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Spending Limits

Set a spending limit and Privacy will decline any transactions that go over the limit

Merchant-Locked Cards

Lock Privacy Cards to the first merchant they’re used at to prevent misuse if stolen

Single-Use Cards

Create Privacy Cards that close automatically after the first purchase is made on them

Pause/Close Cards

Pause or close your Privacy Cards at any time to block future transaction attempts

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Steps and Tips To Help You Cancel ExpressVPN the Right Way

Ashley Ferraro, Product
Apr 8, 2024
 • 
10
 Min Read
Manage Your Subscription Payments With Virtual Cards

With its blazing-fast speed, robust encryption, and vast server network in 105 countries, ExpressVPN is one of the leading virtual private networks (VPNs). As of 2023, it has over 4 million active subscribers. While ExpressVPN prides itself on its user-friendly interface and exceptional customer support, you may decide to give other VPN services a try.

If you decide to cancel ExpressVPN, this guide is for you. It will outline the steps to take depending on how you purchased the service—whether via an app store, using PayPal or a credit card, or with Bitcoin or PaymentWall. You'll also learn about the company's 30-day money-back guarantee and how to request a refund.

The content in this guide is valid as of January 2024. Head to the official ExpressVPN website or contact customer support directly for updates.

An illustration of a VPN network
Source: Unsplash+

How To Cancel an ExpressVPN Subscription Purchased via an App Store

If you purchased your ExpressVPN subscription via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you need to cancel it through the respective app store as shown in the table below:

Via the Apple App Store Via the Google Play Store
  1. Open the App Store on your iOS device and sign in.

  2. Tap your profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.

  3. Select Subscriptions.

  4. Tap ExpressVPN and follow the on-screen instructions to cancel.

  1. Launch the Play Store app on your Android device.

  2. Navigate to the top right corner of the screen and tap on your profile icon.

  3. Select Payment & subscriptions.

  4. Tap Subscriptions.

  5. Select ExpressVPN and follow the on-page prompts to confirm your cancellation.

How To Cancel ExpressVPN Purchased With PayPal or a Credit Card

To cancel your ExpressVPN subscription purchased with PayPal or a credit card, follow these five steps:

  1. Log into your ExpressVPN account on any browser.
  2. Select My Subscription from the left menu.
  3. Go to Edit subscription settings.
  4. Select Turn Off Automatic Renewal.
  5. Follow the on-page prompts until you see Your subscription has been canceled.

How To Cancel ExpressVPN Purchased With Bitcoin or PaymentWall

Since an ExpressVPN subscription bought with Bitcoin or PaymentWall doesn't renew automatically, you don't need to cancel your membership manually. Once your subscription period ends, the service will stop working unless you make a new payment.

How To Request a Refund From ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to its customers. If you are not satisfied with the VPN's security, speed, or convenience, you can contact customer support via live chat or email within 30 days of purchase to request a refund. When sending your refund request, remember to include your:

  • ExpressVPN user name or email address
  • Reason for cancellation
  • Date of purchase
  • Amount paid
  • Method of payment used

ExpressVPN will credit your original payment method with the full order amount as soon as possible. However, if your subscription is billed as an in-app purchase through the App Store (iTunes), you cannot access the ExpressVPN 30-day money-back guarantee. Instead, you will have to contact Apple customer support for a refund.

A close-up photo of a hand holding a phone with a VPN service enabled
Source: Privecstasy

Why It's Recommended To Pay for Subscriptions With Virtual Cards

While cancellation issues can happen to any company, some of them may make the process intentionally difficult in the hopes of retaining you as a paying customer and prolonging your payments. 

These companies may resort to various deceptive practices, which may include:

  • Requiring you to call a hotline to cancel
  • Making you click through a maze of prompts on their website
  • Asking you to show up in person at their physical store

Even if you follow all the required steps to complete the cancelation process, in some cases, you could still get charged due to an error or technical glitch.

To avoid unwelcome subscription costs, consider using a virtual card by Privacy to pay for your subscriptions, be it another VPN like NordVPN or a magazine service like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

Linked to a real funding source, a virtual card replaces your actual financial information with temporary card numbers at checkout, adding a protective layer around your online payments. While there are several virtual card providers, very few offer comprehensive card settings like Privacy does to help you control your spending.

Put a Stop to Excessive Charges With Privacy Virtual Cards

You can connect your debit card or bank account to Privacy and generate multiple virtual cards to make purchases on various websites, including subscriptions such as Shopify, Dropbox, Xbox Game Pass, and LA Fitness

Privacy lets you request and generate two types of virtual cards—Single-Use and Merchant-Locked. Discover in the table below how these cards function and what you can use them for: 

Virtual Card Type  Purpose of Use
Single-Use It closes moments after you complete your first transaction. You can use it for one-time transactions and purchases on unfamiliar websites whose security practices you haven't verified yet.
Merchant-Locked It "locks" to the first vendor you use it on and can be used repeatedly for purchases at that particular merchant. You can use it for recurring payments such as subscriptions like Adobe, Apple Music, and Microsoft services. 

Privacy Cards also have features that help you manage subscription payments. You can pause or close the linked card when stopping subscriptions, and Privacy will decline all transactions on the said card. This feature allows you to focus on the cancellation process without worrying about unwelcome charges. Privacy Cards also let you set spending limits on them to avoid overcharging—Privacy will block all charges that exceed your pre-set amount. 

A photo of a black leather wallet with payment cards sticking out of it
Source: Maria_Domnina

Privacy Virtual Cards—Easy To Use and Manage

Privacy's virtual cards are easy to create, use, and manage thanks to the browser extension and mobile app. The Privacy Browser Extension, available for Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge, auto-populates your virtual card numbers at checkout, making your transactions fast and seamless. You can also enjoy the autofill experience on your iPhone or iPad with the Safari iOS extension

Once you install the Privacy mobile app on your Android or iOS device, you can create new cards and manage existing ones on the go.

How To Get Privacy Virtual Cards

You can get your Privacy Virtual Cards in four easy steps:

  1. Create an account
  2. Fill out the information needed to verify your identity
  3. Link your bank account or debit card
  4. Request your virtual cards

Privacy lets you choose from three plans, including a Personal plan that's free for domestic transactions, comes with 12 virtual cards, and has the above-explained benefits. Choose the paid plans—Pro ($10/month) or Premium ($25/month)—if you need additional cards (up to 60 cards per month) and features such as:

  • Fee-free foreign transactions
  • Priority support
  • 1% cashback on eligible purchases (totaling $4,500 a month)
Privacy — Seamless & Secure Online Card Payments
Checkout securely online by creating unique virtual card numbers for every purchase. Avoid data breaches, unwanted charges, and stolen credit card numbers.
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