Does 23andMe have a free trial?

Occasionally, yes. 23andMe's membership terms confirm they may offer free trials of 23andMe+ from time to time. If you don't cancel before the trial ends, your card is **automatically charged** the membership fee (monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual depending on what you signed up for). Cancel at least one day before the next billing cycle in Account Settings → Manage membership.

How do I cancel a 23andMe order?

You only have **60 minutes** after placing the order. Open the order confirmation page (or the link in the confirmation email) and click **Cancel Order**. After 60 minutes the link disappears and the order ships. Note: Ancestry Service *upgrade* orders cannot be cancelled this way. If you miss the window, your only route is the 30-day refund policy for unused kits.

What happens to my data if I cancel or delete my 23andMe account?

Cancelling 23andMe+ does **not** delete your data, your account stays open and your base reports remain. To delete data, go to Account Settings → request account closure. 23andMe emails the address on file asking you to confirm; once you click confirm, deletion is **immediate, automatic and irreversible**. Deleting also auto-terminates any active 23andMe+ membership with no refund.

What if I purchased my 23andMe kit at a store like Amazon or Boots?

23andMe will not refund kits bought through authorised retailers, you have to use the retailer's own refund policy. Amazon, Walmart, Boots, Superdrug, Target, etc. all have their own return windows (typically 14 to 30 days, kit unopened). 23andMe only directly refunds purchases made at 23andme.com. Kits bought at a conference or event are also limited, only the lab fee paid to 23andMe is refundable.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Get a 23andMe Refund Within 30 Days.

Q: How long does a 23andMe refund take?

Approved refunds are processed within **21 business days** of Customer Care confirming you've met the refund conditions, and go back to the original card. If the card refund fails, 23andMe sends an email letting you redeem the value as an Amazon, Visa or other regional e-gift card. International orders paid in USD are converted at the exchange rate on the refund date, not the order date.

Inside 30 days their own policy is on your side; statutory cooling-off rights may stack on top. Outside it, you've still got tools, a clear email, a card-issuer chargeback, the lot. Here's the playbook for 23andMe.

Last verified 16 Jun 2026 against 23andMe’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

Unused kits bought directly from 23andMe can be refunded if you notify them within 30 days of the order, and before your saliva sample reaches the lab. 23andMe+ Premium memberships are explicitly non-refundable and never prorated; cancelling just stops the next renewal. Approved refunds land back on the original card within 21 business days, otherwise as an e-gift card. Kits bought from a retailer (Amazon, Boots, Superdrug, etc.) follow the retailer's policy, not 23andMe's.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails 23andMe, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

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What 23andMe actually says

“There are no refunds or credits for partially used 23andMe+ membership periods. If you cancel a membership service, you will continue to have access to the membership service until the end of the applicable membership period.”
, verbatim from 23andMe’s terms

30-day cancellation windowPro-rata refund: noStatutory cooling-off: 14 days in UK + EU on new subs

How long does a 23andMe refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

Note 23andMe’s own policy works on a 30-day window, ask inside it and the request is routine; outside it you’re relying on goodwill or statutory rights.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a 23andMe charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.
California ARL refund right
Refund if cancel was blocked or unclear.
If 23andMe made it hard to cancel under California ARL, you’re entitled to a refund of charges taken since the obstruction. Multiple class actions (including against Adobe + Hulu) have set the precedent.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, 23andMe has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where 23andMe is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United Kingdom, European Union)

United Kingdom

Section 75, Consumer Credit Act
Credit card issuer is jointly liable. £100-£30,000.
For UK credit-card charges between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with 23andMe for any breach. Call your bank, say “Section 75 claim”, send evidence. Usually resolved in 2-4 weeks.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
Full refund within the 14-day window.
Inside 14 days of starting any 23andMe subscription, you’re entitled to a full refund of any payment taken, no questions, no policy override.
Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail 23andMe can’t ignore.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day withdrawal across all EU member states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw and recover any payment within 14 days of subscription start. Mirrored in local law in every EU country.
ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If 23andMe is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

The 4-step refund email

Email the right address
Use customercare@23andme.com, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for 23andMe.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi 23andMe team,

I'm requesting a refund of the recent charge on my subscription, account [your account email].

Under the FTC's Click-to-Cancel rule, cancellation must be available through a channel as simple as the one I signed up through. Please confirm by reply that the refund will be processed to my original payment method.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for 23andMe

Only for **unused kits** bought directly from 23andMe and only if you notify them within **30 days** of placing the order AND before your saliva sample reaches the lab. 23andMe+ Premium memberships are flatly non-refundable, even for partially used periods. Approved refunds hit your original card within 21 business days; if the card can't be refunded, they offer an e-gift card instead.