Do this first: cancel the renewal
A refund request doesn't stop the subscription. Go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions, tap the app, and tap Cancel Subscription, so you aren't charged again next period. Our guide to canceling a signing app subscription has the details.
How to request a refund from Apple
Go to reportaproblem.apple.com
Open it in Safari on your iPhone or on a computer. Sign in with the Apple Account that paid the charge.
Choose Request a refund
Tap I'd like to. Then tap Request a refund.
Pick a reason
Choose the reason that fits, for example that you didn't mean to subscribe or renew. Then tap Next.
Select the charge and submit
Pick the app subscription from the list and tap Submit. Apple says to wait 24 to 48 hours for an update on your request.
What to expect
Apple reviews each refund request and decides. Apple's help page says some purchases might be eligible and that eligibility can vary by country or region, so a refund isn't guaranteed. The app developer can't approve or refund an App Store charge themselves, because the money went through Apple.
If Apple approves the refund, the money can take extra time to show up on your card or bank statement. If the charge doesn't appear on reportaproblem.apple.com at all, check your receipt email. If it isn't from Apple, you paid the company directly and need to ask them.
How to avoid it next time
- ✓When you start a trial, set a reminder for two days before it ends. Apple advises canceling at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
- ✓Check Settings → your name → Subscriptions once in a while. It lists every App Store subscription and its renewal date in one place.
- ✓Read the price line on the subscribe screen: what it costs after the trial, and whether it's weekly, monthly, or yearly.
- ✓If you only need an app once, look for a one-time purchase instead of a trial that renews.
If you only needed to sign one document
Many signing-app trials start because someone emailed a PDF that needed a signature today. For a simple one-page form, Apple's free Markup may be enough. Our guide to signing a PDF on iPhone shows how, and when the signature doesn't show on the other person's computer.
If the document came through a DocuSign email, you usually don't need any app at all: you sign from the link. See the DocuSign alternative guide for when you do.
For longer forms with dates, initials, and checkboxes, eSign PDF is a one-time purchase with no trial to remember and nothing that renews.
If you only sign now and then
eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US): lifetime, no trial that turns into a subscription. No account, nothing uploaded. It flattens every PDF, so your signature shows everywhere.
FAQ
Can the app company give me a refund?+
Not for an App Store purchase. Apple handles the billing, so you request the refund from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
How long does an Apple refund take?+
Apple says to wait 24 to 48 hours for an update on your request. If it's approved, the money can take longer to reach your card or bank.
Will Apple definitely refund me?+
No one can promise that. Apple reviews each request, and eligibility can vary by country or region.
I canceled the trial but was still charged. Why?+
Apple advises canceling at least 24 hours before a trial ends. If you canceled later than that, the renewal may already have gone through. Request a refund and explain what happened.
Is there a signing app without a trial or subscription?+
Yes. eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US). It signs and fills PDFs on your iPhone with no account.