For most subscriptions, cancelling means “do not renew” rather than “stop now”. You keep access until the end of the period you have already paid for, and then it lapses. That is normal and it is not a mistake on your part.
The usual sequence
- You cancel. The service confirms it will not renew.
- Access continues until your current period ends.
- On the renewal date, no new charge is made.
- The subscription drops off your statements from then on.
Why a charge can still appear
- You cancelled after the renewal already processed — the next cycle stops it.
- You cancelled in the wrong place (for example on a website when an app store was the biller), so it never actually cancelled.
- A separate subscription with the same company is still active.
How to be sure it worked
A confirmation email is a good sign, but the real proof is the absence of the charge on your next statement or two. Until a full billing cycle has passed with no charge, treat the cancellation as pending rather than done.