How to cancel Ancestry
How to cancel an Ancestry membership or trial in Account Settings, how much notice Ancestry asks for, and the cancellation fee on some plans paid monthly.
Checked October 22, 2026
Cancel Ancestry online
- Go to Account Settings.
- Under the Membership section, find the membership and select Cancel membership or Cancel trial.
- Follow the prompts.
- Continue until you receive a cancellation confirmation number and email.
If you have more than one membership, repeat the steps for each.
Cancel Ancestry by contacting Ancestry
- Contact Ancestry customer support, as the terms say you may cancel by logging in or by contacting Ancestry.
Before you cancel Ancestry
- Monthly subscriptions: cancel at least two business days before your renewal date. Trials: at least two days before the trial ends.
- Canceling turns off automatic renewal. After expiration, your account becomes a free Registered Guest account, and your trees and DNA results remain available.
- Longer terms paid monthly can carry a fee for canceling early, capped at the lower of $25 for 6-month plans or $50 for 12-month plans, or the remaining cost. Fees differ by country site.
- For monthly-billed longer terms, canceling in the first 14 days of the first term can earn a full refund of the first month if you cancel immediately. Otherwise they are generally not refundable.
- You may be charged after canceling if you canceled close to the renewal date, have another active membership or have more than one Ancestry account.
- If Archives, Newspapers.com or Fold3 is included, access to those ends when your Ancestry membership ends.
After you cancel
Keep the confirmation email or screenshot. Then watch your bank or card for the next billing date: if Ancestry charges you again after you cancelled, ask Ancestry for a refund first, and if that fails, dispute the charge with your card. The guide to disputing a charge has the steps and the deadlines.
Questions people ask
How do I cancel my Ancestry membership?
Go to Account Settings, and under Membership select Cancel membership or Cancel trial. Follow the prompts until you get a confirmation number.
Is there a fee to cancel Ancestry?
On some semi-annual and annual memberships paid monthly, yes. The terms cap it at the lower of $25 (6-month) or $50 (12-month) in the US, or the remaining cost.
Do I lose my family tree if I cancel Ancestry?
Ancestry says canceling does not delete your trees, DNA results or account. After expiration you have a free Registered Guest account.
Why was I charged after I canceled Ancestry?
Ancestry says it can happen if you canceled too close to renewal, have another active membership, or have more than one Ancestry account.
How far ahead do I need to cancel?
Ancestry's terms say at least two business days before renewal for monthly subscriptions, and at least two days before a trial ends.
Sources
2 sources · read October 22, 2026
Every number on this page comes from help.ancestry.com and ancestry.com. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.