You signed up for a free trial directly on a website or inside an app. There was no obvious app store logo, no reminder, and nothing that looked like an external payment platform. Then a charge appeared.
In many cases, the free trial was actually managed by an app store account, not the service itself.
If the trial was linked to an app store, canceling it outside that store does nothing.
Why This Confusion Happens
- The signup flow does not clearly show app store billing
- The service branding hides the platform managing payment
- Email receipts come from the app store, not the service
- Account settings inside the service show no billing controls
- Users assume website cancellation applies everywhere
How to Confirm Where the Trial Is Managed
- Check your App Store or Google Play subscription list
- Review the original signup or receipt email sender
- Look for platform-specific invoice formats
- Confirm which account email is linked to the store
What to Do to Stop Future Charges
- Cancel directly inside the app store subscription menu
- Confirm the status shows “expired” or “inactive”
- Save screenshots of the cancellation confirmation
- Do not rely on website-only cancellation steps
Many unexpected free trial charges happen simply because the billing platform was misunderstood. Knowing where the subscription lives prevents repeat charges.