How to cancel Crunchbase in malaysia and avoid surprise charges
What Crunchbase is and why malaysians subscribe
Crunchbase is a business intelligence platform that aggregates company data, startup profiles, investor information, and funding round activity. The service is headquartered in San Francisco and operates globally, including Malaysia, through a fully online account model with no physical office in the country. Most Malaysians interact with Crunchbase through its web interface or mobile app, and all billing and cancellation functions run through your digital account.
The core service and what you pay for
Crunchbase offers tiered subscription plans aimed at different user types. The primary consumer-facing plan is Crunchbase Pro, a monthly recurring subscription that grants access to advanced search filters, company intelligence reports, deal flow alerts, and deeper private market data. The platform also runs a 7-day free trial to test core features before you commit to paid access. Many Malaysians start with the trial, then either upgrade to Pro or cancel before the trial period ends.
The critical detail that catches many users is this: when your free trial expires, Crunchbase automatically charges your billing method unless you cancel beforehand. You do not receive a warning reminder, and the service does not pause. This automatic charge is outlined in Crunchbase's terms of service, meaning you have a legal obligation to cancel proactively if you do not wish to be charged.
Pricing in malaysian currency and billing practices
Crunchbase prices subscriptions in US dollars on its global platform. There is no dedicated Malaysian Ringgit pricing tier. Using the standard conversion rate of 1 USD = RM4.72, here is what a typical subscription costs:
| Plan |
Monthly (USD) |
Monthly (RM) |
Annual (USD) |
Annual (RM) |
| Crunchbase Pro |
USD 99 |
RM 467 |
USD 588 |
RM 2,775 |
| Free trial |
Free for 7 days |
Free for 7 days |
N/A |
N/A |
Your card issuer may also apply foreign transaction fees (typically 1-3%) when Crunchbase charges in US dollars. Many Malaysian credit cards flag international transactions for security or impose exchange rate markups. Check your card's foreign transaction policy before signing up to avoid unexpected costs.
Your consumer rights and what they mean for you
Your right to cancel a subscription in Malaysia is protected by two primary legal frameworks that apply regardless of where Crunchbase is physically located.
Consumer protection act 1999 and your cancellation right
The Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999) is Malaysia's primary consumer protection statute. Under the CPA 1999, Section 13 prohibits unfair contract terms. Crucially, if Crunchbase's terms require you to pay without a clear, accessible method to cancel, or if the cancellation process is deliberately obscured, that term is likely unfair and unenforceable. You have the right to cancel any service subscription at any time, provided you receive confirmation of that cancellation.
Furthermore, if Crunchbase continues to charge you after you have cancelled, you can treat this as a breach of contract and demand a refund. The onus is on Crunchbase to prove that your cancellation instruction was not received or was invalid-not the other way around.
Distance selling rules and the 14-day reflection period
Because Crunchbase operates online and has no physical presence in Malaysia, the transaction is classified as a distance sale. Under the Consumer Protection Regulations, you have a statutory 14-day reflection period from the date you subscribe (or from the end of your free trial if you are charged for the first time) to cancel without penalty. This means:
- If you subscribe to Crunchbase Pro on 1 January and are first charged on 8 January (after your 7-day trial), you have until 22 January to request a full refund with no questions asked.
- You do not need to provide a reason for the cancellation during this 14-day window.
- If Crunchbase refuses the refund claim, you can escalate to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA), which enforces the CPA 1999 and distance selling regulations.
After the 14-day period, you retain the right to cancel at any time, but you are not entitled to an automatic refund unless Crunchbase is in material breach (for example, the service is unavailable, or you are charged without authorisation).
Your legal position on cancellation
You have the right to cancel Crunchbase at any time. Crunchbase must provide a clear, accessible cancellation mechanism in your account. Once you submit a valid cancellation request, your subscription must stop at the end of your current billing cycle, and you must not be charged again. If you are charged after cancellation, you can demand a refund and, if refused, report the company to the MDTCA. If you cancel within 14 days of your first charge (trial-to-paid conversion), you are entitled to a full refund under the distance selling rules.
Methods to cancel Crunchbase
Crunchbase offers only one official cancellation method: self-service online through your account dashboard. There is no phone line, no live chat support, and no local Malaysia office. Email support ([email protected]) can assist with technical issues, but cancellations must be processed online to leave a digital audit trail.
Where to find the cancellation button
Crunchbase stores the cancellation tool in your Account Settings under the Subscriptions and Billing section. The exact path depends on whether you subscribed directly on the Crunchbase website or through a third-party app store (Apple App Store or Google Play). Yafee recommends taking a screenshot at each step to document the process for your records.
Step-by-step cancellation process
Follow these exact steps to cancel your Crunchbase subscription and ensure the cancellation is recorded.
Step 1: log in to your Crunchbase account
- Open your web browser and go to www.crunchbase.com.
- Click the "Sign In" button in the top right corner.
- Enter your email address and password.
- If you have two-factor authentication enabled, complete that step.
- Take a screenshot of the login confirmation to confirm the date and time.
Step 2: navigate to account settings
- Once logged in, look for your profile icon or initials in the top right corner of the page.
- Click on the icon to open a dropdown menu.
- Select "Account Settings" from the menu.
- Wait for the page to load fully before proceeding to the next step.
Step 3: access subscriptions and billing
- On the left sidebar of Account Settings, locate the "Subscriptions and Billing" section.
- Click on "Subscriptions and Billing."
- The page will display your current plan, renewal date, and billing method.
- Take a screenshot showing your plan name and next renewal date.
Step 4: initiate the cancellation request
- Under "Subscription Management," locate the option to "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Plan."
- Click on this option.
- Crunchbase may display a survey or prompt asking why you are cancelling. You are not required to answer, but providing feedback can help the company improve.
- Review the cancellation summary, which should state the date your subscription will end.
- Take a screenshot of this summary page before confirming.
Step 5: confirm the cancellation
- Click the "Confirm Cancellation" or "Cancel Subscription" button to finalize the request.
- Wait for the system to process your request. This usually takes 2-5 seconds.
- You should see a confirmation message on the screen, typically stating "Your subscription has been cancelled" or "You will no longer be billed after [date]."
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation message and save it to your device.
- You will also receive a confirmation email at the address associated with your account within 2-10 minutes.
Step 6: verify the cancellation in your email
- Check your email inbox for a message from Crunchbase with the subject line "Subscription Cancelled" or similar.
- The email should confirm:
- The cancellation date
- Your final billing date
- A statement that no further charges will be made
- Save this email as a PDF or screenshot for your records.
- If you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, check your spam folder or log back into your account to verify the status.
What happens after cancellation
Once your cancellation is confirmed, your subscription enters a wind-down period that lasts until the end of your current billing cycle.
Your access during the notice period
You retain full access to Crunchbase Pro features until your current billing period expires. For example, if you cancel on 15 January and your renewal date is 1 February, you can continue using Crunchbase until 1 February at 11:59 PM. After that time, your account will be downgraded to the free tier, and you will lose access to paid features.
No refund is issued for the remaining time in your billing cycle unless you cancelled within the 14-day distance selling window or Crunchbase is in breach of the service agreement.
Protecting your data before access ends
Crunchbase does not automatically delete your saved searches, saved companies, or alerts when you cancel. However, once your paid subscription ends, you may lose access to data exported during your trial or early in your subscription (depending on Crunchbase's data retention policy). Yafee recommends exporting any critical business lists or reports to CSV or PDF format before your cancellation takes effect. Check your account settings for an "Export" or "Download" option in the saved searches or lists section.
Confirming no further charges
After your billing cycle ends, monitor your bank or credit card statement for 30-45 days to ensure Crunchbase does not charge you again. If an unexpected charge appears, take a screenshot and contact your card issuer immediately to dispute the transaction. You can also email [email protected] with evidence of your cancellation confirmation and demand an immediate refund.
Refund eligibility and how to claim
Your right to a refund depends on when you cancel and whether Crunchbase has met its service obligations.
Full refund window: the 14-day distance selling rule
If you cancel within 14 days of your first charge (either at the end of your free trial or immediately after paying for your first month), you are entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Protection Regulations. This period starts on the day you are first charged, not the day you subscribed. To claim this refund:
- Gather your cancellation confirmation email and your bank statement showing the charge date.
- Calculate the 14-day window from the charge date.
- If you cancelled within this window, send an email to [email protected] with the subject "Refund Request - 14-Day Cancellation Period."
- In your email, state:
- Your account email address
- The date you were charged
- The date you cancelled
- Your cancellation confirmation reference number (if provided)
- A clear statement that you are invoking your 14-day statutory refund right
- Request confirmation of the refund and the timeline for processing (typically 5-10 business days).
- Save all email correspondence as evidence.
Partial or conditional refunds after the 14-day window
After 14 days, Crunchbase does not have an automatic refund obligation. However, you may still be entitled to a refund or credit if:
- The service was unavailable or seriously degraded during your billing period.
- You were charged without a valid subscription agreement or authorization.
- Crunchbase continued to charge you after you submitted a valid cancellation request.
In these cases, contact [email protected] with detailed evidence and request a goodwill refund or account credit. If Crunchbase refuses, escalate to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) at mdtca.gov.my or call the consumer hotline.
Pricing comparison and whether you should cancel
Before finalizing cancellation, consider whether the cost-to-value trade-off justifies staying or leaving.
Crunchbase pro versus alternative tools
| Tool |
Monthly Cost (RM) |
Best for |
Data depth |
| Crunchbase Pro |
RM 467 |
Startup intelligence and funding data |
High |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator |
RM 250-350 |
B2B sales prospecting |
Medium |
| Apollo.io |
RM 180-300 |
Lead generation and email outreach |
Medium |
| Pitchbook (free tier) |
Free |
Light venture capital research |
Limited |
| SEC EDGAR filings (free) |
Free |
Public company financial data |
High (public only) |
If you use Crunchbase primarily to research public company information or general startup data, the free alternatives above may suffice. If you depend on real-time funding alerts, private equity deal flow, and investor relationship mapping, Crunchbase Pro's value is harder to replicate at lower cost.
Common mistakes when cancelling Crunchbase
Cancellation is straightforward, but small oversights can create billing headaches. Here is how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: cancelling through the wrong platform
If you subscribed to Crunchbase through Apple App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through that same platform, not through the Crunchbase website. Many users cancel their web account, only to find they are still being charged via the app store. To check where you subscribed:
- Log into your Crunchbase account on the web and go to Subscriptions and Billing.
- Look for a note saying "Managed by Apple" or "Managed by Google Play."
- If you see this, cancel the subscription through your app store account instead:
- Apple App Store: Open the App Store app, tap your profile icon, go to Subscriptions, find Crunchbase, and tap Cancel Subscription.
- Google Play: Open the Google Play app, tap your profile icon, go to Manage Your Google Play, find Subscriptions, select Crunchbase, and tap Cancel Subscription.
- Take screenshots of the cancellation confirmation from both the app store and your Crunchbase account to cross-verify.
Mistake 2: assuming a cancelled trial means no future charges
If you cancel your free trial before the 7 days end, you will not be charged. However, if you let the trial expire without cancelling, Crunchbase will automatically charge your card on day 8. Never rely on an assumption that the trial will simply "end." Set a calendar reminder to cancel at least 2 days before your trial ends.
Mistake 3: not saving a copy of your cancellation confirmation
Yafee strongly advises saving screenshots of every cancellation screen and a PDF of your confirmation email. If a dispute arises, your bank or card issuer will ask for proof that you cancelled. Crunchbase's support system can be slow, and email records can be lost. A timestamped screenshot is your strongest evidence.
Mistake 4: ignoring a charge that appears after cancellation
If you are charged after your confirmed cancellation date, do not simply wait or email support once. Take immediate action by disputing the charge with your card issuer. Open a dispute within 90 days of the unauthorized charge. Simultaneously, send Crunchbase a formal refund demand citing the cancellation confirmation and the CPA 1999. This dual approach forces action on both sides.
Pre-cancellation checklist
Run through this list before you click "Confirm Cancellation" to ensure you do not lose important data or miss critical deadlines.
- □ Check the cancellation deadline. If you are within 14 days of your first charge, note this date so you can claim a refund if needed.
- □ Export your saved searches and lists. Download any company research or lead lists to CSV or PDF format.
- □ Screenshot your current plan page. Capture the plan name, monthly cost, and next renewal date.
- □ Verify your subscription source. Confirm you are cancelling through the same platform where you subscribed (web, Apple App Store, or Google Play).
- □ Check your billing method. Note the card or payment account tied to your subscription for dispute purposes if needed.
- □ Set a post-cancellation reminder. Mark a calendar date 45 days from now to check your bank statement and confirm no further charges appear.
- □ Log into your account one final time. After cancellation, verify that your plan status shows "Cancelled" or "Active until [date]"-not "Active indefinitely."
What customers say about cancelling Crunchbase
Malaysian users and international Crunchbase subscribers report mixed experiences with the cancellation process itself, though the technical steps are generally smooth. Common feedback themes include:
- Positive: "The cancel button is easy to find once you know where to look. I got a confirmation email immediately."
- Positive: "No hidden obstacles or retention offers. It was straightforward."
- Negative: "I cancelled my web account but didn't realise I'd subscribed through Apple. I got billed again."
- Negative: "The free trial auto-charged me because I forgot about it. No reminder email."
- Negative: "The cancellation confirmation said I'd lose access to my saved lists. I had to export everything manually."
The overarching complaint is not about the cancellation mechanism itself, but about the lack of a pre-expiry reminder email for trials and the loss of data access upon cancellation. Yafee recommends setting your own calendar alerts to stay ahead of auto-charge dates.
Summary and next steps
Cancelling Crunchbase in Malaysia is a straightforward online process protected by the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and distance selling regulations. You have the right to cancel at any time, with a full refund available within 14 days of your first charge. The cancellation button is located in your Account Settings under Subscriptions and Billing. Always cancel through the same platform where you subscribed (web or app store), save screenshots of every step, and verify the cancellation within your email and account dashboard.
If Crunchbase continues to charge you after cancellation, dispute the charge with your bank and demand a refund under the CPA 1999. If the company refuses, report the issue to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) at mdtca.gov.my.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers in Malaysia cancel software subscriptions like Crunchbase with confidence. Whether you need clarification on your 14-day refund rights, want to verify a charge on your statement, or are preparing a complaint to the MDTCA, visit Yafee (yafee.com) for verified guidance. Yafee connects you with contract specialists who understand Malaysian consumer law and can guide you through every step. Your subscription is your contract-take control of it. Head to Yafee today to learn more about your rights and explore other services you can cancel safely.
Crunchbase contact and support details
Crunchbase Support Email: [email protected]
Crunchbase Website: www.crunchbase.com
Cancellation Address (Online): Log in to your account > Account Settings > Subscriptions and Billing > Cancel Subscription
Malaysian Consumer Authority Escalation: Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA), Malaysia. Visit mdtca.gov.my or contact the consumer hotline for disputes.