How to cancel your Medium membership in canada and protect your digital rights

What Medium is and why you might cancel

Medium is an online publishing platform where writers, journalists and publications share articles, essays and long-form stories. The platform operates a hybrid model: you can read free content without paying, but access to member-exclusive stories and publications requires a paid membership. When you subscribe, you gain unlimited access to paywalled content across the platform and its mobile apps.

You might cancel Medium if you no longer read member-exclusive content regularly, if the subscription costs add up alongside other digital services, or if you want to step back from the platform entirely. Whatever your reason, Yafee is here to guide you through the cancellation process step by step and help you understand your consumer rights in Canada.

Understanding medium's subscription model

Medium membership works differently depending on how you signed up. If you subscribed directly on the Medium website, Medium handles your billing and cancellation. If you subscribed through Apple's App Store or Google Play Store, those platforms control your billing even though you access Medium through the app. This distinction matters because cancelling in the wrong place will not actually stop your charges.

Why canadian consumers need to know their cancellation rights

Canada's consumer protection framework, including the Consumer Protection Act in provinces like Ontario and similar legislation across Canada, requires digital service providers to offer clear, accessible cancellation methods. You have the right to know exactly how to cancel, what happens to your data, and whether you're entitled to refunds. Yafee advocates for transparency in these areas because many Canadians lose money to hidden renewal charges simply because they did not know how to properly cancel.

Medium pricing and plan options in canada

Here are the main Medium membership plans available to Canadian subscribers.

Exact Canadian pricing varies because Medium adjusts rates by currency and region. Check your Medium account settings under Membership to see your specific rate before you decide to cancel. If you're paying in CAD, your charges appear in Canadian dollars on your credit card or payment method statement.

Your consumer rights and what they mean for you

Canadian law grants you specific protections when you cancel a digital subscription.

Legal position under canadian consumer protection law

The Consumer Protection Act and equivalent provincial legislation across Canada establish your right to cancel any subscription service without penalty. You do not need to provide a reason. Furthermore, you are entitled to receive written confirmation of your cancellation within a reasonable timeframe. In accordance with these laws, Medium must cease charging your payment method on the next billing date after you submit your cancellation request. If Medium continues to charge you after you have cancelled, you have the right to dispute the charge with your payment provider or, if necessary, escalate your complaint to your provincial consumer protection authority or the Competition Bureau of Canada.

What happens to your data after cancellation

Cancelling your Medium membership does not automatically delete your account or the stories you have written. Your profile, reading history and published work remain on Medium's servers unless you separately request account deletion. If you want to delete your entire account, you must submit a separate request through Medium's data deletion process. Yafee recommends you document your cancellation confirmation in case you need to dispute future charges.

How to cancel Medium on the web

This method applies if you signed up directly on Medium's website using your email, Google account or Apple sign-in (not through the App Store itself).

Step 1: sign in to your Medium account

1. Navigate to medium.com in your web browser
   • Enter your email and password, or use your Google or Apple credentials
   • Make sure you're signed into the account attached to your membership

Step 2: navigate to your account settings

1. Click your profile icon in the top right corner
   • A dropdown menu will appear
2. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu

Step 3: find the membership section

1. Look for "Membership" or "Subscription" in the left sidebar
   • This section displays your current plan and next billing date
   • You will see a summary of what you're paying and when

Step 4: click "Cancel your membership"

1. Locate and click the "Cancel your membership" or "Cancel subscription" button
   • A confirmation window will appear asking you to confirm your cancellation
   • Read the terms carefully to understand what happens next
2. Confirm your cancellation by clicking the final "Cancel" button
   • Medium will display a confirmation message
   • Save or screenshot this confirmation for your records

Step 5: verify your cancellation

1. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation message from Medium
   • This email should arrive within 24 hours
   • Keep this email as proof of your cancellation request
2. Return to your Membership settings
   • Confirm that your status now shows "Membership cancelled" or "No active membership"

How to cancel Medium through the app store

If you subscribed to Medium through Apple's App Store, you must cancel through Apple's system, not through Medium's website.

Step 1: open the apple app store app

1. Launch the App Store on your iPhone, iPad or Mac
   • Tap the profile icon in the bottom right (iPhone or iPad) or top right (Mac)

Step 2: navigate to your subscriptions

1. Tap "Subscriptions" in the menu
   • You will see a list of all active subscriptions linked to your Apple account

Step 3: select Medium and cancel

1. Locate "Medium" in your subscriptions list
   • Tap on it to view details
2. Tap "Cancel Subscription"
   • Apple will ask you to confirm your reason for cancelling (optional)
   • Confirm the cancellation by tapping the final "Cancel" or "Confirm" button
3. Apple will display a confirmation that your subscription ends on your current expiry date
   • Screenshot this confirmation for your records

How to cancel Medium through google play store

If you subscribed through Google Play Store on an Android device, you must cancel through Google's system.

Step 1: open google play store

1. Launch the Google Play Store app on your Android device
   • Tap your profile icon in the top right corner

Step 2: navigate to your subscriptions

1. Tap "Manage subscriptions" or "Payments and subscriptions"
   • Select "Subscriptions" from the menu
   • You will see all active subscriptions on your Google account

Step 3: select Medium and cancel

1. Find "Medium" in your subscriptions list
   • Tap on it
2. Tap "Cancel subscription"
   • Google may ask why you're cancelling (optional feedback)
3. Confirm your cancellation
   • You will see a confirmation that your subscription ends on your current expiry date
   • Save a screenshot as proof

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling through the wrong platform is the most common error, and it's easy to fix if you know what to look for. Here's what to watch out for.

Mistake 1: cancelling through the app instead of the website

If you signed up on the Medium website but attempt to cancel through the Medium app, you may not see a clear cancellation option. The Medium app does not always display subscription management tools. Always go to medium.com on your web browser to manage your billing if you subscribed directly on the website. Yafee strongly recommends you bookmark the Medium settings page so you can access it quickly when you need to cancel.

Mistake 2: not checking which platform processed your payment

Review your most recent credit card or payment method statement. Look at the merchant name on the charge. If it says "Apple Inc." or "Google Payment" rather than "Medium," you subscribed through the App Store or Play Store and must cancel there. If you cancel in the wrong place, your subscription will remain active and charges will continue.

Mistake 3: forgetting to save your cancellation confirmation

Always take a screenshot or save the confirmation email Medium sends you. If a charge appears on your statement after cancellation, this proof will support your dispute with your bank or payment provider. Yafee advises clients to keep these confirmations for at least 6 months after cancellation.

Mistake 4: confusing cancellation with account deletion

Cancelling your Medium membership stops the charges, but it does not delete your account. Your profile and any stories you've published remain on Medium. If you want complete removal, you must separately request account deletion through Medium's data privacy settings. Cancellation alone will not erase your presence from the platform.

What to expect after you cancel

Your cancellation takes effect immediately, but your access may continue through your current billing cycle.

Your access after cancellation

Once you cancel, you retain member access until the end of your current billing period. For example, if you cancel on the 15th of the month but your subscription renews on the 30th, you have member access for the rest of the month. After your access expires, you can still read free content on Medium, but you cannot access paywalled member-exclusive articles.

When Medium stops charging you

Medium will not charge your payment method after your current billing period ends. If you cancelled mid-cycle, no refund is issued for the remaining time. In accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, Medium must stop all future charges. If you receive a charge after your access has expired, you have the right to dispute it with your financial institution immediately.

Can you reactivate your membership later?

Yes. You can reactivate your Medium membership at any time by signing back into your account and selecting a subscription plan. Your reading history and profile remain intact even after cancellation. Nevertheless, Medium may offer you promotional pricing to reactivate, so check what rate they offer before you sign up again.

Refund policy and what you're entitled to

Understanding Medium's refund terms protects you from unexpected out-of-pocket losses.

Medium's refund policy in canada

Medium does not issue refunds for partial months or years. If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to member content after your current billing cycle ends, but you do not receive a prorated refund for unused time. This is standard practice for digital subscriptions in Canada and is permitted under consumer law provided the terms were clearly disclosed before purchase. Consequently, if you cancel on the 10th of a 30-day cycle, you are not entitled to a refund for the remaining 20 days. Yafee recommends you time your cancellation to coincide with your renewal date if possible, to minimise wasted time.

When you may be entitled to a refund

In limited circumstances, you have grounds for a refund. If Medium charged you after you cancelled, if the charge exceeded the amount you authorised, or if you cancelled within 14 days of your initial purchase, you may be eligible for a refund under the Consumer Protection Act. Contact your payment provider's dispute department to initiate a chargeback if Medium refuses to honour your cancellation request.

How to dispute an unauthorised charge

1. Review your credit card or payment statement
   • Identify the date and amount of the disputed charge
   • Confirm that the charge occurred after your cancellation date
2. Contact your financial institution's fraud or disputes department
   • Provide your cancellation confirmation email as evidence
   • Request a chargeback for the unauthorised charge
3. If Medium contests the chargeback, supply your payment provider with additional evidence
   • Your cancellation confirmation screenshot
   • The timestamp showing when you cancelled
   • Your Membership settings page showing "Cancelled" status

How to escalate a complaint if Medium refuses to cancel

If Medium does not honour your cancellation request, you have formal recourse under Canadian law.

Step 1: contact medium's customer support

1. Email Medium's support team with your cancellation request
   • Include your account email and the date you attempted to cancel
   • Attach your cancellation confirmation if you have one
   • Request written confirmation that your subscription is cancelled
2. Expect a response within 5 to 10 business days
   • If Medium does not respond, escalate to the next step

Step 2: dispute the charge with your payment provider

1. Contact your bank or credit card issuer
   • File a formal dispute for any charge that occurred after your cancellation
   • Provide your cancellation confirmation as evidence
2. Your payment provider will conduct an investigation
   • The investigation typically takes 30 to 90 days
   • Your bank will issue a provisional credit while they investigate

Step 3: file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority

1. If Medium continues to charge you after 30 days, file a formal complaint with your provincial consumer protection office
   • In Ontario, contact Consumer Protection Ontario (CPO)
   • In British Columbia, contact the Consumer Protection Office
   • In other provinces, search for your provincial consumer protection agency
2. Provide the agency with
   • Your cancellation confirmation email
   • Screenshots of your Membership settings showing "Cancelled"
   • Your payment statements showing charges after cancellation
   • Copies of all correspondence with Medium's customer support

Step 4: contact the competition bureau of canada if necessary

If your provincial consumer protection authority does not resolve the issue, you can file a complaint with the Competition Bureau of Canada, the federal agency responsible for enforcing consumer protection law across all provinces. The Competition Bureau can investigate whether Medium is engaged in deceptive marketing or unfair business practices. Nevertheless, this step is rarely necessary if you have followed the steps above, because most payment providers will issue a chargeback in your favour when presented with evidence of cancellation.

Timeline checklist for your cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you do not miss any critical dates.

Key points to remember

Cancelling your Medium membership is straightforward when you know which platform processed your subscription. If you signed up on the Medium website, cancel on medium.com. If you used the App Store, cancel through Apple's Subscriptions settings. If you used Google Play Store, cancel through Google's Subscriptions settings. Cancel in the wrong place and your charges will continue.

Canada's Consumer Protection Act guarantees your right to cancel without penalty. You do not need to provide a reason, and Medium must stop charging you after your current billing cycle ends. If Medium continues to charge you after cancellation, dispute the charge with your bank within 30 days, and escalate to your provincial consumer protection authority or the Competition Bureau of Canada if your bank does not issue a refund.

Save every confirmation email and screenshot after you cancel. These documents are your proof if you later need to dispute a charge or lodge a formal complaint. Yafee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and recover unauthorised charges by following these exact steps.

If you encounter any issues during cancellation, Yafee's contract law specialists are available to advise you on your rights and next steps. Visit yafee.com to learn more about how Yafee can support your consumer protection needs across all digital services.

How to contact Medium if you have questions

Medium's customer support team is available to answer billing and cancellation questions.

For detailed guidance on your cancellation or to escalate a dispute, visit Yafee at yafee.com. Yafee's team of contract law specialists can review your cancellation confirmation, assess whether you are entitled to a refund, and advise you on the best escalation path if Medium refuses to honour your request. Your consumer rights matter, and Yafee is committed to helping you protect them.