The Ultimate Step by Step Guide to Cancelling an ancestry Subscription or Membership (ancestry.ca)
By
Bella K.
|
Published
June 30, 2025
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Updated
July 18, 2025
Ancestry.ca helps you explore your family history by giving access to millions of records like census data, birth, marriage, and death certificates from Canada and around the world. They offer subscription plans starting around CA$14.99 per month, which you can pay monthly or for longer upfront periods. By subscribing, you get to search and build your family tree with detailed records and other tools. If you see charges from Ancestry, it's likely because of an active subscription or membership plan you signed up for to use their services.
Canceling an Ancestry subscription is relatively straightforward by logging into the user's account settings and canceling the membership directly online. The process requires minimal steps and can be done quickly but is not instantaneous as it involves navigating account menus and confirming cancellation, hence not the easiest possible.
Estimated Time
On average, it takes 10 minutes0010 minutes to cancel a ancestry subscription.
How to Cancel ancestry: Step by Step
If you purchased through Ancestry.ca:
Log into your Ancestry account.
Click on your profile name in the top right corner.
Select Account Settings from the dropdown menu.
In the Membership section, find your active subscription.
Click on Cancel next to your subscription.
Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation.
If you purchased through the Ancestry app:
Open the Ancestry app on your device.
Tap on your profile icon.
Select Account Settings.
Tap on Membership and then find your subscription.
Tap on Cancel and follow the prompts to confirm cancellation.
If you purchased through Apple (App Store):
Open the Settings app on your device.
Select your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions.
Find and select your Ancestry subscription.
Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm your choice.
If you purchased through Google Play:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Subscriptions.
Find your Ancestry subscription and select it.
Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm your choice.
If you purchased through your mobile carrier:
Contact your mobile service provider directly.
Request to cancel your Ancestry subscription through them.
How to Contact ancestry
If you need assistance, here's how you can get in touch with ancestry's support team.
Attempt cancellation immediately after subscribing to maximize chances of a refund for unused days before the renewal.
Call Ancestry customer support directly at 1-800-958-9073 if online cancellation options fail or are confusing, as phone support often provides a direct resolution.
Check if subscription was paid through third-party services like PayPal or Apple, and cancel through those platforms to effectively stop charges.
Use a PC instead of mobile devices to cancel subscription as some users report the website works more reliably on desktop browsers.
Cancel at least two days before the renewal date to avoid being charged for the next billing period; setting calendar reminders helps.
Utilize the 'pause membership' feature if available, as a temporary workaround to stopping billing without losing account data immediately.
After cancellation, expect follow-up discount offers via email or phone to entice you to resubscribe; use this to negotiate or delay renewal.
If unauthorized charges occur after cancellation, consider disputing through your credit card company as a last resort, or cancel the card to stop future billing.
Be aware of free trial periods auto-renewing to paid subscriptions and cancel within the trial window to avoid charges.
When canceling, use clear, firm language such as "I am requesting to cancel my membership effective immediately" and confirm cancellation confirmation details.
For longer subscriptions like 6-month plans, cancel early and request a refund for unused time, then re-subscribe if desired to get better deals or pricing.
Why Do People Request Refunds from ancestry
Ongoing website issues making the service unusable for extended periods.
Login problems preventing access to the account at crucial times.
Lack of value for money despite spending a significant amount on DNA kits and extras.
Inconvenient cancellation policies, such as the need to call the day before the subscription ends to receive offers.
Inability to correct false information or remove incorrect ancestors from family trees.
Propagation of inaccurate data due to the crowdsourcing model linking shared family tree data across accounts.
High subscription cost making alternatives more attractive after dissatisfaction sets in.
ancestry Refund Script
Script
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Dear ancestry, Support, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request a refund due to a billing issue that arose recently. I noticed an accidental charge on my account that I do not recognize, and I believe it may have been a mistake. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in processing this refund at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response. Best regards,
ancestry Refund Policy
Ancestry subscriptions can be canceled anytime by logging into your Account Settings or contacting Ancestry. For subscriptions longer than a month paid upfront, cancelling before the end of the term retains access but does not provide a refund, except within the first 14 days of the initial term where a full refund or delayed cancellation is possible. Monthly subscriptions can be canceled up to two business days before renewal but are generally non-refundable. Cancellation fees may apply depending on subscription length and region. After renewal, subscriptions are non-refundable and automatically renew unless canceled in advance.
The Easiest Way to Get a ancestry Refund
If you’re frustrated trying to cancel your subscription, membership, or bill from ancestry—or if you didn’t even realize you were being charged—Chargeback can help. Chargeback is a personal subscription manager that automatically detects hidden, recurring charges like Netflix, Hulu, and hundreds of others. With one click, we can cancel unwanted subscriptions, flag suspicious billing, and even initiate refund requests on your behalf. No more waiting on hold or navigating confusing help pages. Just connect your bank or email account, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be aware that if you cancel an Ancestry.ca subscription before the end of a prepaid subscription term, you may be charged a cancellation fee of up to 25 CAD or the remaining subscription cost. Monthly subscriptions can be canceled anytime before two business days prior to renewal but generally are not eligible for refunds once renewed. Also, if you don't cancel on time, the subscription auto-renews, and refunds are not granted after renewal, which can be a costly surprise if you miss the cancellation window.
Ongoing website issues making the service unusable for extended periods.
Login problems preventing access to the account at crucial times.
Lack of value for money despite spending a significant amount on DNA kits and extras.
Inconvenient cancellation policies, such as the need to call the day before the subscription ends to receive offers.
Inability to correct false information or remove incorrect ancestors from family trees.
Propagation of inaccurate data due to the crowdsourcing model linking shared family tree data across accounts.
High subscription cost making alternatives more attractive after dissatisfaction sets in.
Your Ancestry.ca account login credentials (email and password)
Access to the Account Settings or Membership page within your account
Knowledge of which subscription or membership you want to cancel (if you have multiple)
Order number (required if you are canceling by phone; found in your order confirmation email)
Certain billing and personal details if contacting customer support to verify your identity
Confirmation number or confirmation email (to verify cancellation was completed)
Before cancelling your Ancestry subscription, it's important to know that while your family tree and saved information will remain intact, you will lose access to certain features. You will no longer be able to view actual record images, only transcribed data, and you cannot view pictures of records without a subscription. Additionally, you will lose the ability to view other people's trees and some DNA features like match details and color-coded groups. Your data, including your tree and DNA data, remains saved, but if you delete your DNA data, you cannot reactivate it. When you restart your subscription, you typically regain access to all features as before.
Ancestry subscriptions can be canceled anytime by logging into your Account Settings or contacting Ancestry. For subscriptions longer than a month paid upfront, cancelling before the end of the term retains access but does not provide a refund, except within the first 14 days of the initial term where a full refund or delayed cancellation is possible. Monthly subscriptions can be canceled up to two business days before renewal but are generally non-refundable. Cancellation fees may apply depending on subscription length and region. After renewal, subscriptions are non-refundable and automatically renew unless canceled in advance.
To cancel your subscription on Ancestry.ca, you need to sign in to your account first, which requires your password. This means you must have access to your password or reset it if you have forgotten it. You can reset your password at this link: https://www.ancestry.com/account/reset-password. There is no indication that phone or chat support can cancel the subscription without signing in.
We've actually written a step by step guide on how to get a refund from ancestry. Check it out!
The cancellation process typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. However, the actual time may vary depending on your account settings and whether you need to contact customer service. Most cancellations are processed immediately, but some may take up to 24 hours to take effect.
After canceling your ancestry subscription, you'll typically have access to the service until the end of your current billing period. You won't be charged for the next billing cycle, and your account will be deactivated once the current period ends. Make sure to download any important data before cancellation.
Yes, you can usually reactivate your ancestry account by logging back into your account and resubscribing. However, you may need to go through the sign-up process again and provide payment information. Some services may offer special reactivation deals for returning customers.
If you're unable to cancel ancestry online, contact their customer service directly using the phone number, email, or website provided above. You can also use our refund script to help you communicate effectively with their support team. In some cases, you may need to provide additional verification or documentation.
PAYPAL INST XFER GOOGLE ANCESTRY WEB ID: PAYPALSI7 ANC*ANCESTRY.CO 123 MAIN St
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¹ Total savings is calculated based on internal annualized estimates of
savings for customers. ² Average requests times may vary depending on volume of requests
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