Free trials that quietly turn into paid plans, an app you stopped opening months ago, a yearly renewal you forgot about — forgotten subscriptions are one of the easiest ways to lose money without noticing. The good news: on an iPhone you can find every App Store subscription in under a minute and cancel the ones you don’t use. This guide shows exactly where to look, how to catch subscriptions that are not billed through Apple, and how to stop it from happening again.

How to see all your subscriptions on iPhone

Every subscription you pay for through your Apple Account lives in one list:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap Subscriptions.

You will see two sections: Active (you are currently being charged or are in a trial) and Inactive (expired or cancelled). Each entry shows the price, billing period and the next renewal date.

Shortcut: you can also open the App Store, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, and tap Subscriptions.

How to cancel a subscription on iPhone

1. In the Subscriptions list, tap the subscription you want to stop.
2. Tap Cancel Subscription (or Cancel Free Trial).
3. Confirm.

A few things to know:

• You usually keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.
• To avoid being charged again, cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date.
• If you don’t see a Cancel button, the subscription is already cancelled — the date shown is when it ends.
• Cancelling a free trial early often ends the trial immediately, so check the wording before you confirm.

Subscriptions Apple can’t show you

The Settings list only includes subscriptions billed through your Apple Account. Anything you signed up for on a website — streaming services, gym memberships, cloud storage, software tools, news sites — is billed directly to your card and won’t appear there. To find those:

• Search your email for words like “receipt”, “renewal”, “your subscription”, “trial ending” and “invoice”.
• Scan 2–3 months of bank and card statements for repeating charges with the same amount.
• Check PayPal or other wallets for automatic payments and pre-approved merchants.
• Look at Google Play if you also use an Android device on the same account.

To cancel these, you usually need to log in to the company’s website and look under Account, Billing or Membership.

How to get a refund for an unwanted App Store charge

If you were charged for something you didn’t mean to renew, you can ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com. Sign in, find the purchase, choose “Request a refund” and pick the reason. Refunds aren’t guaranteed, but requests made soon after the charge have the best chance.

How to stop forgetting subscriptions in the future

Checking once is easy. Staying on top of it is the hard part, because renewals are spread across the year and across different payment methods. Here is a simple system:

1. Keep one list of everything you pay for — Apple subscriptions and direct ones together.
2. Set a reminder a few days before each renewal, especially for yearly plans and free trials.
3. Review the list once a month and ask: did I use this in the last 30 days?
4. Know your monthly total. Seeing the real number is usually what makes people cancel.

Track every subscription with Payify

We built Payify to make that system automatic. You add each subscription or bill once, and Payify keeps track of everything for you:

• Renewal reminders 1 day, 3 days, 1 week or 2 weeks before each charge
• Your total monthly and yearly spending at a glance
• Spending by category, budget limits and alerts
• 50+ popular services pre-loaded so adding them takes seconds
• No bank login required — your data stays on your device and iCloud

Download Payify free on the App Store →

FAQ

Why can’t I see a subscription in my iPhone Settings?

It was probably paid directly to the company (on their website, with your card or PayPal), or it’s billed to a different Apple Account, such as a family member’s. Check your email receipts and bank statements.

Does deleting an app cancel its subscription?

No. Deleting an app does not stop billing. You must cancel in Settings → your name → Subscriptions.

Will I lose access immediately if I cancel?

Usually not. Most subscriptions keep working until the end of the current billing period.

How often should I review my subscriptions?

Once a month is a good habit, plus a quick check a few days before any yearly renewal or free-trial end date.

Built by ERX CONNECT, an indie app studio. See all our iPhone apps.