Canceling tons of subscriptions--fastest way?

[Anonymous]

If you pay for any of them automatically with PayPal it’s very easy to go to your PayPal app and cancel them.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

I love all the sweet people defending me and giving me ideas! I had no idea that some subscriptions were through PayPal and found one of the ones I wasn't able to figure out the username/password to. So thank you!

To the person who called me an idiot: I own a medical practice and have a chronic health condition so if my experience trying to cancel The Atlantic has triggered you, just know I spend lots of time advocating for myself and my patients with insurance companies so I understand why you might be trying to put our tasks into an unnecessary comparison. Your stress and suffering is valid. But also compassion beats comparisons when you can find some.

For those of you who quit Hulu in 2 minutes instead of 30--you probably subscribed through Amazon or Disney+ and could do instantly. I subscribed like 6 years ago through a TV I no longer have, using a work email I no longer have. So it was a process. I'll miss it though and have 6 more days to binge some shows in my zero free time.

The easiest are things on Apple devices or linked to Amazon account. The harder ones were direct subscriptions where I have to go looking for things.

I did try Rocket Money a month ago but none of the subscriptions I canceled actually ended up canceled so I don't really trust it. Oh and it doesn't connect AMEX. I did think it did a good job identifying recurring costs, but quickbooks does that too.

So far I've canceled:
Disney, HBO, Hulu, Audible, Wondery, NYT digital, Canva, Creative Bug, Zoom, Quip, Remarkable, Apple One, Hungryroot, The Atlantic, Planet Money, Bloomburg, Peloton, and 6 recurring donations, and 2 skincare subscriptions.

I'm sure I'll resubscribe to many in time but would like to see what I miss.

I also paid out the end of the two things that had contracts then turned off auto-renew.

And I've transferred to my solo bank account: gym membership, amazon prime, one donation, and bills.

So all that is left is $1.99/month for something from Google Play that I can't figure out what it is or how to cancel so if google comes after me for that, I will deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going through a divorce and cutting all expenses while also realizing how disorganized I am. Instead of digging through each and every subscription, could I just close my bank account and figure they'll cancel themselves when the charges are declined? I know it kinda sounds nuts but also seems so easy. I just spent 30 minutes canceling Hulu and this would be so much easier. Things like streaming subscriptions, things that come in the mail, etc.

Use ChatGPT.
https://wapo.st/3INYWP7

[Anonymous]

The google play may be for storage on google accounts. Or it could be related to a game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's an article on using ChatGPT to cancel subscriptions for you:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/29/chat-gpt-agent-mode-subscriptions/

Which...requires a subscription to access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I love all the sweet people defending me and giving me ideas! I had no idea that some subscriptions were through PayPal and found one of the ones I wasn't able to figure out the username/password to. So thank you!

To the person who called me an idiot: I own a medical practice and have a chronic health condition so if my experience trying to cancel The Atlantic has triggered you, just know I spend lots of time advocating for myself and my patients with insurance companies so I understand why you might be trying to put our tasks into an unnecessary comparison. Your stress and suffering is valid. But also compassion beats comparisons when you can find some.

For those of you who quit Hulu in 2 minutes instead of 30--you probably subscribed through Amazon or Disney+ and could do instantly. I subscribed like 6 years ago through a TV I no longer have, using a work email I no longer have. So it was a process. I'll miss it though and have 6 more days to binge some shows in my zero free time.

The easiest are things on Apple devices or linked to Amazon account. The harder ones were direct subscriptions where I have to go looking for things.

I did try Rocket Money a month ago but none of the subscriptions I canceled actually ended up canceled so I don't really trust it. Oh and it doesn't connect AMEX. I did think it did a good job identifying recurring costs, but quickbooks does that too.

So far I've canceled:
Disney, HBO, Hulu, Audible, Wondery, NYT digital, Canva, Creative Bug, Zoom, Quip, Remarkable, Apple One, Hungryroot, The Atlantic, Planet Money, Bloomburg, Peloton, and 6 recurring donations, and 2 skincare subscriptions.

I'm sure I'll resubscribe to many in time but would like to see what I miss.

I also paid out the end of the two things that had contracts then turned off auto-renew.

And I've transferred to my solo bank account: gym membership, amazon prime, one donation, and bills.

So all that is left is $1.99/month for something from Google Play that I can't figure out what it is or how to cancel so if google comes after me for that, I will deal.

OP, start a junk email account and run all purchases from stores and subscriptions to things there. Any course you sign up for a ticket you buy should be sent there. Any charitable donations sent there. It will make your life easier.

[Anonymous]

I'm pp and if you can't do that, just do create an Apple Notes or similar for SUBSCRIPTIONS and then make a list of what you have there, and how to access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe adults could even have these thoughts. What is wrong with you?

Divorce is one of the most stressful life experiences that don’t involve anyone dying. It’s emotional, it’s expensive, it requires a sh!t ton of paperwork, it involves a lot of uncertainty about the future, and it affects one’s finances, living arrangements, and time with one’s children. OP has a lot on her plate and was hoping for a quicker, easier solution than contacting each vendor separately, which is understandable. She could probably use some kindness right about now.

No, it's really not. I can see you haven't lived much. How lucky you are.

You’re wrong, ignorant, and rude.

[Anonymous]

OP you have to do them all one by one. Do you have a good friend? I'd call her up and ask her to come sit with you and help you do them all. Have some coffee/donuts/wine whatever you need. I'd come if I were your friend!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe adults could even have these thoughts. What is wrong with you?

Many people have these thoughts- which is why there's legislation to make unsubscribing the same one-click that subscribing is! Companies make it purposefully very difficult.

... and also on reading this thread now why there's the rocket thing and chat gpt that can potentially do it. There's a need.

There WAS click-to-cancel. It was passed under the Biden admin, and the Trump admin vacated the rule right before it was supposed to take effect. Pour one out for the CFPB. Had to get rid of the whole agency to make sure corporate profits were safe.

Sad news

[Anonymous]

I had this happen naturally recently, in that I had to replace the credit card I use to pay for everything. Some places bill in arrears, some prospectively. But one way or the other they show up with a hand out, which enables you to make decisions about what to keep. I agree that this is the fastest way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's an article on using ChatGPT to cancel subscriptions for you:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/29/chat-gpt-agent-mode-subscriptions/

Which...requires a subscription to access.

Takes half a braincell to figure out how to get around the Post's paywall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I love all the sweet people defending me and giving me ideas! I had no idea that some subscriptions were through PayPal and found one of the ones I wasn't able to figure out the username/password to. So thank you!

To the person who called me an idiot: I own a medical practice and have a chronic health condition so if my experience trying to cancel The Atlantic has triggered you, just know I spend lots of time advocating for myself and my patients with insurance companies so I understand why you might be trying to put our tasks into an unnecessary comparison. Your stress and suffering is valid. But also compassion beats comparisons when you can find some.

For those of you who quit Hulu in 2 minutes instead of 30--you probably subscribed through Amazon or Disney+ and could do instantly. I subscribed like 6 years ago through a TV I no longer have, using a work email I no longer have. So it was a process. I'll miss it though and have 6 more days to binge some shows in my zero free time.

The easiest are things on Apple devices or linked to Amazon account. The harder ones were direct subscriptions where I have to go looking for things.

I did try Rocket Money a month ago but none of the subscriptions I canceled actually ended up canceled so I don't really trust it. Oh and it doesn't connect AMEX. I did think it did a good job identifying recurring costs, but quickbooks does that too.

So far I've canceled:
Disney, HBO, Hulu, Audible, Wondery, NYT digital, Canva, Creative Bug, Zoom, Quip, Remarkable, Apple One, Hungryroot, The Atlantic, Planet Money, Bloomburg, Peloton, and 6 recurring donations, and 2 skincare subscriptions.

I'm sure I'll resubscribe to many in time but would like to see what I miss.

I also paid out the end of the two things that had contracts then turned off auto-renew.

And I've transferred to my solo bank account: gym membership, amazon prime, one donation, and bills.

So all that is left is $1.99/month for something from Google Play that I can't figure out what it is or how to cancel so if google comes after me for that, I will deal.

I think we can all accept that a few people have a complex time of it because of very specific circumstances, but honestly, you created an entire thread about this, kept arguing with people, and have never stopped whining. It's just not attractive, OP. We can be sympathetic to many adverse situations in life, but the attitude and tone of posting really matters when it's a grey area like canceling subscriptions, which normally people don't post about because they're not *that* burdensome.

I just wish you could hear yourself. You would have had a lot more sympathy by writing things out differently.

[Anonymous]

Also check your subscriptions on Amazon. Sometimes if you subscribe through fire stick you will find them there. You can go online to cancel everything it should not take 30 minutes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be aware that a number of companies have agreements with the bank to keep charging you even if you close the credit card.

+100

Op - why would you think that just bc you close a bank acct your payment is linked to/stop auto-pay that you're now forever free of a subscription?? That's not how you cancel a service.

That's not how it works. How old are you?

Hulu wants their money from you whether or not you closed the bank acct or not.

In fact, you'll get late fees tacked on bc no payment(s) were made on time if you shut off the auto pay.