How to Cancel Your
Care.com Subscription
Paying $25-43/month for a caregiver search platform you are not actively using? Care.com's premium membership auto-renews and those monthly charges add up fast. Here is how to cancel and avoid the next billing cycle.
Quick Overview
Difficulty
MediumTime
~5 minutes
Method
Website
Cost
$25-43/month
Cancel on the Care.com Website
Log in to your Care.com account
Go to care.com and sign in with your email and password. Navigate to your account dashboard. Make sure you are logged in as the account holder, not a caregiver profile.
Go to Account Settings
Click on your profile icon or name, then select Account & Settings or Membership. Find the section that shows your current premium plan, billing amount, and next renewal date.
Find the Cancel or Downgrade option
Look for Cancel Membership, Downgrade, or Manage Subscription. Care.com may present a downgrade option to a cheaper plan first. If you want to fully cancel, look for the complete cancellation option.
Navigate the retention screens
Care.com may show you what you will lose (caregiver contact info, background checks, etc.) and offer discounts or pauses. Click through these if you want to cancel. Confirm your cancellation on the final screen.
Watch for auto-renewal traps
After canceling, verify that your subscription page shows the cancellation. Check for a confirmation email. Some users report being re-enrolled after cancellation -- monitor your bank statements for the next 1-2 billing cycles to make sure charges have stopped.
Alternative: Contact Care.com Support
Reach out to support
Visit care.com/help for contact options. You can use email, live chat, or phone support. If the website cancellation process is giving you trouble, contacting support directly can resolve things faster.
Request cancellation and confirmation
Tell the support agent you want to cancel your premium membership and stop all future charges. Ask for written confirmation via email.
Pro Tip: Watch for Sneaky Auto-Renewal
Care.com has faced criticism for auto-renewal practices. After canceling, monitor your bank or credit card statements for 2-3 months to make sure no charges slip through. If you see an unexpected charge after canceling, contact Care.com support with your cancellation confirmation and dispute the charge with your bank if needed.
What Happens After You Cancel Care.com?
Your account reverts to free
After canceling premium, your Care.com account stays active on the free tier. You can still browse caregiver profiles but lose the ability to contact them or view their full details.
You lose messaging access
Premium's main feature is the ability to message caregivers. On the free tier, you can see profiles but cannot reach out. Any ongoing conversations may become read-only.
Background check access ends
Premium includes access to background check results for caregivers. After canceling, you cannot view or order new background checks. Any previously completed checks remain in your account history.
Job postings may be affected
If you posted a job listing, it may become inactive or less visible after your premium membership ends. Caregivers may not be able to respond to your posting without your premium status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund from Care.com?
Care.com's refund policy is limited. If you cancel within a few days of being charged, contact support to request a refund. After that, refunds are generally not available. Disputing the charge with your bank is an option if you believe you were charged incorrectly.
Does Care.com keep charging after I cancel?
It should not, but some users have reported unexpected charges after canceling. Monitor your bank statements for 2-3 months. Keep your cancellation confirmation email as evidence in case you need to dispute a charge.
Can I use Care.com for free?
Yes, Care.com has a free tier that lets you create a profile, browse caregivers, and post basic job listings. You cannot contact caregivers or view background checks without premium. For some users, the free tier is sufficient to find initial leads.
What are alternatives to Care.com?
Sittercity, UrbanSitter, and local Facebook groups are popular alternatives for finding caregivers. Nextdoor also has a strong community for finding local babysitters, pet sitters, and elder care providers. Many of these have free options or lower fees.
How do I delete my Care.com account entirely?
Canceling premium is not the same as deleting your account. To fully delete your account and all data, go to Account Settings and look for a Delete Account option, or contact Care.com support to request full account deletion under data privacy regulations.
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