Short answer: there is no nationwide click-to-cancel rule in force. A federal court struck down the FTC’s rule in July 2025, and the FTC restarted the process in March 2026. But California has required cancellation in the same way you signed up since July 2025, and New York City’s rule took effect on 1 October 2026. Wherever you live, cancel through the same channel you joined, and keep proof.
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live and when you subscribed.
Where the rules stand
| Rule | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| FTC click-to-cancel (federal) | Struck down by the Eighth Circuit on 8 July 2025 on procedural grounds. The FTC opened a new rulemaking on 11 March 2026 (Covington, March 2026). | No federal rule in force yet. The FTC can still act against misleading subscription practices under existing law. |
| California (AB 2863) | In effect since 1 July 2025 | Cancellation must be available the same way you signed up. Free trials that convert are covered, and businesses must send an annual reminder. |
| New York State | Automatic-renewal law already in place | Clear renewal terms and a way to cancel. The city rule below builds on it. |
| New York City | In effect since 1 October 2026 | Cancelling must be at least as easy as signing up, through the same medium, with an online option even if you joined in person. Complaints at nyc.gov/click-to-cancel. |
What to do when cancelling is hard
- Use the same channel you signed up with. Joined in an app or online? Look for the cancel option there first. App Store subscriptions cancel in Settings, under your name, then Subscriptions.
- Screenshot every step, including any screen that asks you to call or chat instead.
- Ask in writing. If there is no online option, email or use a contact form: “Please cancel my subscription, account [email], effective now, and confirm in writing.”
- Keep the confirmation, and check your next statement.
- Complain if you’re blocked. In New York City, file at nyc.gov/click-to-cancel. Anywhere in the US, report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to your state attorney general.
A worked example
Demo situation: you signed up for a gym-style membership online, and the cancel page says to call during office hours. In California, a subscription you started online after 1 July 2025 has to be cancellable online too. In New York City, from 1 October 2026, the business has to offer cancellation in the same medium you used to sign up. Elsewhere, there may be no rule that forces an online option, so send your cancellation in writing and keep the email, then follow up if you’re charged again.
Why the date matters more than the law
Even the strongest rule only helps once you’ve decided to cancel. Most unwanted charges happen because the renewal date passes unnoticed. Cadora keeps your subscriptions and their renewal dates on your iPhone or iPad and reminds you before each one when notifications are on, so you can decide while there’s still time. It can’t cancel anything for you, and it doesn’t connect to your bank.
FAQ
Is the FTC click-to-cancel rule in effect?
No. The Eighth Circuit struck it down on 8 July 2025 for procedural reasons. The FTC opened a new rulemaking in March 2026, and no new final rule has been issued as of this page’s date.
When did New York City’s click-to-cancel rule take effect?
On 1 October 2026. It requires cancellation to be at least as easy as signing up, in the same medium, and New Yorkers can complain at nyc.gov/click-to-cancel.
Can a company make me call to cancel if I signed up online?
In California and New York City, cancellation has to be available the same way you signed up, so an online sign-up should have an online cancel option. Elsewhere it depends on state law; cancel in writing and keep proof.
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Khai Do is an independent iOS developer in Vietnam who builds and supports Cadora under Aquifer.