Cancel Chegg Subscription: Step-by-Step Guide 2023

Chegg seemed like a solid deal when you signed up—affordable textbook rentals, homework help, and maybe some test prep. But let’s be real: if you’re reading this, you’ve probably realized it’s not worth the monthly charge anymore. Whether your semester ended, you switched schools, or you just found better resources elsewhere, knowing how to cancel Chegg subscription is the first step to stopping those recurring charges from draining your account.

The good news? Canceling is straightforward. The frustrating part? Chegg doesn’t exactly advertise the cancel button like they advertise the sign-up. We’re going to walk through exactly where to find it, what to expect, and how to avoid common pitfalls that keep people paying longer than they should.

Why People Cancel Chegg (And Why It Matters)

Before we dive into the mechanics, let’s talk about why you’re here. Chegg’s subscription model is designed to be sticky—they want you to keep paying. The platform offers textbook rentals, online tutoring, essay writing tools, and exam prep, but not all of it is worth the $14.95–$19.95 monthly charge (prices vary by region and promotional offers).

Common reasons people cancel include:

• Semester ended and textbooks aren’t needed anymore
• Found cheaper alternatives (like library rentals or open-source textbooks)
• Realized they weren’t actually using the service
• Switched to a different school with different resources
• Budget constraints—student loans and part-time jobs have limits
• Concerned about academic integrity (Chegg’s essay writing feature is controversial)

The reality is that Chegg is betting on inertia. They count on students forgetting about the subscription, hoping it’ll just keep charging. By canceling proactively, you’re taking control of your money—which is exactly what you should be doing.

Before You Cancel: What You Need to Know

Here’s the real talk: there are a few things you should check before you hit that cancel button. Think of this as the pre-flight checklist.

Chegg charges on the same day each month. If you cancel mid-cycle, you’ll lose access immediately, but you won’t get a refund for the unused portion. So if you’re charged on the 15th and you cancel on the 16th, you’ve basically lost 29 days of potential access. Time your cancellation strategically—ideally right after you get charged, so you maximize the value of that payment.

If you’ve been using Chegg’s textbook rental service, make sure you’ve returned any physical books or taken screenshots/notes of anything you needed. Once your subscription cancels, your access to digital content ends immediately. This isn’t a “you have 30 days” situation—it’s instant.

If you have physical textbooks currently rented from Chegg, you’ll need to return them before or shortly after canceling. They’ll charge you for unreturned books, and that’s a separate issue from the subscription cancellation. Log in and check your account for any outstanding rentals.

Before you cancel, grab your account email, order history, and any confirmation numbers. This is helpful if you ever need to dispute a charge or if customer service asks for details.

How to Cancel Chegg on the Website

This is the most reliable method, and it takes about 5 minutes.

Go to chegg.com and sign in with your email and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the “Forgot Password” link—you’ll get a reset email within minutes.

Look for your profile icon or menu in the top-right corner. Click it. You should see options like “Account”, “Settings”, or “My Account”. Click whichever one appears. On some versions of the Chegg website, it’s labeled “Account Settings” directly.

Once you’re in Account Settings, look for a tab or link labeled “Subscription”, “Billing”, “Payments”, or “Manage Subscription”. This is where the magic happens. Click on it.

You should now see your current subscription status and plan details. There will be a button that says “Cancel Subscription”, “Cancel Plan”, or something similar. It’s usually red or highlighted to stand out (or sometimes it’s deliberately subtle—thanks, Chegg). Click it.

Chegg will ask you to confirm. They might also offer you a discount to keep your subscription (“Hey, how about 50% off for 3 months?”). If you’re certain you want to cancel, ignore the offer and proceed. You’ll likely see a confirmation message that says something like “Your subscription has been canceled” and you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Pro Tip: Take a screenshot of the confirmation page. If Chegg tries to charge you again (which occasionally happens), you’ll have proof that you canceled.

How to Cancel Chegg on Mobile App

If you primarily use Chegg on your phone or tablet, you can cancel through the app, though the process is slightly different depending on whether you’re on iOS or Android.

1. Open the Chegg app and log in
2. Tap the profile icon (usually in the bottom-right corner)
3. Scroll down and look for “Account Settings” or “Settings”
4. Tap “Subscription” or “Manage Subscription”
5. Look for a “Cancel Subscription” button or option
6. Follow the prompts to confirm

If you subscribed through the App Store (meaning Apple is handling your billing, not Chegg directly), you might need to cancel through your Apple ID settings instead:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Select “Subscriptions”
4. Find Chegg in the list
5. Tap it and select “Cancel Subscription”

1. Open the Google Play Store app
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right
3. Select “Manage subscriptions”
4. Find Chegg in the list
5. Tap it and select “Cancel subscription”

The reason the process differs is that Apple and Google handle subscriptions differently than Chegg’s own system. If you’re unsure which way you subscribed, try canceling through Chegg’s app first. If that doesn’t work, go through your phone’s app store settings.

Canceling by Phone or Chat Support

If the website or app isn’t working, or you just prefer talking to a human, Chegg has customer support options.

Log into your Chegg account on the website and look for a chat icon (usually in the bottom-right corner). Click it and explain that you want to cancel your subscription. A support agent will walk you through it. This typically takes 5–10 minutes.

Chegg’s phone support line is available, but finding the number isn’t obvious. Your best bet is to log into your account, go to the Help or Support section, and look for “Contact Us”. You’ll find the phone number there. Have your account email and subscription details ready.

According to resources on managing digital accounts, keeping records of support interactions is always smart. Write down the date, time, and name of the agent you spoke with, just in case.

Warning: If you call, be prepared for the support agent to try to convince you to stay. They’re trained to offer discounts or pause your subscription instead of canceling. Be firm if you want to cancel—don’t let them upsell you.

What Happens After You Cancel

Once you’ve successfully canceled your Chegg subscription, here’s what to expect:

Your access to Chegg’s services ends right away. If you were in the middle of reading a digital textbook, you won’t be able to access it anymore. Your tutoring credits (if you had any) are gone. This is why timing matters—you want to cancel right after you’ve gotten your money’s worth from that billing cycle.

Going forward, you shouldn’t see any more charges from Chegg on your credit card or bank statement. If you do, contact them immediately. Occasionally, billing systems glitch, but it’s rare. Your cancellation should stick.

If you change your mind next semester, you can always sign up again. Your old account information will still be there. Chegg might even offer you a promotional rate to come back (they do this frequently).

If you had rented physical textbooks, you still need to return them. The subscription cancellation doesn’t automatically handle this. Check your email for return shipping labels, or log into your account before it fully closes to arrange the return.

Refunds and Billing Questions

Here’s where people often get confused, so let’s be crystal clear.

Chegg operates on a subscription model, not a pay-as-you-go system. Once you’ve paid for a month, that money is yours to use during that month. If you cancel on day 5 of a 30-day cycle, you don’t get a refund for the remaining 25 days. This is standard for most subscription services (think Netflix, Spotify, etc.).

If Chegg continues to charge you after you’ve canceled, or if you see a charge you don’t recognize, contact your bank or credit card company. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on subscription services, you have the right to dispute unauthorized charges. Most banks will reverse the charge within 5–10 business days if you file a dispute.

If you signed up for a promotion (like “$4.95 for the first month”) and then canceled before the second month, you won’t be refunded the promotional price. You’ll only be charged for what you used. However, if you were charged full price during a promotional period, you might have grounds to contact support and ask for an adjustment.

Some support agents will suggest pausing your subscription instead of canceling it. A pause typically lasts 1–3 months and keeps your account active without charging you. If you think you might come back to Chegg, this is worth considering. But if you’re done, just cancel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chegg charge you after you cancel?

– No, not if you’ve successfully canceled. Once your cancellation is confirmed, Chegg should not charge you again. However, if you subscribed through your phone’s app store (Apple or Google), make sure you canceled through that platform’s settings, not just the Chegg app. Some users have reported being charged again because they canceled in the wrong place.

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

– Unfortunately, no. Chegg doesn’t offer prorated refunds for cancellations mid-cycle. You pay for the month, and you have access for the month. If you cancel on day 15, you lose access to the remaining 15 days, but you won’t get a refund. Plan your cancellation for right after you’re charged to maximize value.

What if I forgot my Chegg password?

– Go to the Chegg login page and click “Forgot Password”. Enter your email address, and Chegg will send you a reset link. Check your spam folder if you don’t see it within a few minutes. Once you’ve reset your password, you can log in and cancel as normal.

Will I lose my textbook if I cancel Chegg?

– Yes. If you were renting a digital textbook through Chegg, you’ll lose access immediately upon cancellation. If you rented a physical textbook, you still own it until you return it, but you need to arrange the return. Make sure to download or screenshot any important notes before you cancel.

How long does it take for Chegg cancellation to go through?

– It’s instant. Once you confirm the cancellation on the website or app, your subscription is canceled immediately, and you lose access right away. You should receive a confirmation email within minutes. If you don’t see it within an hour, check your spam folder or contact support.

Can I cancel Chegg without calling customer service?

– Yes, absolutely. The website and app both have self-service cancellation options. You don’t need to call or chat with anyone unless something goes wrong or you want to negotiate a discount. Most people can cancel in under 5 minutes using the web portal.

What if Chegg keeps charging me after I cancel?

– First, check your confirmation email to verify that you actually canceled. If you did cancel and you’re still being charged, contact Chegg’s customer support immediately with your confirmation details. If they don’t help, file a dispute with your bank or credit card company. The FTC has resources for reporting unauthorized charges.

Is there a penalty for canceling Chegg?

– No. Chegg is a month-to-month subscription, not a contract. You can cancel anytime without penalty. They might offer you a discount to stay, but there’s no fee for leaving.

Can I pause my Chegg subscription instead of canceling?

– Yes. If you think you might need Chegg again in a few months, you can pause your subscription for 1–3 months instead of canceling. This keeps your account active and your payment method on file, so reactivating is easy. Ask about this option when you contact support if you’re on the fence about canceling.

What’s the difference between canceling on the app vs. the website?

– If you subscribed directly through Chegg’s website or app, both methods work the same way. However, if you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel through that platform’s settings, not through the Chegg app itself. Canceling in the wrong place is why some people get charged again.