If you've ever tried to cancel a subscription and been told to "manage it through the App Store" or "go to Google Play", you've encountered one of the most confusing parts of modern subscriptions.
Many apps don't handle their own billing. Instead, they use Apple or Google as a middleman. This means the app itself often can't cancel your subscription — you have to do it through your phone's settings. Here's how it all works, and where to go.
How App Store billing works (iPhone and iPad)
When you subscribe to something through an iPhone or iPad app, the payment is usually processed by Apple. The money comes out of the payment method linked to your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID), not directly to the app developer.
This means:
- Apple charges you, not the app.
- The app developer receives a cut of the payment from Apple.
- Cancellation must happen through Apple's subscription management, not inside the app.
- Refund requests go to Apple, not the developer.
How to manage Apple subscriptions
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- You'll see a list of all active and expired subscriptions billed through Apple.
- Tap any subscription to cancel, change plan, or see renewal details.
You can also manage subscriptions through the App Store app: tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap Subscriptions.
When you cancel an Apple subscription, you're telling Apple not to charge you again at the next renewal date. You'll keep access until the current period ends. You won't get an immediate refund — you've already paid for the current period.
Requesting a refund from Apple
If you want a refund for a recent charge, Apple has a dedicated process:
- Go to reportaproblem.apple.com in a browser.
- Sign in with your Apple Account.
- Find the charge and select "Request a refund".
- Choose your reason and submit.
Apple reviews refund requests individually. They're more likely to approve if the charge was recent and it's your first request.
How Google Play billing works (Android)
Google Play works similarly to Apple. When you subscribe through an Android app, Google processes the payment using the payment method linked to your Google account.
This means:
- Google charges you, not the app.
- The app developer receives their share from Google.
- Cancellation happens through Google Play, not inside the app.
- Refund requests go to Google.
How to manage Google Play subscriptions
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right.
- Tap Payments & subscriptions.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- You'll see all active subscriptions billed through Google.
- Tap any subscription to cancel, pause, or change plan.
You can also manage subscriptions at play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions in a browser.
Unlike Apple, Google Play allows some subscriptions to be paused rather than cancelled. If you want a temporary break without losing your subscription entirely, look for the "Pause" option. Not all apps support this — it depends on the developer.
Why some subscriptions can't be cancelled inside the app
This catches a lot of people off guard, so it's worth explaining clearly.
When an app uses Apple or Google for billing, the app developer has agreed to let the platform handle payments. In return, the developer isn't allowed to process cancellations directly — Apple and Google require that subscription management happens through their systems.
This is why tapping "Cancel" inside an app sometimes takes you to your phone's settings or shows a message saying "manage your subscription through the App Store / Google Play". The app isn't being unhelpful — it literally can't cancel it for you.
Subscriptions that can be cancelled inside the app
Not all subscriptions go through Apple or Google. Services that handle their own billing — like Netflix (on some plans), Spotify (when subscribed via their website), or most gym memberships — can often be cancelled directly through the service's app or website.
The key question is: who billed you? Check your email for a receipt. If it came from Apple or Google, manage it through your phone. If it came from the company directly, manage it through their service.
SubSorted's merchant directory includes cancellation links and contact details for common UK subscription services. When you're looking at a subscription in the app, check whether there's a direct link to help you manage or cancel it.
What about deleting the app?
This is one of the most common misunderstandings, so we'll say it clearly:
Deleting an app does not cancel a subscription.
If you subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, the subscription continues to renew even after the app is removed from your phone. You'll keep being charged until you cancel through your phone's subscription settings.
This is not a bug or a dark pattern — it's how platform billing works. Apple and Google manage the subscription separately from the app installation. Removing the app removes the software, not the billing agreement.
How SubSorted helps
SubSorted doesn't manage your Apple or Google subscriptions — nobody can do that except you and the platform. But SubSorted does help you:
- Remember what you're subscribed to — including things billed through Apple and Google that are easy to forget about.
- Get reminded before renewals — so you have time to decide whether to cancel before you're charged again.
- Find cancellation instructions — the merchant directory can point you to the right place.
- Keep a record — even after you cancel, you can archive the subscription for future reference.
The billing itself is between you, Apple, and Google. SubSorted makes sure you don't lose track of it.