How to cancel Great Courses Plus and protect your wallet in canada
What Great Courses Plus is and why you might want to leave
Great Courses Plus is a subscription streaming platform that delivers lecture-style video courses spanning history, science, literature, and personal development. You access unlimited content through web browsers and mobile applications, and the service typically includes a free trial period when you first enrol. Many Canadian subscribers discover genuine educational value in the content library, but cancellation becomes necessary when your learning interests shift, your budget tightens, or you finish the courses you set out to watch. Understanding your cancellation options before you commit helps you avoid unexpected charges and frustration. Yafee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers navigate subscription cancellations with clarity and confidence.
When cancelling Great Courses Plus makes sense
You might cancel if you've completed your target courses, the subscription no longer fits your budget, or you prefer purchasing individual courses over recurring charges. Some subscribers cancel after their free trial expires and realize the service does not match their preferred learning style. Others use Great Courses Plus seasonally and pause when other priorities take over. Whatever your reason, Yafee empowers you with the exact steps and timelines you need to exit without complications.
Understanding your subscription commitment
Great Courses Plus charges on a recurring basis unless you actively cancel before your next billing date. If you are in a free trial, cancelling before the trial expires prevents any charge from appearing on your card. If you are on a paid plan, cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, not immediately. This timing distinction saves you frustration and protects you from unexpected charges.
Your pricing options and monthly commitment in canada
Great Courses Plus offers flexible plans at different price points so you choose what fits your budget and learning timeline.
| Plan type |
Price (CAD) |
Billing period |
Access and features |
| Monthly |
$19.99 |
Monthly |
Unlimited streaming access to all Great Courses Plus content |
| Quarterly |
$44.99 |
Every 3 months |
Unlimited streaming access to all Great Courses Plus content |
| Annual |
$199.99 |
Yearly |
Unlimited streaming access with maximum annual savings |
| Free trial |
$0 |
Limited time (typically 7 days) |
Full access during trial period; cancellation before expiry avoids first charge |
The annual plan offers the best rate per month if you commit to a full year, but the monthly option gives you maximum flexibility to cancel without a long-term lock-in. Yafee recommends starting with a monthly plan if you are unsure whether Great Courses Plus matches your learning habits, then upgrading only when you are confident you will use the service regularly.
Your consumer rights under canadian law
Canadian consumer protection legislation establishes your right to cancel subscription services under specific conditions and timelines.
Consumer protection act protection for subscriptions
Under the federal Consumer Protection Act and provincial consumer protection laws in Canada, you have the right to cancel a subscription service within a reasonable timeframe. Many provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, have enacted specific rules governing negative-option billing (recurring charges without explicit ongoing consent). These laws require that subscription companies give you clear cancellation instructions at the point of purchase and honour your cancellation request promptly. Your legal position is straightforward: once you submit a valid cancellation request, the company must stop charging your account at the end of your current billing period. If Great Courses Plus continues to charge you after you cancel, you can escalate the matter to your provincial consumer protection authority or file a complaint with the Competition Bureau.
Your legal position and enforcement routes
You are entitled to cancel your Great Courses Plus subscription without penalty at any time, provided you give notice before your next billing date. The company cannot charge you for a renewal period if you have submitted a valid cancellation request. If the company refuses to honour your cancellation or continues billing after you cancel, you can contact your provincial consumer protection office (for example, the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services or the British Columbia Consumer Protection Branch). You can also file a complaint with the Competition Bureau of Canada if you believe the company is using unfair or misleading practices. Yafee recommends keeping copies of all cancellation requests and confirmation messages as evidence of your cancellation date.
Your cancellation method depends on where you signed up and how you pay for the service; each platform has slightly different steps, timing, and confirmation procedures.
Cancel via the Great Courses Plus website
This is the most direct route and gives you immediate confirmation of your cancellation request.
- Visit the Great Courses Plus website (thegreatcoursesplus.com) and sign in with your email address and password.
- Use the same email account you registered with when you first subscribed.
- If you have forgotten your password, click the "Forgot password" link and follow the reset instructions sent to your email.
- Navigate to your account settings or subscription settings, usually located in the top-right menu, account dropdown, or settings icon.
- Look for labels such as "My Account," "Account Settings," or "Manage Subscription."
- If you cannot find the menu, check the help section or contact customer support for the exact location.
- Locate the subscription or billing section and select the option to manage or cancel your subscription.
- You should see your current plan, next billing date, and renewal amount clearly displayed.
- Click on "Cancel Subscription" or a similar button.
- Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation request. Great Courses Plus typically displays a confirmation message or sends a confirmation email to your registered address.
- Keep this confirmation email for your records; it serves as proof of your cancellation date.
- Your access will end at the conclusion of your current billing period, not immediately.
- Verify that your subscription status has changed to "Cancelled" or "Pending Cancellation" in your account dashboard.
- Return to your subscription settings within a few hours to confirm the change has taken effect.
- If the status does not update, contact customer support to escalate.
Cancel via app (iOS or android)
If you downloaded the Great Courses Plus app on your mobile device, you may be able to cancel directly within the app settings.
- Open the Great Courses Plus app on your iOS or Android device and sign in with your credentials.
- Ensure you are logged into the account associated with the subscription you want to cancel.
- Navigate to the app menu, typically accessed by tapping the profile icon, settings icon, or hamburger menu (three horizontal lines).
- Look for labels such as "Settings," "Account," or "My Profile."
- Select the option to manage your subscription or billing information.
- On iOS, you may need to go to Settings > Subscriptions to manage or cancel the Great Courses Plus subscription.
- On Android, cancellation typically occurs through the Google Play Store or the app itself, depending on how you subscribed.
- Tap "Cancel Subscription" and confirm the action by following the on-screen prompts.
- Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation for your records.
- The app will display your cancellation end date.
Cancel through your payment method provider
If you subscribed via Apple, Google Play, or another third-party payment platform, you can also cancel through your payment account settings.
- Access your Apple, Google Play, or payment account through the official app or website.
- For Apple: Sign in to your Apple ID, navigate to Subscriptions, find Great Courses Plus, and select "Cancel Subscription."
- For Google Play: Open the Google Play app, go to Account > Subscriptions, find Great Courses Plus, and tap "Cancel Subscription."
- For credit card providers: Log into your credit card company's online portal and review recurring charges to identify Great Courses Plus; then contact the payment processor to request cancellation.
- Confirm the cancellation in your payment provider's interface.
- You should receive a confirmation message indicating when your subscription will end.
- Return to Great Courses Plus and verify that your subscription status has updated to reflect the cancellation.
- This confirms that the cancellation has been synchronized between the payment provider and Great Courses Plus.
Cancel by certified mail (backup method)
If you encounter difficulty cancelling online or via app, you can submit a cancellation request by certified or registered mail to have proof of delivery and cancellation.
- Prepare a written cancellation notice that includes your full name, email address, account number, and the date you want the cancellation to take effect.
- State clearly: "I request cancellation of my Great Courses Plus subscription effective [date]."
- Sign and date the letter.
- Send the letter by Canada Post Registered Mail or an equivalent certified delivery service to Great Courses Plus's customer service address.
- Request a proof-of-delivery receipt to confirm the company received your cancellation notice.
- Great Courses Plus may post a customer service address on their website or in their terms of service; check these sources for the exact mailing address.
- Keep the proof-of-delivery receipt and a copy of your cancellation letter for your records.
- This documentation protects you if the company disputes whether it received your cancellation request.
- If Great Courses Plus continues to charge you after you have mailed the cancellation notice and the proof-of-delivery date has passed, you can use this evidence to dispute the charge with your bank or file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority.
Refunds and what happens after you cancel
Understanding what to expect after you submit your cancellation request helps you avoid confusion and take action if problems arise.
When your access ends and billing stops
Your subscription cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, not immediately. If your billing date is the 15th of each month and you cancel on the 5th, you retain full access until the end of that billing month. Great Courses Plus will not charge your account on the 15th. Consequently, you should verify that no charge appears on your next billing date. If a charge does appear after you cancel, contact the company immediately and dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company.
Refund eligibility under canadian law
Great Courses Plus may not offer refunds for the remainder of your billing period if you cancel mid-month, depending on their terms of service and provincial consumer protection rules. However, some provinces have enacted cooling-off periods that allow you to request a refund within 14 days of first being charged, particularly if you cancel during a free trial. Yafee advises you to review Great Courses Plus's refund policy in their terms of service and to check whether your province (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, etc.) offers additional refund protections. If you believe you are entitled to a refund under consumer protection law and Great Courses Plus refuses, escalate the matter to your provincial consumer protection office or the Competition Bureau.
Disconnecting your payment method
After you cancel, consider disconnecting your payment method from Great Courses Plus if you stored a credit card or bank account in your account settings. This additional step provides a second layer of protection against accidental re-billing if a system error occurs. Log into your account, navigate to Payment Methods or Billing, and delete or disconnect any saved cards. This action does not undo your cancellation but reduces the risk of future unauthorized charges.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling
Cancellation is straightforward when you follow the correct steps, but a few common errors can cause delays or unnecessary charges.
Assuming cancellation is immediate
Many subscribers believe that cancelling their subscription stops access right away. In reality, you retain access until the end of your current billing period. If your monthly renewal is scheduled for the 20th and you cancel on the 10th, you can continue watching until the 20th without paying again. Plan your cancellation timing accordingly; if you want to stop paying immediately, consider whether a partial refund might be available under provincial consumer law.
Not confirming your cancellation in writing
If you cancel through the website or app, screenshot the confirmation message and save the confirmation email sent to your registered address. These documents prove you submitted a cancellation request on a specific date. Without this proof, you have no evidence if the company disputes whether you cancelled or if a charge appears after your cancellation date. Yafee strongly recommends keeping all cancellation confirmations until at least 2 billing cycles have passed.
Forgetting to check your bank statement
After you cancel, monitor your bank account or credit card statement for 5 to 10 days following your cancellation end date. Verify that no charge from Great Courses Plus appears. If an unexpected charge does appear, contact your bank immediately to dispute it and request a chargeback. Provide your cancellation confirmation as evidence of your request to stop recurring billing.
Cancelling during a free trial without confirming the end date
Free trials often end on a specific date, and you must cancel before that date to avoid a charge. When you first sign up, note the trial expiration date in your calendar. Cancel at least 2 days before the trial ends to ensure the cancellation processes in time. If you cancel but are still charged, contact customer support immediately and reference your cancellation request and trial end date.
Comparison of cancellation methods and timelines
Different cancellation routes offer varying levels of confirmation and processing speed; choose the method that best suits your circumstances and documentation needs.
| Cancellation method |
Processing speed |
Documentation level |
Best for |
| Website account settings |
Immediate confirmation |
High (email confirmation) |
Most subscribers; fastest and easiest |
| Mobile app |
Immediate confirmation |
Medium to high (screenshot recommended) |
App-only users; on-the-go cancellations |
| Payment provider portal |
1-2 business days |
Medium (confirmation from payment provider) |
Third-party subscriptions (Apple, Google Play) |
| Certified mail |
5-10 business days |
Very high (proof of delivery) |
Backup method; disputes with company |
Checklist for cancelling Great Courses Plus safely
Use this checklist to ensure your cancellation is complete and protected by documentation.
- Log into your Great Courses Plus account and navigate to subscription settings.
- Locate your current billing date and plan type (monthly, quarterly, or annual).
- Click "Cancel Subscription" and follow all on-screen prompts to completion.
- Screenshot the cancellation confirmation page or message.
- Save the confirmation email sent to your registered email address.
- Return to your account within 1 hour and verify that your subscription status shows "Cancelled" or "Pending Cancellation."
- Set a reminder to check your bank statement 5 to 10 days after your cancellation end date to confirm no charge appears.
- If a charge appears after your cancellation date, contact customer support with your cancellation confirmation and dispute the charge with your bank if necessary.
- For extra protection, disconnect any saved payment methods from your Great Courses Plus account after cancellation.
- Keep all cancellation confirmations and documentation for at least 6 months.
What to do if Great Courses Plus refuses to honour your cancellation
If you submit a valid cancellation request and Great Courses Plus continues to charge your account, you have legal remedies available under Canadian consumer protection law.
Escalation procedures and your rights
First, contact Great Courses Plus customer support with your cancellation confirmation and inform them that you have been charged after cancelling. Request an immediate refund and a written confirmation that your subscription is now cancelled. If the company does not respond within 7 to 10 business days or refuses your request, escalate the matter to your provincial consumer protection authority. For example, if you are in Ontario, contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services; if you are in British Columbia, contact the Consumer Protection Branch. You can also file a complaint with the Competition Bureau of Canada at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca. Additionally, contact your bank or credit card company and initiate a chargeback for any unauthorized charges that occurred after your cancellation date. Provide your bank with copies of your cancellation confirmation email and proof that Great Courses Plus charged you despite your cancellation request. Yafee has guided thousands of consumers through dispute escalation, and most cases are resolved within 30 to 60 days once documentation is provided to the relevant authority.
Conclusion and next steps
Cancelling Great Courses Plus in Canada is a straightforward process when you follow the correct steps and keep proper documentation. Whether you cancel through the website, mobile app, payment provider portal, or certified mail, ensure you receive written confirmation of your cancellation request before your next billing date. Monitor your bank account after your cancellation end date to confirm no further charges appear. If you encounter any resistance from the company, your consumer rights are protected under the federal Consumer Protection Act and provincial legislation; escalate to your provincial consumer protection authority or the Competition Bureau if necessary. Yafee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel subscriptions with confidence, recover unauthorized charges, and protect their wallets from recurring billing disputes. Start your cancellation today using the method that best suits your circumstances, keep your confirmation email, and reach out to your provincial regulator if you need support. Your financial security and control over your subscriptions matter.