ChatGPT payments are generally non-refundable, but if you contact OpenAI within seven days of the charge for an unused individual subscription, a discretionary refund may be available. Web and Google Play refunds are requested through the chat widget in the OpenAI Help Center, while Apple App Store subscriptions are refunded by Apple, as of October 2026.
Your legal and contractual rights still apply, and OpenAI may also approve refunds for a verified billing error, validated unauthorised charges or a documented service or access failure.
The catch: cancelling isn't asking for a refund
There's no automatic prorated discretionary refund after seven days. An accidental purchase, forgetting to cancel, being unhappy with it or changing plans doesn't by itself qualify outside an exception. And cancelling only stops renewals. It doesn't make you eligible for a refund, so if you want a refund you have to ask for one separately. If you only need to stop the next charge, see how to cancel a ChatGPT subscription.
The seven-day request also has to be about your current billing period and meet the eligibility rules, which include limits on repeat refunds and no substantial use.
Where to ask, by how you paid
| Where you bought it | Where to ask | Timing if approved |
|---|---|---|
| chatgpt.com | Help Center chat widget, logged in as the charged account | 5-7 business days |
| Google Play | Help Center chat widget | 10 business days |
| Apple App Store | Request it from Apple directly | Apple decides |
Those timings cover OpenAI's processing. It can take longer for the funds to show up on your card or in your bank. A receipt is emailed to your account address, so check spam if you don't see it.
How to request a refund for a web purchase
- Check where you bought it: Settings, then Billing on the web, your Apple subscriptions, or Google Play.
- Log in to ChatGPT with the account that was charged.
- Go to help.openai.com, signed in with that same account, and open the chat widget.
- Read the quick eligibility summary it shows you, then submit your request.
- Watch your inbox for the emailed receipt.
If you see a 'requires_login' message, you're not signed in to the Help Center. Sign in and reopen the widget.
Regional refund rules
- EU, UK and Turkey: you're eligible for a prorated refund if you cancel within 14 days of purchase.
- Korea: a full refund if you ask within 7 days of purchase and haven't used the service. Otherwise it's pro-rated from the date you ask to the end of the paid period, and cancellation takes effect straight away.
- Brazil (account registered in Brazil and card issued in Brazil): your first refund is full within 7 days, then prorated for the unused portion. A second refund is full within 7 days only. A third or later needs extra review and, if approved, may be prorated within 14 days. Eligible Google Play refunds are currently issued in full.
Wallet payments, disputes and what happens to access
If you paid with your ChatGPT wallet, an approved refund may go back to the wallet balance. A payment made from more than one source may be split between them.
Don't open a payment dispute with your bank and ask OpenAI at the same time. OpenAI can't issue a separate refund while a dispute is active, or after funds have been returned through one.
If a refund is granted, the access that charge paid for normally ends, subject to the law where you live. Deleting your OpenAI account cancels subscriptions billed directly by ChatGPT, but Apple and Google subscriptions have to be cancelled in the store. If you're thinking of closing the account entirely, here's how to delete a ChatGPT account.
ChatGPT Business seats
Unused seats in a self-serve Business workspace are generally non-refundable for the committed billing period. A workspace owner can schedule a seat reduction for the next cycle instead.
Support can review a verified seat-count error, a mistaken annual renewal or an accidental deactivation. Include the account email, workspace name or ID, invoice number, charge date and amount, and your reason.
If you were charged twice
Your subscription is managed by the platform you bought it on: Apple App Store, Google Play or chatgpt.com. If you start a new subscription on one before cancelling the old one on another, you can end up with two active subscriptions. Cancel on the original platform first.
My verdict
If you've just been charged and haven't used it, I'd ask within the seven days, because after that the discretionary route closes. If you're in the EU, the UK or Turkey, you've got 14 days to cancel for a prorated refund. I'd skip a bank dispute unless OpenAI or Apple won't help, since an open dispute blocks a separate refund. And if you bought on an iPhone, go straight to Apple, because OpenAI can't refund that one.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Not sure where to start? Try my ChatGPT Age Verification breakdown.
For the rest of the series, see the ChatGPT Prompts and Limits: 30 Guides to Fun Prompts, Photo Edits and Daily Caps.
Frequently asked questions
Does ChatGPT give refunds?
Payments are generally non-refundable, but a discretionary refund may be available within seven days of the charge for an unused individual subscription, and legal rights still apply.
Can I get a refund after seven days?
There's no automatic prorated discretionary refund after seven days. EU, UK and Turkey residents can get a prorated refund if they cancel within 14 days of purchase.
How long does a ChatGPT refund take?
Approved web refunds are processed within 5-7 business days and Google Play refunds within 10 business days. Your bank may take longer.
I subscribed on iPhone, who refunds me?
Apple. Cancellations and refunds for App Store subscriptions have to be requested from Apple directly.
Are there different refund rules in the EU, UK or Brazil?
Yes. The EU, UK and Turkey have a 14-day prorated refund on cancellation, and Brazil has its own rules for first, second and later refunds.
What if I was charged twice?
You probably have subscriptions on two platforms. Cancel on the original platform first.
Does cancelling get me a refund?
No. Cancelling stops renewals but doesn't establish refund eligibility. You have to request the refund separately.
Where does a refund go if I paid with my ChatGPT wallet?
An approved refund may go back to the wallet balance, and a payment from more than one source may be split between them.
Can I get a refund for unused Business seats?
Generally not for the committed billing period. A workspace owner can schedule a seat reduction for the next cycle, and Support can review a verified seat-count error.
