel if needed. In practice, this email is your safety net-act on it immediately if you no longer want the subscription.

What filipino subscribers need to know upfront

Support from Substack is primarily available in English, and there is no dedicated hotline for the Philippines. Payment options may vary, with some users finding it easier to use international credit cards rather than local wallets like GCash or Maya. This limitation has led many Filipino readers to feel frustrated when trying to manage their accounts or seek customer support.

One critical detail: where you subscribe determines how you cancel. If you subscribed via the Substack website, you cancel through your account settings. If you used the Apple or Android app, your cancellation may be managed through the App Store or Google Play, not through Substack directly. This confusion is one of the most common reasons people believe they have cancelled when the subscription actually continues.

Your consumer rights in the philippines

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) protects you when you purchase digital subscriptions like Substack. Under this law, you have the right to accurate information about pricing, billing dates, and cancellation procedures before you pay.

What the consumer act guarantees you

The Consumer Act requires that any merchant or service provider clearly disclose all material terms, including subscription renewal dates and cancellation methods. If Substack or a creator fails to provide clear information about automatic renewal, you may have grounds to dispute a charge. Additionally, if you cancel your subscription but are still billed, you have the right to request a refund and file a complaint with the National Consumer Affairs Office (NCAO) if the provider refuses to comply.

Your legal position is straightforward: if you cancelled in good faith and followed the cancellation process, any charge after that date is unauthorized and must be refunded. You do not need permission from the creator to enforce this right.

Escalation and dispute options

If a creator refuses to honour your cancellation or continues to charge you after you have cancelled, document everything. Save screenshots of your cancellation confirmation, the email receipt showing the unwanted charge, and any correspondence with the creator. You can then escalate to the NCAO (ncao.dti.gov.ph) or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Hotline for formal investigation.

Tocancel recommends keeping records of all transactions and communications for at least six months. This evidence is essential if you need to dispute a charge with your bank or file a consumer complaint. The DTI takes digital subscription disputes seriously and can compel refunds on your behalf.

How to cancel Substack on the web

Cancelling your Substack subscription through the website is the most straightforward method and ensures you retain a clear record of cancellation.

Step-by-step cancellation via the website

1. Log in to your Substack account at substack.com using your email and password.
2. Click on your account avatar or name in the top right corner of the page.
3. Select "Account" or "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
4. Navigate to "Subscriptions" or "Publications" and find the publication you want to cancel.
   • Look for a pencil or edit icon next to each subscription name.
   • Click on the publication name to view your subscription details.
5. Find the "Cancel subscription" button or link (usually at the bottom of the subscription details page).
6. Review the cancellation summary and click "Yes, cancel my subscription" to confirm.
7. Substack will display a cancellation confirmation message. Take a screenshot of this confirmation for your records.
8. Check your email inbox immediately for a cancellation confirmation email from Substack or the creator.

After you complete these steps, your subscription ends on your current billing date. You will retain access to subscriber-only content until that date passes. Tocancel advises checking your account settings again one week later to verify that the subscription no longer appears in your active list.

Cancellation via the Substack mobile app

1. Open the Substack app on your phone (iOS or Android).
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner.
3. Select "Account" or "Settings".
4. Tap "Subscriptions" or "My subscriptions".
5. Find the publication you want to cancel and swipe left or tap the menu icon next to it.
   • On iOS, you may see "Cancel subscription" appear directly.
   • On Android, select "Manage subscription" and then "Cancel".
6. Tap "Cancel" and confirm your choice when prompted.
7. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation screen.

Mobile cancellation works the same way as web cancellation, but confirmation emails may arrive slightly slower. Always take a screenshot immediately after cancelling through the app.

Cancelling Substack subscriptions purchased via apple and google

If you subscribed to a Substack publication through the Apple App Store or Google Play, your cancellation happens in a different location and you must cancel there, not through Substack itself.

Cancel via the apple app store (iOS)

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Select "Subscriptions".
4. Find the Substack publication you want to cancel.
5. Tap on the subscription name and select "Cancel subscription".
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm cancellation.
7. A confirmation message will appear. Screenshot this immediately.

Apple will stop charging you after your current billing period ends. You retain access to paid content until that date. This means if your subscription renews on the 15th of each month and you cancel on the 10th, you still have access until the 15th, then the subscription ends.

Cancel via google play (Android)

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select "Payments and subscriptions".
4. Tap "Subscriptions".
5. Find the Substack publication subscription you want to cancel.
6. Tap on the subscription and select "Cancel subscription".
7. Follow the prompts and confirm cancellation.
8. Screenshot the confirmation screen for your records.

Google Play processes cancellations the same way Apple does. Your access ends on the next billing date, and you will receive a confirmation email from Google Play.

Pricing and subscription costs for filipino readers

Substack subscription costs vary widely by creator and publication, but here is a typical breakdown of what Filipino readers pay.

As a Filipino subscriber, remember that these prices are denominated in your local currency but charged to your payment method (usually a credit card linked to an international merchant account). Currency conversion fees may apply if you use an international card.

Common mistakes when cancelling Substack subscriptions

It is deeply frustrating to believe you have cancelled a subscription only to be charged again. This happens more often than it should, and the fault usually lies with how cancellation was performed, not with you.

Mistake 1: cancelling in the wrong location

The single most common error is unsubscribing from the newsletter without cancelling the paid subscription. Unsubscribing from the free newsletter (which you can do via the email footer or your email preferences) does not cancel a paid subscription. You must cancel the paid subscription itself through the Substack website, app, or the app store where you purchased it.

Mistake 2: assuming your cancellation went through

Many users click "cancel" but never wait for the confirmation screen or email. If you do not see a confirmation message immediately and a confirmation email within two hours, the cancellation may not have processed. Return to your account settings and verify that the subscription no longer appears in your active subscriptions list. Tocancel recommends checking this the same day you cancel, not weeks later.

Mistake 3: cancelling via the app but purchasing on the web (or vice versa)

If you subscribed through the website but try to cancel through the mobile app, the cancellation interface may not show your subscription. You must cancel in the same location where you purchased. Check your confirmation email from the time of purchase to see whether it came from Substack, Apple, or Google Play. Cancel there.

Mistake 4: not tracking which publications you have subscribed to

Many readers subscribe to multiple publications and lose track of what they are paying for each month. As a result, they miss cancellation windows or forget they are even subscribed. Create a simple spreadsheet or note in your phone listing each paid publication, its monthly cost, and the renewal date. Update it each month. This takes five minutes and prevents hundreds of pesos in unwanted charges.

Mistake 5: ignoring the pre-renewal reminder email

Substack sends you a reminder email one week before your subscription renews. Ignore this email and you will be charged. Act on it immediately if you no longer want the subscription. Set a phone reminder for the day you receive it, so you do not forget. Tocancel advises treating this email as a non-negotiable action trigger.

Will you receive a refund after cancelling Substack?

Refund policy on Substack is determined by the individual creator, not by Substack itself. This is a key difference from traditional subscription services.

Standard refund policy

Most Substack creators do not issue refunds for partial months. If you cancel your subscription and you have already been charged for the current month, you will keep access to that month's content until the billing date passes, but you will not receive cash back. However, if you cancel before being charged, you will not be charged at all.

How to request a refund

If you believe you were charged in error or if the creator's content did not match what was advertised, you can contact the creator directly through Substack's messaging system. Provide a clear explanation of your concern and request a refund. Most creators are responsive to genuine complaints and may refund you out of goodwill.

If the creator refuses to refund an unauthorized charge, you have a consumer right to dispute it. Contact your credit card company or payment provider (GCash, Maya, or your bank) and request a chargeback. Provide evidence that you cancelled the subscription or that you were charged without consent. The payment provider will investigate and may reverse the charge on your behalf.

In disputes where the creator is genuinely unresponsive, Tocancel recommends filing a formal complaint with the National Consumer Affairs Office (NCAO) at ncao.dti.gov.ph. The NCAO can compel Substack or the creator to issue a refund under the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

What to do after you cancel Substack

Cancelling is only half the battle. Protecting yourself after cancellation ensures you do not wake up to another unexpected charge.

Immediate actions (same day)

1. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation screen and email and save them to a folder labeled "Substack Cancellations".
2. Log out of Substack and log back in to verify that the subscription no longer appears in your active list.
3. Make a note in your phone or calendar of the date you cancelled and the publication name.
4. If you cancelled via Apple or Google, repeat step 1 and verify in your app store settings that the subscription is gone.

One week before your old renewal date

Set a phone reminder for one week before your previous billing date (the day you would have been charged if cancellation had not worked). Log into your Substack account and verify that you were not charged. Check your payment method's transaction history to confirm no charge appeared. This proactive check catches any cancellation failures before they become major problems.

Monthly verification

For the first three months after cancellation, check your bank or credit card statement on your usual billing day to ensure no charge for that publication appears. Once you have confirmed that three billing cycles have passed without a charge, you can be confident the cancellation worked. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions by building this simple verification habit into their monthly routine.

Comparing cancellation options and best practices

Different cancellation methods carry different risks. Here is how they compare.

Your best option is to cancel via the Substack website whenever possible. This method generates two pieces of evidence (an on-screen message and an email confirmation) and gives you maximum protection if a dispute arises later.

Cancellation address for Substack

Although Substack does not have a dedicated Philippines office, you can contact them through their support portal at substack.com/support. For formal disputes or complaints, address correspondence to their registered office (which varies by region; check your creator's support page for specific contact information) or escalate to the National Consumer Affairs Office.

If you need to file a complaint with the DTI, contact:

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Consumer Hotline: 1-600-1-CALL (1-600-1-2255)
Email: [email protected]
Website: ncao.dti.gov.ph

Provide your cancellation confirmation screenshots, the dates you were charged, and the creator's name in your complaint. The DTI will investigate and can compel refunds under the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Key takeaway: you have the power to cancel

Cancelling a Substack subscription is straightforward when you follow the correct steps and stay organized. Your consumer rights in the Philippines are clear: you have the right to accurate information before you pay, the right to cancel without penalty, and the right to a refund if you are charged after cancellation. If a creator refuses to honour your cancellation, the National Consumer Affairs Office is your enforcement mechanism.

Use the Substack website to cancel, screenshot your confirmation immediately, and verify one week before your old billing date that no charge went through. Create a simple list of your subscriptions and renewal dates. Tocancel recommends treating your pre-renewal reminder email as a priority action every single month. By building these habits now, you avoid the frustration and financial loss that catches so many Filipino readers off guard. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions with confidence, and you can cancel Substack just as easily. Act today, verify within one week, and protect your wallet going forward.