You canceled the free trial inside the service, but a charge still appeared. From your perspective, everything looked handled. In reality, the subscription was never managed by the service itself.
This happens when the free trial is controlled by your Google Play or Apple ID, not the website or app you were using.
Canceling inside the service does not stop app store billing.
Why App Store–Managed Trials Cause Confusion
- The subscription is tied to your Google Play or Apple ID, not the service account
- Canceling on the website does not affect app store billing
- The service may show “canceled” while the store remains active
- Billing permissions are handled outside the app or dashboard
- No in-app warning explains the store-level control clearly
How to Check Who Controls Your Subscription
- Open your Google Play or Apple ID subscription settings
- Look for the service name under active subscriptions
- Check where the original free trial was started
- Confirm whether the billing owner is the app store
What to Do to Prevent Future Charges
- Cancel directly inside the app store account
- Confirm the subscription status shows “expired” or “inactive”
- Save screenshots of the store-level cancellation
- Do not rely solely on in-app cancellation messages
Many free trial charges occur because billing authority sits with Google Play or Apple, not the service itself. Understanding who controls payment prevents repeat mistakes.