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How to cancel The New York Times subscription: step-by-step (2026)

The NYT subscription has historically required a phone call. Here's what changed in 2024 and the current cancellation flow.

4 min read·

The Times historically required a phone call or chat to cancel digital subscriptions — a pattern explicitly cited in the FTC's case for the Click-to-Cancel rule. As of late 2024, the Times offers self-serve online cancellation for all digital plans.

Step by step (self-serve, web)

  1. Go to nytimes.com and sign in.
  2. In the top-right, click your account name, then My Account.
  3. Click Manage your subscription.
  4. Find your active digital plan and click Cancel.
  5. The Times offers a discounted rate as a retention offer (typically 50% off for 6 months or 3 months free). Continue to cancel if you actually want out.
  6. Confirm. Done.

Print subscription cancellation

Print (Home Delivery) still requires either a phone call or a chat. Self-serve isn't offered for print. Phone: 1-800-NYTIMES (1-800-698-4637). Chat is reachable from nytimes.com/help.

Bundled subscriptions

The Times All Access bundle (NYT + Games + Cooking + Wirecutter + The Athletic) cancels as a unit through the same flow. You can also downgrade to individual components instead of cancelling outright — for example, keep just Games and Cooking if those are what you actually use.

Refund policy

The Times prorates refunds for the unused portion of your current billing period if you cancel within 14 days of a renewal charge. After 14 days, no refund; you keep access until the period ends.

What you keep

Your reading history, saved articles, comment activity, and bookmarks all remain in your account indefinitely. If you return, everything is intact. The Times also keeps your billing record so promotional pricing on return is sometimes available.

A note on the retention offer

The Times' retention discount (50% off for 6 months) is genuinely a good deal if you're cancelling because of cost. If you're cancelling because you're not reading it, the discount won't change your habits. Be honest about which one applies before accepting.

Related: How to cancel Netflix · Subscription dark patterns · Click-to-cancel law

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