How to Cancel Your
The Athletic Subscription
Cancel The Athletic in under 2 minutes. Here are the exact steps, whether you subscribed through the website, the New York Times, or an app store.
Quick Overview
Difficulty
EasyTime
~2 minutes
Method
Website or App
Refund
No refunds
Cancel The Athletic on the Website
Sign in to your account
Go to theathletic.com or nytimes.com and sign in. Since The Athletic is owned by The New York Times, your subscription may be managed through the NYT account system depending on when you signed up.
Go to Account Settings
Click your account icon or username in the top-right corner. Select Account or Subscription Overview from the dropdown menu to access your subscription management page.
Find Manage Subscription
Look for the Subscription tab or section. Click Manage Subscription to view your current plan details, billing information, and cancellation options.
Click Cancel Subscription
Click Cancel subscription and follow the prompts. The Athletic may present retention offers or ask for a reason. Confirm your cancellation, and your access will continue until the end of your current billing period.
Subscribed Through Apple or Google?
If you subscribed to The Athletic through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel through those platforms. The website will not have a cancel option for app store subscriptions.
Cancel via iPhone / iPad
- 1. Open Settings on your iPhone
- 2. Tap your name at the top (Apple Account)
- 3. Tap Subscriptions
- 4. Tap The Athletic or New York Times
- 5. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm
Cancel via Android
- 1. Open the Google Play Store app
- 2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
- 3. Tap Payments & subscriptions
- 4. Tap Subscriptions then The Athletic
- 5. Tap Cancel subscription and confirm
What Happens After You Cancel The Athletic?
Access continues until your billing period ends
After canceling, you keep full access to all The Athletic content, including articles, podcasts, and live coverage, until the end of your current billing cycle.
Articles become paywalled
Once your billing period ends, you will no longer be able to read subscriber-only articles. The Athletic operates behind a paywall, so most of their in-depth sports coverage requires an active subscription.
Your account is preserved
Canceling does not delete your account. Your saved articles, preferences, favorite teams, and comment history are all preserved. If you resubscribe later, everything will be exactly as you left it.
Check if it affects your NYT bundle
If you have The Athletic as part of a New York Times All Access bundle, canceling The Athletic alone may not be possible. You may need to modify or cancel the entire NYT bundle to remove The Athletic access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Athletic the same as The New York Times?
The Athletic is owned by The New York Times but operates as a separate sports journalism platform. Depending on when you subscribed, your account may be managed through The Athletic directly or through the NYT account system. Some subscribers have it as part of the NYT All Access bundle.
Will I get a refund if I cancel The Athletic?
The Athletic does not typically offer refunds for partial billing periods. Your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle. You will not be charged again after that date.
How much does The Athletic cost?
The Athletic subscription pricing varies. Standalone plans are typically available as monthly or annual options. The Athletic is also included in the NYT All Access bundle. Pricing and promotional offers may vary based on your region and subscription history.
Can I cancel if I subscribed through a NYT bundle?
If you have The Athletic as part of a New York Times All Access subscription, you cannot cancel The Athletic separately. You would need to modify or cancel the entire NYT bundle through your NYT account settings at nytimes.com.
Can I resubscribe to The Athletic later?
Yes. You can resubscribe at any time through theathletic.com, the mobile app, or as part of a NYT bundle. Your account data, saved articles, and team preferences will still be there. You may also find promotional pricing for returning subscribers.
Related Cancellation Guides
Track The Athletic & All Your
Subscriptions in One App
Subcut reminds you before charges hit, tracks every billing date, and gives you one-tap access to cancellation guides. All without connecting your bank.
Download Subcut FreeThat Netflix you forgot? Still charging you. Find out what else is.