How to Cancel WordPress.com in 2026
To cancel WordPress.com, open your profile menu in the top right, go to My WordPress.com Account, click Purchases in the left sidebar, select the plan, scroll to the bottom, and hit Cancel plan. That turns off auto-renewal and keeps your site running until the paid period ends. If you bought the plan inside the iOS app, you cancel through Apple, not the dashboard.
Short answer: Cancel on the website at wordpress.com under Profile then Purchases then Cancel plan. Want money back now instead of just stopping the next charge? Use Remove and claim refund at the top of the cancel screen, if your purchase is still inside the refund window.
Last updated: June 2026. Terms change. Confirm the current steps and refund windows on WordPress.com before you rely on them.
Where is the WordPress.com cancel button, really?
It is buried two menus deep, and there are two different buttons that do very different things. "Cancel plan" stops the renewal but gives you nothing back. "Remove and claim refund" ends the plan on the spot and refunds you if you are still eligible. Most people click the first one, never see the second, and assume no refund was possible. It often was.
One more trap: this only works if you paid WordPress.com directly. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, the dashboard will not let you cancel at all. That gotcha is covered further down.
How to cancel WordPress.com on the website
This is the normal path for anyone who paid through wordpress.com with a card or PayPal.
- Go to wordpress.com and log in.
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then choose My WordPress.com Account.
- In the left sidebar, click Purchases (also labeled Manage Purchases).
- Click the specific plan, domain, or add-on you want to end.
- Scroll to the bottom of that purchase page and click Cancel plan. For a domain it reads Cancel domain; for email or add-ons it reads Cancel subscription.
- Confirm. Your auto-renewal is now off and you will not be charged again.
Cancelling this way keeps your plan features active until the expiry date, so you do not lose your site the moment you click. If you change your mind before it expires, you can switch auto-renewal back on from the same Purchases page.
How do I get a refund, not just stop the next charge?
Plain "Cancel plan" issues no refund. To actually get money back and end the subscription immediately, look at the notice at the top of the cancellation screen for Remove and claim refund. That option only appears if the purchase still qualifies. WordPress.com's stated refund windows are:
- Annual, two-year, and three-year plans: within 14 days of purchase or renewal.
- Monthly plans: within 7 days of purchase or renewal.
- Domain registrations and renewals: within 96 hours (4 days) of the charge.
Choosing "Remove and claim refund" gives up the remaining time on your plan right away, so only do it if you want out now. Refunds go back to the original payment method and typically take about 7 to 10 business days to show up. Confirm current windows on WordPress.com, since the domain window in particular is short and unforgiving.
What if I paid through the App Store or Google Play?
Here is the billing gotcha. If you bought your WordPress.com plan inside the WordPress mobile app on an iPhone or iPad, Apple handles the billing. The WordPress.com dashboard cannot cancel it. You have to go through Apple:
- Open the grey Settings app on your device. Do not open the WordPress app.
- Tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions.
- Find WordPress in the list, tap it, then tap Cancel Subscription.
If you subscribed through an Android device, cancel at Google Play under your profile, then Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Refunds for App Store or Google Play purchases are handled by Apple or Google under their own policies, not by WordPress.com. Check which platform charged you by looking at the merchant name on your receipt or card statement.
Do I keep access after cancelling?
Yes, if you use plain "Cancel plan." Your paid features stay live until the plan's expiry date, then the site drops to the free tier or, for some plans, becomes limited. If you choose "Remove and claim refund," access ends immediately because you are handing back the unused time in exchange for the refund. Downgrading to free is a separate action from cancelling and is done from the plan page.
Cancel it yourself, or let Karen do it
Cancelling is doable on your own. The friction is finding the right menu, spotting the refund option before it is gone, and figuring out whether Apple or Google actually took your money. Here is how the options compare.
| Method | Effort | Speed | Refund odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY on wordpress.com | Medium: two menus deep, easy to miss the refund link | Immediate once you find it | Only if inside the 14 / 7 day or 96-hour window |
| Via Apple or Google (app purchases) | Medium: different app, their rules | Immediate cancel; refund on their timeline | Set by Apple or Google policy |
| Put Karen on it | Low: you hand it over | Karen starts right away | Karen requests refunds and disputes charges on your behalf. Outcome is not guaranteed. |
What if WordPress.com already charged me?
If a renewal already hit and you are inside the refund window, use "Remove and claim refund" first. If the window has passed or the option never appears, you can still ask support in writing. If the company will not refund a charge you believe was wrong, read our guide on what to do when a company won't refund you, and for a charge you did not authorize, see how to dispute a credit card charge with your bank.
Common questions
Cancelling different services works differently. If you are also trimming other subscriptions, the same "find the real cancel button" logic applies to cancelling Adobe, cancelling Spotify, and the many other guides in our cancel a subscription hub.
Two menus deep, a refund link that hides at the top, and Apple maybe holding your money. Let Karen sort out the cancel and chase any refund you are owed.
Put Karen on it.