Stop a subscription or automatic payment in PayPal

To cancel a recurring payment on PayPal, log into your account, go to Settings, select Payments, then Manage automatic payments. Find the subscription you want to stop, click it, and select Cancel. The cancellation takes effect immediately, and PayPal will send you a confirmation email. You will not be charged again after you cancel.

The exact steps depend on whether you are using PayPal on a computer or phone, and whether the payment is set up through PayPal directly or through a merchant's website. Both routes work, but they require different actions.

Key Takeaways

  • Canceling through PayPal Settings stops the payment right away and prevents any future charges.
  • If you set up the subscription on the merchant's website instead of PayPal, you may need to cancel there first or contact the merchant directly.
  • PayPal sends a confirmation email when you cancel, which you should keep as proof the payment has stopped.
  • If a merchant charges you after you cancel, you can report it as an unauthorized transaction and request a refund.

Cancel through PayPal Settings on a computer

Open PayPal in a web browser and sign in to your account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. From the menu on the left, select Payments. Under the Payments section, click Manage automatic payments.

You will see a list of all active subscriptions and recurring charges. Find the one you want to stop, click on it, and a details page will open. At the bottom of that page, click the Cancel button. PayPal will ask you to confirm the cancellation. Click Cancel subscription or Cancel automatic payment (the exact wording depends on the type of charge). The payment stops immediately.

Cancel through the PayPal mobile app

Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap Payments, then Manage automatic payments. Find the subscription you want to cancel and tap it.

On the payment details screen, scroll to the bottom and tap Cancel. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. The app will return to your automatic payments list, and the subscription will no longer appear there once the page refreshes.

Cancel a subscription set up through a merchant's website

Some companies let you sign up for subscriptions directly on their website using PayPal as the payment method. In these cases, you may need to cancel through the merchant's website instead of through PayPal. Log into the merchant's account (Netflix, Spotify, a news site, etc.), find the subscription or billing settings, and look for a Cancel subscription or Manage billing option.

If you cannot find a cancel option on the merchant's website, or if the website does not have an account system, you can still cancel through PayPal Settings. However, canceling through PayPal does not always notify the merchant that you no longer want the service. To be safe, cancel through the merchant's website first if you can, then verify in PayPal Settings that the payment no longer appears on your automatic payments list.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel, PayPal stops the recurring charge and sends you a confirmation email. You will not be charged again. If the merchant tries to charge you after cancellation, the charge will either be declined or you will see it as a separate transaction in your PayPal activity.

Keep the confirmation email as proof that you canceled. If an unauthorized charge appears after you cancel, you can report it to PayPal as a dispute and request a refund. PayPal typically investigates these claims within 10 business days.

If you see a charge after canceling

Charges that appear after you cancel are usually one of two things: a final charge that was already in progress when you canceled, or an unauthorized charge from the merchant. PayPal processes some charges in batches, so a charge initiated before you canceled may still go through a day or two after cancellation.

If you see a charge you did not authorize, go to your Activity or Transaction History in PayPal, find the charge, and click it. Select Report a problem and choose Unauthorized transaction. PayPal will investigate and may refund you. Keep records of your cancellation confirmation email to include with your report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get a refund for the current billing period if I cancel mid-month?

No. Most subscriptions do not offer refunds for partial months. You will have access to the service until the end of your current billing period, then the subscription ends. Check the merchant's refund policy for exceptions.

Can I cancel a PayPal subscription if I do not remember which merchant set it up?

Yes. Go to Manage automatic payments in PayPal Settings and look at the merchant name listed for each subscription. If you do not recognize a merchant, click the subscription to see more details, including the charge amount and frequency. You can cancel it from there.

What if the cancel button does not appear in PayPal Settings?

Some subscriptions set up through third-party websites do not show a cancel option in PayPal. In that case, you must cancel through the merchant's website. Log into your account with the merchant and look for billing, subscription, or account settings.

Do I need to contact PayPal customer service to cancel?

No. You can cancel any recurring payment yourself through PayPal Settings or the app in under a minute. Contact PayPal only if you see a charge after canceling or if you cannot find the subscription in your automatic payments list.