Cancel Substack: The Right Way to Reclaim Your Subscriptions

How to cancel your Substack subscription and stop paying for newsletters you don't read

Why you might want to cancel Substack

Substack is a publishing platform where you subscribe directly to individual newsletters, with charges renewing automatically each month or year until you cancel. If you have signed up for paid newsletters through Substack but no longer find them valuable, you have the right to cancel quickly and without friction. Tocancel is here to walk you through every step, from identifying where you subscribed to processing your cancellation.

Many readers in Singapore discover they are paying for newsletters they no longer read, or they want to consolidate their subscriptions to save money. Whether your reasons are financial, editorial, or simply a change in reading habits, you should know that auto-renewal means you will keep paying until you actively cancel. Do not assume your subscription will expire on its own.

When you should cancel immediately

Cancel your Substack subscription if you no longer engage with the newsletter, prefer free alternatives, or need to reduce monthly spending. You should also cancel if a publication goes dormant (inactive for more than one month for monthly plans, or six months for yearly plans) and you want your money back. The key insight is this: every day you delay costs you money in unwanted charges.

Substack's cancellation track record

Substack has a solid reputation for honouring cancellations once submitted. The platform does not hide the cancellation button or force you through multiple confirmation steps. Your main challenge will be identifying which platform you used to subscribe, since each route (web, iOS, or Android) has its own cancellation process. Tocancel helps you navigate this distinction so you cancel from the right place.

Substack pricing and popular plans in singapore

Substack subscriptions vary widely depending on which publication you are reading. Below is a snapshot of real pricing observed in the Singapore market across web and in-app platforms.

Your actual charges depend entirely on which specific publications you have subscribed to. Most paid newsletters on Substack cost between S$5 and S$20 per month. If you have been subscribed for six months or more and forgotten about it, that could easily total over S$100 in charges you did not expect.

Your consumer rights when cancelling Substack

Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act protects you when you buy subscriptions online. You have the legal right to cancel if the service has not been delivered as described, or if you were misled about charges.

What the consumer protection (Fair trading) act means for you

Under Singapore consumer law, you are entitled to cancel online purchases if the trader has not clearly disclosed auto-renewal terms. If Substack or a publication owner did not make it obvious that your subscription would auto-renew, or if the charges were hidden or unclear, you have grounds to request a refund. The Consumer Protection Act is enforced by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), which you can escalate to if Substack refuses your cancellation or refund request.

Your legal position is clear: if you were not given plain, prominent notice of auto-renewal before you paid, you can cancel and claim a refund. This protection applies whether you subscribed via web, iOS, or Android.

Refund rights under singapore law

If you cancel within 14 days of your purchase and have not yet received the service (or have received it but were misled about terms), you have a statutory right to a refund. If you cancel after 14 days, you may still claim a refund if the auto-renewal terms were not clearly disclosed at the point of purchase. Tocancel recommends keeping your subscription confirmation email and cancellation request screenshot as evidence if you need to escalate to CASE.

How to cancel your Substack subscription by platform

Your cancellation method depends entirely on where and how you subscribed. Follow the steps below for your specific platform, then verify that your cancellation has taken effect.

Cancel a Substack subscription via the web

If you subscribed to a Substack newsletter via the website, you cancel directly through your Substack account. This is the most straightforward route.

1. Go to substack.com and log in to your account
2. Click your profile icon in the top right corner
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu
4. Navigate to Subscriptions (or Billing and subscriptions)
5. Find the newsletter you want to cancel in the list of active subscriptions
6. Click Manage or Cancel subscription next to that publication
7. Confirm your cancellation when prompted
   • The platform may offer a discount or ask why you are cancelling; you can ignore these prompts
   • Do not re-subscribe just because you see a discount offer
8. Screenshot the confirmation message that says your subscription has been cancelled

Check your confirmation email within 24 hours to verify that Substack has processed the cancellation.

Cancel a Substack subscription via apple app store (iOS)

If you subscribed via iPhone or iPad, you must cancel through the Apple App Store, not through Substack's website. App Store subscriptions are managed separately from web subscriptions.

1. Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad
2. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner
3. Tap Subscriptions
4. Find the Substack newsletter subscription you want to cancel
5. Tap the subscription name to open its details
6. Tap Cancel subscription or Turn off auto-renewal
7. Confirm your cancellation when prompted
   • Apple may ask why you are cancelling or offer a reduced rate; ignore these
   • You may receive an email from Apple confirming the cancellation
8. Screenshot the confirmation screen showing your subscription has been cancelled

Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period, then it will not renew. You can continue reading until that date, but no charge will be applied after your cancellation takes effect.

Cancel a Substack subscription via google play (Android)

If you subscribed via an Android device, you cancel through the Google Play app, not through Substack directly. Google Play manages these subscriptions separately.

1. Open the Google Play app on your Android device
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner
3. Tap Payments and subscriptions
4. Tap Subscriptions
5. Find the Substack newsletter you want to cancel
6. Tap the subscription name to open its details
7. Tap Cancel subscription
8. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your cancellation
   • Google may offer retention discounts; you do not need to accept
   • You should receive a confirmation email from Google Play
9. Screenshot the confirmation page showing your subscription has been cancelled

Your access will continue until the end of your current billing cycle, then no further charges will be applied.

What happens after you cancel your Substack subscription

Cancelling Substack is only half the battle; you need to verify that the cancellation has taken effect and monitor your account for unexpected charges.

Immediate steps after cancellation

Within 24 hours of cancelling, you should receive a confirmation email from Substack, Apple, or Google (depending on where you subscribed). Check your inbox and spam folder for this email. Save it for your records.

Log back into your Substack account, Apple App Store, or Google Play (as applicable) and verify that the subscription no longer appears in your active subscriptions list. If it does, cancel again immediately and contact Substack support.

Verify charges on your bank or credit card statement

Check your bank or credit card statement 5 to 7 days after your cancellation. You should see no new charge for that newsletter on your next billing date. If a charge appears, contact your bank immediately and inform them you cancelled the subscription. Your bank can dispute the charge on your behalf. Tocancel recommends keeping your cancellation confirmation screenshot as evidence if you need to dispute the charge.

Monitor for recurring charges

Set a phone reminder for your next expected billing date. Check your account statement on that date to confirm no charge was applied. If a charge appears despite your cancellation, escalate immediately to Substack support with your cancellation confirmation. If Substack does not refund you within 14 days, file a dispute with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

How to request a refund from Substack

If you cancelled too late and were charged despite your cancellation request, or if you cancelled because the service was not as described, you have a legal right to seek a refund.

Request a refund directly from Substack

Contact Substack support with your cancellation confirmation and request a refund for charges incurred after your cancellation date.

1. Go to substack.com/support or email support at the address listed in Substack's terms and conditions
2. Select Billing or Subscriptions as your issue category
3. Explain that you cancelled your subscription and were charged after your cancellation date
4. Attach your cancellation confirmation email or screenshot
5. Request a full refund for the unwanted charge
6. Set a reminder to follow up within 7 days if you do not hear back

Substack typically responds to refund requests within 5 to 10 business days. If they refuse or ignore you, escalate to the next step.

Dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company

If Substack does not refund you within 14 days, contact your bank or credit card company and request a chargeback or dispute. Provide them with your cancellation confirmation and the charge you want reversed. Your bank will investigate and, if your claim is valid, will refund the money to your account.

File a complaint with the consumers association of singapore (CASE)

If Substack or your bank does not resolve the issue, you can file a formal complaint with CASE. CASE is the statutory body that enforces the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act in Singapore. You can file a complaint at case.org.sg with your cancellation confirmation, refund request, and the bank's response. CASE will investigate and may pursue mediation or escalation on your behalf.

Tocancel recommends filing a CASE complaint if you have been wrongfully charged more than S$50, as this makes your claim worth pursuing formally.

Common mistakes when cancelling Substack

Cancelling a subscription can feel frustrating, especially if you are paying for something you forgot about. Here are the pitfalls to avoid so you do not end up charged again.

Mistake 1: cancelling from the wrong platform

The most common error is cancelling from the web when you subscribed via iOS or Android (or vice versa). Each platform manages subscriptions independently, so cancelling in one place does not affect the other. Always check where you made the original purchase before you cancel. If you subscribed via Apple or Google, you must cancel there, not on Substack's website.

Mistake 2: confusing "pause" with "cancel"

Some Substack pages offer a "pause" or "manage subscription" option instead of "cancel". Pausing does not stop future charges; it only delays them. Always look for "cancel subscription" or "turn off auto-renewal" to truly cancel. If you see only "pause", click through to find the full cancellation option.

Mistake 3: not saving your cancellation confirmation

If you cancel but do not save the confirmation email or screenshot, you have no proof if a charge appears later. Save everything: the cancellation email, a screenshot of the confirmation page, and the date and time you cancelled. These documents are your leverage if you need to dispute a charge or file a complaint with CASE.

Mistake 4: ignoring charges after cancellation

If a charge appears after you cancelled, do not assume it is an error that will be reversed automatically. Act within 30 days by contacting your bank or filing a dispute. The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover the money. Tocancel advises checking your statement actively for the first 60 days after cancellation.

Checklist for cancelling your Substack subscription

Use this checklist to ensure your cancellation is complete and your account is protected.

Contact Substack support and escalation addresses

If you need to contact Substack directly about cancellation, refund, or billing issues, use the channels below. Note that Substack's support is email-based and response times vary.

Substack support channels

Visit substack.com/support to access Substack's help centre and submit a support ticket. You can also reach Substack via email for billing disputes. The platform's default legal and support mailing address is:

Substack, Inc.
San Francisco
United States

However, for UK and EU-specific complaints, you may also reference a postal address at:

New Malden, Surrey
United Kingdom

This address is cited in third-party cancellation guides but should be confirmed by checking your subscription confirmation email or Substack's latest terms and conditions.

Escalation to singapore authorities

If Substack does not respond or refuses your cancellation or refund request, escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE):

Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE)
Email: [email protected]
Website: case.org.sg
Phone: +65 6100 0315

File a formal complaint with CASE, providing your cancellation confirmation, refund request, and Substack's response (or lack thereof). CASE will investigate and pursue the matter on your behalf under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.

Final summary: cancel with confidence

Cancelling your Substack subscription is your right, and you should never feel pressured to keep a subscription you no longer value. The process is straightforward once you identify the correct platform (web, iOS, or Android), but the key is verification: save your confirmation, check your statement, and escalate quickly if a charge appears after you cancel.

Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act is on your side. If you were not given clear notice of auto-renewal, or if you were charged after cancelling, you have grounds to request a refund. Your first step is always to contact Substack directly; your second is to contact your bank; your third is to file a complaint with CASE if the first two fail.

Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and recover refunds by providing clear, step-by-step guidance and citing their consumer rights. You now have the knowledge and the legal backing to cancel your Substack subscription with confidence. Act today, verify within 24 hours, and monitor your statement for the next 60 days. Do not let forgotten subscriptions drain your account.