The FTC’s “click to cancel” rule: where easy-cancellation rights stand in 2026

Recurring charges are easy to start and, by design, hard to stop. The Federal Trade Commission’s 2024 “click to cancel” rule set out to fix that.

The rule asked three things of sellers: clearly disclose the terms before you sign up, get your express consent before charging you, and provide a way to cancel that is at least as simple as enrolling. In 2025, a federal appeals court vacated the rule on procedural grounds, so it is not currently in force. In March 2026, the FTC reopened the question with a new rulemaking and took public comment.

Protections did not vanish. The FTC can still act against deceptive cancellation practices under its general authority, and about 30 states have their own automatic-renewal laws — some as strict as the vacated federal rule. Check your own state’s rules, and confirm the current terms before you assume a subscription is easy to cancel.

This is the OwnWise lens on any recurring plan: an auto-renewing service contract or home warranty is a subscription too. Before you sign one, OwnWise helps you weigh whether it is worth it and what your existing rights and coverage already provide — so you are not paying every month for protection you may not need.