How many days before a free trial ends should I cancel?

Two or three days is a safe margin. Apple asks for at least 24 hours for App Store trials, and some companies need more, so check the terms when you sign up.

Will I lose the Black Friday deal if I cancel the trial early?

Usually not: many services keep your trial running until its end date after you cancel. Some end it straight away, so read the cancellation page before you confirm.

Can I get a refund after a free trial charged me?

Ask straight away. Many companies refund a recent charge, especially if you have not used the service since. In the UK you may also have a 14-day right to cancel for things bought online, though it can be lost once a service has started.

What is the easiest way to track several free trials?

Set a calendar reminder for each one with our free trial reminder, or connect your email to Subscriptrack and it finds each trial and its end date from the confirmation emails.

Black Friday free trials: avoid the charge

Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas bring a wave of free trials: streaming, music, audiobooks, games and software, often bundled with a deal. Each one asks for a card and starts charging on its end date unless you cancel. A few minutes at sign-up, and a reminder a few days before the end, are all it takes to keep the deal and skip the charge.

Updated 11 November 2026

Before you start a trial

Find the terms. Check how long the trial lasts, what it turns into, the price, and whether that price is monthly or yearly.
Look for the date you must act by. If you cannot find it, or cannot understand what you are agreeing to, the US Federal Trade Commission's advice is simple: do not sign up.
Untick boxes you did not ask for. Pre-ticked boxes can add extras or agree to ongoing charges.
Check whether it is really free. If you have to pay for delivery or a fee, it is not a free trial.
Save the confirmation email. It has the dates and the price, and it shows where you signed up.

Set a reminder before it ends, not on the day

Remind yourself two or three days before the end date. Some services ask you to cancel at least 24 hours before a trial ends, and if you are busy on the day, a reminder that morning is easy to miss.

Our free trial reminder puts the reminder straight into Google, Apple or Outlook calendar, with no sign-up. If you start several trials, Subscriptrack can read the confirmation emails and remind you about every one.

Cancel in the right place

Many services let you cancel straight away and still keep the trial until its end date, so cancelling early costs you nothing. Others end the trial as soon as you cancel, so check first if you still want to use it.

Where you signed up decides where you cancel. A trial started in an iPhone or iPad app is cancelled in your Apple account's Subscriptions, and one started in an Android app in Google Play. Deleting the app does not cancel the trial.

If you have already been charged

Cancel now, so it does not charge again next month.
Ask the company for a refund. Many will refund a charge from a few days ago, especially if you have not used the service since.
In the UK, if you signed up online you usually have 14 days to change your mind, but you may lose that right, or pay for what you used, if the service started straight away.
If you were charged without agreeing to it and the company will not help, contact your card provider or bank about the payment.

New UK rules are on the way

The government has published guidance on new UK subscription contract rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. They cover reminder notices, cooling-off periods and easier ways to leave, and they are not law until Parliament approves them. Until they apply, the steps above are your best protection. This is general information, not legal advice.

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Questions

How many days before a free trial ends should I cancel?: Two or three days is a safe margin. Apple asks for at least 24 hours for App Store trials, and some companies need more, so check the terms when you sign up.
Will I lose the Black Friday deal if I cancel the trial early?: Usually not: many services keep your trial running until its end date after you cancel. Some end it straight away, so read the cancellation page before you confirm.
Can I get a refund after a free trial charged me?: Ask straight away. Many companies refund a recent charge, especially if you have not used the service since. In the UK you may also have a 14-day right to cancel for things bought online, though it can be lost once a service has started.
What is the easiest way to track several free trials?: Set a calendar reminder for each one with our free trial reminder, or connect your email to Subscriptrack and it finds each trial and its end date from the confirmation emails.