How to cancel The Economist fast

You cancel The Economist by logging in at economist.com, opening My Account, and using Manage Subscription to cancel. The catch: the cancel option is often buried and they push you into live chat or a phone call, and if you subscribed through an app store you cannot cancel on the website at all. The deadline that bites is 24 hours before your renewal date.

Short answer: Log in, go to My Account, then Manage Subscription, then cancel. Bought it inside an iPhone or Android app? Cancel in Apple or Google instead. Do it at least 24 hours before the renewal date and you keep access until the period ends.

Last updated: June 2026. Terms change, so confirm the current steps on The Economist's help pages before you rely on them.

Deadline that bites: Cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date to avoid the next charge. Miss it and you are billed for the new term. Cancelling stops the auto-renewal but you keep reading until the current paid period runs out. No refund is promised for time already paid.

Where does The Economist actually bill you?

This is the part that trips people up. The cancel steps depend on who charges your card, not where you read.

• Direct on economist.com (you entered a card on the website): cancel on the website or by contacting customer service.
• Apple App Store (you tapped Subscribe inside the iPhone or iPad app): Apple bills you. You cancel in your Apple account, not on economist.com.
• Google Play (you subscribed inside the Android app): Google bills you. You cancel in the Play Store.
• A bundle, gift, or corporate or education plan: whoever set it up controls it. Check the receipt in your email to see who charged you.

Not sure? Look at your card statement or your original receipt email. If it says Apple or Google, deleting the app does nothing and the website has no power to stop the charge.

Can you cancel The Economist online?

Yes, if you subscribed directly. Here is the path.

1. Go to economist.com and log in with the email you signed up with.
2. Click your name or the account icon at the top right, then open My Account.
3. Find the Subscription section and click Manage Subscription or View Details.
4. Click Cancel Subscription and follow the prompts to confirm.
5. If there is no visible cancel button, that is by design. Open Live Chat from the Contact page, or call customer service, and say plainly: "Cancel my subscription and turn off auto-renewal."
6. Watch your email for a cancellation confirmation. Screenshot it. If none arrives, you are not cancelled yet.

North America phone: +1 800 456 6086. Email: customerservice@economist.com. Have your Customer Reference Number handy, they will ask for it. Some readers report having to confirm the cancellation more than once before auto-renewal actually stopped, so keep checking your account status.

How to cancel The Economist in the App Store or Google Play

If Apple or Google bills you, do it here instead.

1. iPhone or iPad: open Settings, tap your name at the top, tap Subscriptions, tap The Economist, then tap Cancel Subscription.
2. Android: open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, tap Payments & subscriptions, tap Subscriptions, pick The Economist, then tap Cancel subscription.
3. Confirm, then check for the store's cancellation email. Apple and Google both let you keep access until the end of the paid period.

The Economist cancellation methods compared

What is the The Economist cancellation deadline and fee?

There is no cancellation fee. The number that matters is timing. Cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date to avoid being charged for the next term. Cancel after that and the charge lands, and there is no promised refund for the term you already started. You keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.

What if The Economist won't let you cancel?

This is common. People report the chatbot dropping the conversation, long phone holds, and reps pushing a cheaper rate instead of cancelling. Do this:

• Send a clear written cancellation to customerservice@economist.com. Keep the timestamp. Written notice is your paper trail.
• If the store bills you, cancel in Apple or Google directly. That path cannot be blocked by a retention agent.
• If they charge you after you cancelled, you can dispute the credit card charge with your bank. Most card networks give you roughly 60 days from the statement to contest it.
• Still stuck on the money side? See what to do when a company won't refund you.

Common questions

Can I cancel The Economist anytime?

Yes. You can cancel whenever you want. To skip the next charge, cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date. You keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.

Why is there no cancel button in my account?

The Economist sometimes hides the cancel button so you have to use live chat or call. If you cannot find it, open Live Chat or call +1 800 456 6086 and state that you want to cancel and turn off auto-renewal.

I subscribed through the app. Why can't I cancel on the website?

Because Apple or Google is billing you, not The Economist directly. Cancel in your iPhone Settings under Subscriptions, or in the Google Play Store under Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not stop the charge.

Will I get a refund when I cancel The Economist?

Cancelling stops future charges but does not promise a refund for the current term. If you were charged after cancelling, you can ask for a refund and, if refused, dispute the charge with your bank. See how to handle a refund refusal.

Do I keep access after I cancel?

Yes. Both direct and app-store cancellations let you keep reading until the end of the period you already paid for. Access is not cut off the moment you cancel.

Karen is not affiliated with The Economist. Karen is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice.

Other subscriptions Karen fights

• Start at the cancel any subscription hub, or fight a charge at the disputes hub.
• Also stuck on a news or reading paywall? Cancel the New York Times, cancel Audible, or cancel Scribd.
• Charged after you cancelled? Dispute the credit card charge.