How to Cancel Patreon Membership: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever signed up for a Patreon thinking, “This creator is amazing! I’ll support them forever!”? Life happens, and sometimes those recurring subscriptions just don’t fit into the budget anymore. Whether you’re tightening your belt, focusing on other creators, or simply not getting the content you expected, managing your Patreon memberships is a common need. You’re not alone if you’re looking for a way out.

Patreon makes it easy to support artists, writers, and other creatives, but navigating the cancellation process isn’t always intuitive. Understanding how to properly cancel your membership ensures you avoid unwanted charges, maintain control over your finances, and can continue to enjoy the platform in a way that works best for you. We’re here to help make the process clear and straightforward.

What happens to my benefits when I cancel?

How do I completely cancel my Patreon membership?

To completely cancel your Patreon membership, you need to remove your active pledges to all creators you’re supporting. This can be done directly through your Patreon account by navigating to your membership settings and either editing each individual pledge to $0 or deleting the pledge entirely.

To elaborate, canceling your Patreon membership isn’t a single “cancel account” button, but rather a process of removing your financial support from each creator individually. Patreon assumes you might want to support some creators but not others, so the platform manages your membership on a per-creator basis. Therefore, you must visit each creator’s page that you support or access your “Active Memberships” list to manage your pledges. If you don’t remove the pledges, you’ll continue to be charged, even if you haven’t logged in recently. You have two options to stop payments: reducing your pledge to $0 or deleting the pledge entirely. Reducing your pledge to $0 keeps you as a follower, giving you access to public posts, while deleting the pledge removes you entirely from the creator’s member list. After confirming that all your pledges are removed, you will no longer be charged by Patreon. You can always reactivate your membership later if you choose.

Will I still have access to benefits after canceling?

Whether or not you retain access to benefits after canceling your Patreon membership depends entirely on the creator’s settings and your billing cycle. Generally, you will retain access to benefits until the end of the billing period for which you have already paid. After that, your access will be revoked.

Typically, Patreon creators charge members at the beginning of the month or on a per-creation basis. If you cancel mid-month and the creator charges upfront, you’ll usually continue to receive benefits until the end of that month. However, if you are billed per creation and cancel before the creator posts anything that month, you likely won’t be charged and your benefits will cease immediately. It’s best to check the creator’s Patreon page or reach out to them directly for clarification on their specific policy. Some creators may offer a grace period or even choose to grant continued access even after cancellation, but this is not standard. Always review the creator’s Patreon page information to understand their policies regarding cancellation and benefit access to avoid any surprises. This will help you manage your expectations and plan accordingly.

Can I cancel a specific creator subscription on Patreon?

Yes, you can absolutely cancel your subscription to a specific creator on Patreon without affecting any other subscriptions you might have. Patreon allows you to manage each creator subscription independently.

When you cancel a specific creator’s membership, you will typically lose access to their exclusive content and benefits tied to your patronage at the end of the current billing cycle, depending on the creator’s specific billing model. To cancel, you’ll generally need to navigate to the creator’s Patreon page or your “Manage Memberships” section within your Patreon account settings. From there, you should find a clear option to cancel your pledge. It’s always a good idea to double-check the creator’s Patreon page for their specific cancellation policies or any specific instructions they might have provided. Some creators may have unique billing schedules or refund policies you’ll want to be aware of. If you encounter any issues, Patreon’s help center and support team are available to assist you.

How do I cancel if I subscribed through the Patreon app?

If you subscribed to a Patreon creator’s page through the Patreon app (either on iOS or Android), you need to cancel your membership through the app store associated with your device (either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store). Patreon itself does not directly manage subscriptions made through these app stores.

Canceling through the app store is necessary because your payment information is handled directly by Apple or Google, not Patreon. When you subscribe via the app, you authorize them to manage the recurring payments. Therefore, to stop the charges, you must revoke that authorization within their respective systems. Patreon will only receive notification of the cancellation from the app store. Here’s a general outline of the process depending on your device:

• iOS (Apple App Store): Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, then tap “Subscriptions”. Find your Patreon subscription and tap “Cancel Subscription.”
• Android (Google Play Store): Open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon at the top right, then tap “Payments & subscriptions” and then “Subscriptions.” Find your Patreon subscription and tap “Cancel subscription.”

Remember that even after canceling, you might still have access to the creator’s content until the end of the current billing cycle. You won’t be charged again after the cycle ends. Make sure to check the specific cancellation terms within the app store to confirm when your access will be revoked.

Is there a refund if I cancel my Patreon membership mid-month?

Generally, no, Patreon does not offer refunds for canceling your membership mid-month. Patreon operates on a subscription basis where you are charged at the beginning of the billing cycle, regardless of when you cancel within that cycle. You will typically retain access to the creator’s content for the remainder of the period you’ve already paid for.

Even though you won’t receive a monetary refund, understanding Patreon’s billing structure can help you manage your subscriptions effectively. Many creators charge upfront, meaning you are billed immediately upon subscribing, and again on the 1st of each month. Others might charge when content is posted, giving you slightly more flexibility. Regardless, canceling a subscription after being charged for the month typically won’t result in a refund because you are paying for access during that period. To avoid unwanted charges, it’s best practice to cancel your membership a day or two *before* the next billing cycle begins (usually the 1st of the month). This ensures that you are not charged for the following month and still get to enjoy the content you paid for until the end of the current billing period. Some creators might offer exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but it’s safest to assume that cancellation results in the end of future charges, not a return of funds already paid.

What happens to my payment information after I cancel?

After you cancel your Patreon membership, Patreon securely stores your payment information for a limited period, primarily for accounting purposes and to facilitate potential reactivation of your membership. They do not actively use your payment information once your membership is cancelled, and it is handled according to their privacy policy.

Your payment information isn’t immediately and permanently deleted the moment you cancel. Patreon retains it to comply with financial regulations, process any outstanding transactions related to your past membership, and, importantly, to make it easier for you to resubscribe in the future. Imagine you decide to support a creator again; having your information stored securely allows you to quickly restart your membership without re-entering all your details. However, Patreon emphasizes the security of your data. They use industry-standard encryption and security measures to protect your payment information while it’s stored. The retention period varies, but Patreon’s privacy policy outlines how long they keep different types of data. If you have concerns about the specific duration or want to ensure your information is removed entirely, you can contact Patreon’s support team after a suitable period has passed since your cancellation. Keep in mind that some residual data may be kept for legal and regulatory compliance, as required by law.

Can I reactivate my Patreon membership after canceling?

Yes, you can reactivate your Patreon membership after canceling. Patreon makes it easy to rejoin a creator’s page, restoring your access and resuming your support.

When you cancel your membership, your access to paid content typically ends either immediately or at the end of your current billing cycle, depending on the creator’s settings. Reactivating your membership essentially restarts this process. You’ll need to go back to the creator’s Patreon page and choose the membership tier you wish to rejoin. Patreon will then guide you through the payment setup again.

Keep in mind that any benefits tied to membership number or early adopter status may be lost upon cancellation. If those benefits are important to you, consider pausing your membership instead of canceling if the creator offers that option. Pausing typically keeps your membership “alive” without recurring charges for a specified period. However, if you’ve already canceled, reactivation is the way to resume your support and access the creator’s content.

Alright, you’re all set! Cancelling your Patreon membership is now hopefully a breeze. Thanks so much for supporting creators on Patreon, and we hope you’ll consider rejoining the community again in the future. You’re always welcome back!