Adobe is one of the most popular software providers for illustration, animation, photo editing, and other graphic arts. The company offers various subscription-based products to suit different creatives' needs. These products include individual software like Photoshop and Illustrator, and the Adobe Creative Cloud, which provides access to all tools at once. 

While Adobe is a standard choice for professionals, there are other alternatives you may want to try out. If you ever decide to switch to a different solution, this guide will teach you how to cancel an Adobe subscription for different services. You will also learn how to protect your account from unwanted subscription charges during or after the cancellation process.

The information presented in this article is valid as of December 2023. For more recent updates, visit the official Adobe website or contact the company’s customer support.

Step-By-Step Process for Canceling Adobe Creative Cloud on Your Computer

You can end Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions via your computer in two ways:

• Through the Adobe website
• In the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app

The table below gives you step-by-step instructions for both methods:

How To Cancel an Adobe Express Subscription

Adobe Express is one of the company’s more accessible and affordable graphic design tools. If you decide to terminate your paid Adobe Express account, here’s how you can do it via your computer browser:

1. Visit the official Adobe website.
2. Sign into your account.
3. Open the Manage Plan section.
4. Choose your Adobe Express subscription.
5. Click Cancel Your Plan.
6. Follow any on-screen instructions.

How To Cancel an Adobe Plan via Customer Support

If you don’t want to go through the regular cancellation process, you can also terminate your Adobe subscription by contacting customer support:

1. Visit the official Adobe website from your desktop or mobile browser.
2. Open the Contact Us page.
3. Choose Account & Billing Issues.
4. Fill out the contact form, including information such as your email address and Adobe ID.
5. Submit the message.

What Happens After Cancelling an Adobe Subscription? 

Depending on the specifics of your Adobe plan, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund after terminating the subscription. Your eligibility depends on whether you have a monthly or a yearly subscription and, in the latter case, how many months you have left.

The table below provides more details regarding refunds for different Adobe subscriptions:

After canceling your subscription, your Adobe premium account will revert to a free one—granting you access to limited versions of some apps and 2 GB of storage.

If you have more than 2 GB of files in your Adobe cloud storage when you terminate your subscription, you have 30 days to download your files and remove them from the cloud. After the 30-day window, some or all of your files may be deleted.

Why Subscription Cancellations Can Be Challenging

According to some users, canceling Adobe might not always go smoothly. For example, one reviewer claimed they had difficulties finding the Cancel Plan option. If you experience a similar issue, you’ll have to contact their customer support team to cancel your plan. 

Troubles when canceling subscription-based services are not uncommon, although most of the issues are a result of a genuine mistake or miscommunication. However, some companies may use various techniques to stop you from canceling or to prolong the cancellation process.

These companies may not respond to customer queries about cancellation or may add extensive questionnaires and other needless steps to make canceling frustrating. In such cases, the process may be prolonged enough so that you end up paying for another month or more for a subscription you no longer want.

To protect yourself from accidental charges, consider paying for your subscriptions with Privacy Virtual Cards. You can use these cards for various subscription-based platforms, including streaming services (like HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and Netflix), fitness memberships (like Peloton, Walmart, and Planet Fitness), gaming platforms (Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus), and news platforms (New York Times, Wall Street Journal). 

Virtual cards are connected to your bank account or payment card but replace your financial information with randomly generated card numbers at checkout, adding a layer of security around your online transactions.

Virtual card providers like Privacy also offer comprehensive spending control features that can help you avoid potential unexpected charges from subscription services.

Stop Unwelcome Subscription Charges With Privacy Virtual Cards

Privacy Virtual Cards can help protect your debit card or bank account from excessive charges that merchants may impose on you inadvertently or deliberately. 

You can generate two types of virtual cards with Privacy:

• Single-Use Cards—These cards close automatically shortly after you complete a transaction. You can use them on unfamiliar websites or those you don’t plan on visiting again.
• Merchant-Locked Cards—These cards can be charged by only one merchant, making them useful for subscription services and other recurring charges.

Privacy Virtual Cards provide various ways to manage your subscription payments. You can pause or close your Merchant-Locked Cards to stop subscription services from charging you during the cancellation process or after it is completed. Privacy will decline all transactions on a paused or closed card.

You can also set spending limits on your Privacy Cards. Privacy will decline all charges that exceed the preset limit, helping you define how much online merchants and subscription services can charge you and allowing you to manage your spending more effectively.

Control Your Online Subscriptions With Privacy

To start using Privacy, follow these four easy steps:

1. Register an account
2. Provide the information needed to verify your identity
3. Connect a funding source
4. Request and generate your first Privacy Virtual Card

Privacy Virtual Cards are issued by Mastercard^® and Visa^®, so they are compatible with most U.S. merchants and websites that accept these payment methods, including various online subscriptions like YouTube Premium, LinkedIn Premium, Tinder Gold, and others. 

Once you become a Privacy user, you’ll gain access to a browser extension that autofills checkout fields with your virtual card numbers and saves you from reaching for your wallet or memorizing card numbers. The extension is available on Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Safari for iOS, and Edge. Privacy also has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, allowing you to create and manage virtual cards on the go.

Privacy offers three plans. The Personal plan is free for domestic transactions and provides access to the Privacy Browser Extension, subscription management features, and the mobile app. You can generate up to 12 virtual cards per month with this plan.

There are also two paid plans—Pro ($10 per month) and Premium ($25 per month). The paid subscriptions provide additional benefits, including:

• Priority support
• 1% cashback on eligible purchases (totaling up to $4,500 per month)
• No fees on foreign transactions