How to cancel BBC.com
Free step-by-step cancellation guide
This is not BBC iPlayer
The BBC states that iPlayer is not included in the BBC.com subscription. iPlayer is UK-only and tied to a valid TV licence, while this subscription is the paid news service for readers outside the UK.
Which route is yours?
| Where you subscribed | Where you cancel |
|---|---|
| BBC.com on the web | Your Account → Settings → Manage Subscription |
| Google Play | Play Store → profile icon → Subscriptions |
| The App Store | Settings → your name → Subscriptions |
Subscribed on BBC.com
The website, in your account
- Sign in at BBC.com.
- Click Your Account in the top right of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- Select Manage Subscription.
- Cancel the subscription there. Your access continues until the end of the current billing period.
Subscribed through Google Play
The Play Store app, or play.google.com in a browser
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Select your profile icon in the top right.
- Select Subscriptions.
- Select the BBC subscription and confirm.
Subscribed through the App Store
iPhone or iPad Settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Select the BBC subscription.
- Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.
After you cancel
You keep subscriber content on BBC.com and the BBC app until the current billing cycle ends. After that, BBC.com is still readable, but the subscriber content is not.
The BBC's own example: on a monthly plan renewing on the 15th, cancelling on the 7th keeps access until the 15th.
You can see the expiry date in Manage Subscription on the website, or in whichever store billed you.
To confirm it worked: the subscription shows an expiry date and no renewal, or it has gone from your Google Play or Apple subscriptions.
Refunds
- BBC subscription payments are generally non-refundable, and cancelling early does not entitle you to a refund or credit for the remaining period.
- Billed by Apple or Google: their billing terms apply, and the BBC cannot manage, cancel or refund those purchases. Apple requests go through your Apple account, and Google Play through Google Play support.
Frequently asked
Does this cancel BBC iPlayer?
No, and there is nothing to cancel for iPlayer. The BBC states that iPlayer is not part of the BBC.com subscription: it is UK-only and tied to a valid TV licence.
So what does the subscription actually pay for?
Full news articles and feature stories, plus videos and podcasts. In the USA it also includes the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel, which is not available in Canada.
I am in the UK and only want to stop paying the TV licence.
The licence is separate from anything the BBC sells, and it is TV Licensing that deals with it rather than this subscription.
Can the BBC cancel it for me?
The BBC says the easiest and fastest way is to do it yourself in Manage Subscription. If you cannot, the help centre has a Subscription Support link.
How long do I keep access?
Until the end of the billing period you have paid for, on BBC.com and in the BBC app. After that the website is still free to read, but the subscriber content is gone.
How late can I leave it?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the plan renews, otherwise the next charge goes through and you are into another period.
Can I get a refund for the time left?
No. The BBC states that payments are generally non-refundable, and that cancelling early does not entitle you to a refund or credit for the remaining period.
I subscribed through Apple or Google Play. Who cancels it?
The store does, because the store billed you. The BBC cannot manage, cancel or refund a purchase it did not process.
Does the subscription renew on its own?
Yes, direct BBC.com subscriptions renew automatically. You can change or cancel at any time, and the renewal date is shown in Manage Subscription.
Sources
Keep track of your renewals before they charge you again.
SubCrisp is a free subscription tracker: it shows your real monthly total, warns you before renewals, and points you at the right cancellation page. No bank access and no ads.
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