Stop an automatic payment in three steps

To stop an automatic payment from PayPal, log into your account, go to Settings, select Payments, then find the subscription or automatic payment you want to cancel and click Cancel. PayPal will ask you to confirm, and the payment stops immediately — though your final billing cycle may still process if it's already been charged.

The exact location of this option depends on whether you're using PayPal.com on a computer or the PayPal mobile app, but the process is the same. If you can't find the payment in your account, it may be set up through the merchant's website instead of through PayPal directly, which means you'll need to cancel it there.

Key Takeaways

  • Automatic payments you set up through PayPal itself can be cancelled from your account settings under Payments, and the cancellation takes effect right away.
  • Some merchants let you set up automatic payments through their own website rather than PayPal's system, so check your confirmation email to see where the payment was created.
  • Cancelling a subscription does not refund charges that have already posted to your account, but it stops future charges from going through.
  • If you see a charge you don't recognize, you can dispute it separately from cancelling the automatic payment.

Find your automatic payment in PayPal Settings

Open PayPal.com and sign in to your account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings, then select Payments from the left menu. You'll see a section called Automatic Payments or Subscriptions — the exact name varies depending on your account type and region.

Look through the list for the payment you want to stop. PayPal shows the merchant name, the amount, and how often the charge occurs. Click on the payment to see more details, including the next scheduled charge date and the original start date.

Cancel the payment and confirm

Once you've found the automatic payment, click the Cancel button or Cancel Subscription option. PayPal will ask you to confirm that you want to cancel — this is your last chance to change your mind before the cancellation goes through.

After you confirm, the automatic payment stops. You'll see a confirmation message on screen, and PayPal will also send you an email confirming the cancellation. No further charges will be made, though any charge that already posted to your account before you cancelled will not be reversed automatically.

When the payment is set up through the merchant instead

Some companies — streaming services, gyms, subscription boxes — let you create automatic payments directly through their website rather than through PayPal's system. In these cases, the payment won't appear in your PayPal Settings under Automatic Payments, because PayPal isn't managing the subscription itself.

To find out where your payment is set up, check your confirmation email from when you first signed up. It will say either "PayPal subscription" or the merchant's name. If it's the merchant's name, log into that company's website, find your account or billing settings, and cancel the subscription there. You may also be able to call the merchant's customer service to cancel by phone.

What happens to charges that already posted

Cancelling an automatic payment stops future charges, but it does not automatically refund money that has already been charged to your account. If you were charged on the day you cancelled, that charge will likely still go through because it was already processed.

If you want to dispute a charge that you believe was made in error, or if you were charged after you cancelled, you can open a dispute through PayPal's Resolution Center. Go to Settings, select Resolution Center, and follow the steps to report the transaction. You'll need to explain why you're disputing it — for example, that you cancelled the subscription before the charge posted.

How to find old or hidden automatic payments

If you have multiple subscriptions or haven't checked your automatic payments in a while, you may have forgotten about some. PayPal's Automatic Payments list shows all active subscriptions, but if a payment is set up through a merchant's website, it won't show up there.

Review your recent PayPal transactions to find recurring charges. Look for payments that happen on the same date each month or week. If you see a charge you don't recognize, click on it to see the merchant name and description. You can then either cancel it through PayPal (if it's listed in your Automatic Payments) or contact the merchant directly to cancel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will cancelling an automatic payment hurt my credit?

No. Cancelling an automatic payment does not affect your credit score. Your credit is only affected if you fail to pay a bill that you owe, not if you stop a subscription or service you no longer want.

Can I pause a subscription instead of cancelling it?

Some merchants offer a pause or suspend option that temporarily stops charges without cancelling the subscription entirely. Check the merchant's website or contact their customer service to see if this option is available. PayPal itself does not have a pause feature — you can only cancel or let the subscription continue.

What if I cancelled the payment but I'm still being charged?

If charges continue after you cancelled, the payment may be set up through the merchant's website rather than PayPal. Check your confirmation email to see where the subscription was created, then cancel it through that company's account settings. If you cancelled through the merchant and PayPal is still charging you, contact PayPal's customer service to report the issue.

Do I need to contact the merchant before cancelling?

You don't have to, but some merchants ask for notice before you cancel. Check the merchant's terms or contact them directly if you want to give them a heads-up. Cancelling through PayPal or the merchant's website is the official way to end the subscription.