Some companies make cancellation easy - a single click, no friction, no phone calls. Others have turned retention into a sport. This index scores each service out of 10 on difficulty, based on tactics we've documented across thousands of cancellation attempts.
A score of 8–10 means the company actively works against you. A score of 1–3 means they respect your right to leave. We update this quarterly.
Hardest subscriptions to cancel ranked list
Planet Fitness
No online cancellation option. You must cancel in person at your home club or send a certified letter to their headquarters. The "home club" rule means if you moved, you may have no accessible location. Staff are trained to offer freezes and discounts. Some members report being billed for months after submitting cancellation paperwork.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Annual plan subscribers face an early termination fee of up to 50% of remaining months if they cancel mid-term. The cancel flow is designed to confuse - multiple screens, unclear options, and a retention offer before the actual cancel button. Adobe also auto-renews annual plans with minimal advance notice.
SiriusXM
Phone cancellation only - no online option. Hold times routinely exceed 30 minutes. Representatives use a documented script with multiple retention offers before reaching the actual cancellation. Many users report being transferred mid-call or told a supervisor needs to approve the cancellation. The FTC has taken action against SiriusXM for making cancellation difficult.
Comcast / Xfinity
Phone or in-person cancellation required. Agents are incentivized to retain customers and will offer multiple discounts before processing a cancellation. Equipment return requirements add friction - you must return modems and cable boxes or face fees up to $300. Comcast has been fined by the FTC for deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices.
New York Times
Online cancellation is technically available but intentionally buried under multiple menus. Live chat is often the only realistic option - the cancel button in account settings redirects to a retention chat. Chat agents use scripted pauses and multi-discount offers. Many subscribers report chatting for 15–20 minutes to complete what should be a one-click action.
Noom
Cancellation requires navigating a multi-step flow designed to trigger emotional reconsideration - showing weight loss progress, asking you to set a new goal, and offering a free pause before reaching cancel. Annual plans have no online cancel; phone or chat required. Refund requests after cancellation are frequently denied despite state consumer protection laws that may require them.
LA Fitness / Esporta
Cancellation requires certified mail to a specific P.O. box or an in-person visit. The cancellation agreement requires a 30-day notice period, meaning you'll be charged for one more month after submitting. No online or phone cancellation accepted. Members report the certified mail address changing and letters being returned.
McAfee
Auto-renews at a significantly higher rate than the introductory price (often 3–4x). The renewal notification is buried in email. The cancellation flow includes multiple pages of retention offers. Phone agents use aggressive scripts. McAfee has faced FTC action and class-action lawsuits over its auto-renewal practices.
eHarmony
Annual plans auto-renew with minimal notice. Canceling requires contacting customer service - no self-serve option. The refund window is extremely narrow (3 days from signup). After that, early cancellation of annual plans receives no refund despite the remaining months. Many states have specific consumer protection laws eHarmony violates - worth checking your state's rules.
ADT
Long-term contracts (typically 3 years) with early termination fees of 75% of the remaining contract balance. Cancellation requires 30 days written notice. Equipment installed by ADT remains their property and must be removed by them. Moving doesn't void the contract - ADT may offer to transfer service but will hold you to the original term.
DirecTV
Long-term contracts with early termination fees up to $20/month for each remaining month. Equipment must be returned within 21 days or face additional charges. Phone cancellation only - agents run a retention script. Many customers are confused by the AT&T divestiture - DirecTV is now a separate company from AT&T but the separation isn't clearly communicated.
Vivint Smart Home
60-month (5-year) contracts are standard. ETFs can exceed $2,000. Vivint uses financing for equipment that is separate from the monitoring contract - canceling monitoring doesn't cancel equipment payments. Moving doesn't void your contract. Vivint has faced CFPB enforcement actions for deceptive sales and contract practices.
Orangetheory Fitness
Requires 30-day written notice to cancel. In-person or mail only. No online cancel option. Members get charged for one additional month after submitting notice.
Peloton
Easy to pause but canceling requires a phone call or chat. The All-Access Membership is tied to hardware - you keep the bike but lose most functionality without it. Retention agents are persistent.
JustAnswer
Enrollment is easy but many users don't realize they've signed up for a recurring membership. The cancellation flow has multiple confirmation screens. Getting a refund requires escalation.
How we score cancellation difficulty
Each service is scored 1–10 based on five factors, each worth up to 2 points:
- Channel restriction - does it require phone, in-person, or certified mail instead of online?
- Contractual friction - are there ETFs, minimum terms, or notice periods?
- Dark patterns - is the cancel flow deliberately confusing, buried, or misleading?
- Retention aggression - how many offers, transfers, or obstacles before cancellation is confirmed?
- Post-cancellation issues - are continued billing, equipment fees, or processing delays common?
Scores are based on documented user reports, FTC/CFPB complaints, and our own cancellation testing. Updated quarterly. Last update: June 2026.