- The catch: asking for a refund doesn't cancel anything
- Cancel and refund routes by where you paid
- How to cancel on each platform
- How to request a refund
- The UK and EEA 14-day window
- Two situations that block or change a refund
- What happens to Max API credits
- Deleting your account is a separate, permanent step
- The four steps in order
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To cancel a Claude Pro or Max subscription, go to Settings > Billing and click Cancel on the web or desktop app, or Billing > Manage subscription in the iOS or Android app. As of October 2026 you keep the paid plan until the end of the billing period, and you need to cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date to avoid the next charge.
The catch: asking for a refund doesn't cancel anything
Cancel, refund and delete are three separate actions, and doing one doesn't do the others. Anthropic says requesting a refund doesn't cancel your subscription. If you ask for a refund and stop there, you can still be charged next month. To avoid future charges you have to cancel as well.
It's also worth knowing where Anthropic starts from. Except as expressly provided in its Consumer Terms of Service or where the law requires it, all payments are non-refundable. So a refund is something you request and someone reviews, not a button that always works.
Cancel and refund routes by where you paid
The route depends on where you signed up, not on the device you're holding now. Here's the whole picture in one view, as of October 2026.
| Where you paid | How to cancel | Who handles a refund |
|---|---|---|
| Web or Claude Desktop | Settings > Billing > Cancel | Anthropic support messenger |
| Claude for iOS | Billing > Manage subscription | Apple only (reportaproblem.apple.com) |
| Claude for Android | Billing > Manage subscription | Anthropic support, after eligibility check |
| UK or EEA | Same cancel route | 14 days from purchase, prorated to use |
How to cancel on each platform
- Web or Claude Desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux): log in, click your initials or name in the lower left, choose Settings, go to Billing and click Cancel.
- Claude for iOS: tap your initials in the top right, choose Billing, then Manage subscription, and follow the prompts. If you've already deleted the app, use Apple's own unsubscribe route, because the subscription and payment are handled on your iOS device.
- Claude for Android: tap your initials in the top right, choose Billing, then Manage subscription, and follow the prompts. If the app's gone, use Google Play's page to cancel, pause or change a subscription.
Deleting the app doesn't cancel anything on either phone. That's a common way to keep paying for a plan you think you've left.
How to request a refund
This is a separate step from cancelling, and the route again depends on where you paid.
On the web, log in, click your initials, choose Get help, then Send us a message, Accept, and Claude Refund Request. Pick a reason and follow the eligibility prompts. If you're eligible, you carry on in the support messenger to cancel and refund the plan together, which is the one route that handles both in one go.
If you paid on iOS, the charge went through the Apple App Store, so only Apple can review and issue the refund. Anthropic support can't access or refund App Store charges. Sign in at reportaproblem.apple.com with the Apple Account you used, tap 'I'd like to', choose Request a refund, pick a reason, select the Claude subscription and submit. Apple decides at its discretion.
If you paid on Android, support has to check eligibility first. For a subscription that's no longer active, send the email tied to your Google Play account or the GPA order number from your Google Play receipt.
The UK and EEA 14-day window
If you're in the UK or the EEA, you may get a refund within 14 days of purchase, and the option may appear in your Settings. The catch is that these refunds are prorated according to your use. If you've used Claude heavily in those first days, expect a smaller refund than the full charge.
Two situations that block or change a refund
A bank dispute. If you're disputing the payment with your bank, Anthropic support can't process a refund while the dispute is pending. You either carry on with the bank or withdraw the dispute so support can refund you. Doing both at once just stalls things.
Upgrading to Team. Moving from Pro or Max to a Team plan cancels your individual subscription automatically and refunds the unused part on a prorated basis, about 24 hours after the Team payment goes through. Google Play purchases skip that wait. If you subscribed through the App Store you can't upgrade in place: cancel the iOS subscription in your Apple ID settings first. My Claude Team plan guide covers what you get on the other side.
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What happens to Max API credits
The monthly API credits that come with Max and Team plans aren't purchased, so they can't be refunded, and they expire at the end of each billing cycle. If you cancel or get a refund, new monthly credits stop. Credits you already have stay usable until they expire, so use them before the cycle ends.
Deleting your account is a separate, permanent step
Deleting your Claude account is permanent and has nothing to do with billing. If you're on Pro or Max, Anthropic says to cancel from Billing first, wait until the subscription lapses, and only then delete.
- Web: Settings > Account > Delete account.
- iOS: Settings, Account, Profile, Delete account, then confirm.
- Android: the menu, your initials, Profile, Account Actions, Delete Account, then I Understand.
Export your data first if there's anything in your chats you want to keep. Once it's gone, it's gone.
The four steps in order
- Find where you paid: web, iOS or Android.
- Cancel from that platform at least 24 hours before the billing date.
- If you also want a refund, request it separately (Apple for iOS).
- Only after the plan lapses, delete the account if you want it gone, and export your data first.
My verdict
I'd cancel first and ask about a refund second, every time, because the refund request won't stop the next charge on its own. If you're in the UK or EEA and inside 14 days, ask straight away, since the refund shrinks the more you use. If you paid through the iPhone app, don't waste time messaging Anthropic about the charge; go straight to Apple. And if you're only leaving because of the price or the limits, have a look at my Pro and Max comparison before you go, because dropping a tier may suit you better than quitting.
Frequently asked questions
Does requesting a Claude refund cancel my subscription?
No. Anthropic says a refund request doesn't cancel your subscription, so you have to cancel separately to avoid future charges.
When does a Claude cancellation take effect?
At the end of your current billing period, and you keep the paid plan until then. Cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date.
Can Anthropic refund a Claude subscription I bought on my iPhone?
No. App Store charges can only be refunded by Apple through reportaproblem.apple.com, and Apple decides at its discretion.
Can I get a Claude refund in the UK?
In the UK and EEA you may get a refund within 14 days of purchase, prorated according to your use, as of October 2026.
Does deleting the Claude app cancel my subscription?
No. Cancel through Billing in the app or through Apple or Google Play, because the subscription is handled on your device.
