Can I Cancel The Athletic at Any Time?

You can cancel your The Athletic subscription at any time, but be aware that there are no prorated refunds or credits for any partially used billing periods. Payments are nonrefundable, so if you cancel mid-subscription, you will not get any money back. There are no contracts, early-cancellation fees, or lock-in gimmicks, but the lack of refunds means you essentially pay upfront for the full period once charged.

Why Do People Cancel The Athletic?

Decline in content quality: Subscribers feel the coverage has deteriorated and lacks in-depth sports journalism, shifting towards rankings and less substantive content.Loss of writers: Cuts to writers have reduced the volume and quality of original reporting.Content shift to social issues: Some users dislike the focus on virtue signaling and activism rather than pure sports coverage.Can find similar content for free: Some users cancel because similar sports content is available without charge elsewhere.Automatic renewal issues: Complaints about being automatically re-enrolled without clear disclosure or consent.Difficulty cancelling subscriptions: Subscribers report cancellation processes as confusing and challenging to navigate.No advance renewal notification: Users are unhappy about lack of reminders before subscription fees are renewed.No refunds for unintended renewals: Subscribers report being charged multiple times without receiving refunds despite requesting them.Generic marketing and win-back attempts: Post-cancellation marketing emails are often impersonal, irrelevant, or offer higher prices than original subscriptions.Missed communication opportunities: Lack of follow-up or personalized engagement after cancellation to address subscriber concerns.

What Information Do I Need to Cancel The Athletic?

Email address associated with your The Athletic account Access to your account (username and password) to log in to the website or app Identification of your payment platform (direct, iTunes/Apple, Google Play, PayPal, etc.) Merchant details from your financial statement if needed to determine payment platform Clear cancellation request when contacting support via email or help form Request for confirmation of your cancellation (especially if done via email)

What Should I Know Before Cancelling The Athletic?

Before cancelling your subscription to The Athletic, know that you can cancel anytime but there are no prorated refunds and payments made are nonrefundable, so you will not get money back for any unused portion of your subscription period. After cancellation, you will lose access to all member-exclusive content and features immediately or at the end of your current subscription term, depending on the timing of your cancellation. Also, if you violate the Terms of Service and your account is terminated, you lose access without any refund. It is important to consider that the subscription grants you access to premium sports journalism, and cancelling will stop that access, so make sure you have reviewed your remaining subscription time before cancelling.

What is The Athletic's Cancellation Policy?

The Athletic allows subscription cancellation at any time via the account settings page or customer support. Cancellation stops future charges but maintains access until the current billing period ends, except for free trial cancellations which take effect immediately. Refunds are generally not provided, and third-party subscriptions (e.g., via Google Play or iOS) must be canceled through the respective third party.

Do I Need My The Athletic Password to Cancel?

If you purchased your subscription directly through The Athletic website, you will need to sign into your account to cancel your subscription, which means you will need your password. You can cancel the subscription by navigating to the Your Account page at theathletic.com/settings and clicking Cancel Subscription. If you don't remember your password, you can reset it here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/forgot-password2/. If your subscription was through iOS or Android in-app purchases, you cancel via the respective app stores and do not need your password for The Athletic.

Can I Get a Refund from The Athletic?

We've actually written a step by step guide on how to get a refund from The Athletic. Check it out!

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How To Cancel Your The Athletic Subscription (2025)

Bella Khan, Subscription Cancellation Expert

Published July 1, 2025

Last updated on November 21, 2025

6 min read

Difficulty

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The process to cancel a subscription to The Athletic is straightforward, either through their website or directly via iOS or Android app subscription management. The steps are clear and easily accessible in the account settings, making cancellation fairly easy for consumers.

Estimated Time

On average, it takes 00 15 minutes to cancel a The Athletic subscription.

How to Contact The Athletic

If you need assistance, here's how you can get in touch with The Athletic's support team.

Phone

The phone is not available.

The email is not available.

Site

https://theathletic.com/contact-support

Disclaimer

Chargeback is an independent consumer resource that provides educational information to help users understand how to cancel, manage, or request refunds for various subscriptions. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the companies mentioned on this site. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

The information we provide is based on publicly available sources and user reports and may contain inaccuracies or become outdated over time. Our guides are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as official company instructions or legal advice.

Consumers are solely responsible for reviewing their own contracts, terms of service, and refund or cancellation obligations before taking any action. Nothing on this site should be interpreted as legal, financial, or contractual guidance.

Chargeback does not encourage or condone disputing valid charges, misrepresenting transactions, or taking any action that could violate a company's terms, service agreement, or applicable laws. We promote fair, transparent, and lawful communication between consumers and businesses.

Find out how much you could save

How much are you paying?

Payment frequency

Savings over 5 years from cancelling your $15/month subscription

Savings by cancelling

Loss if you keep paying

-$0

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Frequently Asked Questions

The cancellation process typically takes about 15 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 The Athletic 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 The Athletic 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 The Athletic 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.