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Terms of Sale

SERIOUS
DATED 2026-08-03 · VERSION 20260811_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20240801_rev01

What changed, in plain language

How reviews are made

This is the first full capture of The Atlantic's Terms of Sale — the previous snapshot had no text, so the entire document shows up as new rather than as an edit to specific clauses. Nothing here appears to be a fresh restriction added by The Atlantic in August 2026; the terms are simply being recorded for the first time. The most consumer-relevant points: subscriptions you buy for yourself renew automatically, nearly all payments are non-refundable (including when you cancel mid-term), paid and free trials roll into a paid one-year subscription unless you cancel first, and The Atlantic can change prices and terms at any time. Readers in the EU, UK, Germany, and Québec get extra cancellation and refund rights.

Changes that may affect you

Auto-renewal plus a strict no-refund ruleSERIOUS
BILLING & RENEWAL

Your subscription renews on its own and charges whatever the price is at that time. If you forget and get charged, you generally cannot get the money back — the terms say all payments are non-refundable and that canceling does not earn you a refund for the time you have left. Refunds are handed out only at the company's discretion. Trials work the same way: a free or paid trial silently becomes a one-year paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends.

“EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.”

What you can do — Put a calendar reminder a few days before your renewal or trial end date, then turn off auto-renewal at accounts.theatlantic.com/accounts/details/ or by contacting Customer Care at +1 (855) 940-0585. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, cancel inside that app store instead — The Atlantic cannot do it for you.

Prices and terms can change at any timeMATERIAL
UNILATERAL CHANGES

The Atlantic can raise the price or rewrite these sale terms whenever it likes. The protection you get is limited: changes do not hit you in the middle of a term you already paid for, and you are told the new price before your renewal is charged. But your only real choice is to accept the new price or cancel.

“We reserve the right to change the terms of any of our products, including the price.”

What you can do — Read renewal notices before the charge date and cancel then if the new price is too high.

They can cut off your subscription and decide on their own whether to refundMATERIAL
TERMINATION

If a payment fails or they decide you broke the site's Terms and Conditions, The Atlantic can suspend or cancel your access. Whether you get anything back for the time you paid for is entirely up to them — there is no promised refund and no appeal process described.

“At our sole discretion, we may issue a refund or credit for the remainder of your subscription term.”

What you can do — Keep your payment method current, and contact Customer Care right away if access stops so you can ask for a credit.

No help canceling app store subscriptionsMINOR
BILLING & RENEWAL

If you bought through Apple or Google, The Atlantic's customer service cannot cancel, change, or refund it. You have to handle it yourself in the app store, which is an easy step to miss when you are trying to stop a charge.

“We are not able to initiate, amend, cancel, or refund any third-party subscription on the customer's behalf.”

What you can do — Check whether you subscribed through an app store, and cancel there through your device's subscription settings.

Québec cancellation feeMINOR
BILLING & RENEWAL

Québec readers can get money back for the unused part of a subscription, but the company can keep a cancellation fee of up to 10% of the refund, capped at CAD $50.

“However your cancellation may be subject to a cancellation fee of up to 10% of your refund amount (not to exceed CAD $50).”

Changelog

  1. + ADDEDWhole document captured for the first time

    The earlier snapshot was empty, so every line below shows as new. These are not necessarily brand-new rules — treat this as the starting point for tracking future changes.

    _**Last Updated: August 3, 2026**_

  2. + ADDEDFour subscription tiers described

    Digital, Print & Digital, Premium (ad-free), and Premium Plus (adds three shareable digital subscriptions). Standard term is one year. You can read some content without paying, but access is limited.

    We offer four different types of subscriptions, detailed below.

  3. + ADDEDSelf-purchased subscriptions renew automatically

    Unless you opt out before your renewal date, The Atlantic charges your card again at whatever price is in effect then, every one or two years depending on what you picked.

    Self-purchased subscriptions are automatically renewing, except in special circumstances.

  4. + ADDEDAll payments are non-refundable

    Written in capital letters: once you pay, you generally do not get money back, even if you cancel partway through your term. Refunds are given only if The Atlantic chooses to or the law requires it.

    EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

  5. + ADDEDPaid and free trials turn into a paid year unless canceled

    When a trial ends, a one-year auto-renewing subscription starts and you get charged. You have to cancel before the trial's end date to avoid that.

    Trials must be canceled prior to their end date to avoid being charged for a one-year subscription.

  6. + ADDEDPrices can change at any time

    The Atlantic can raise prices whenever it wants. Your current paid term is protected, but the new price applies at renewal. You get notice before the renewal charge.

    We reserve the right to alter our subscription prices at any time.

  7. + ADDEDThe Atlantic can change these terms

    Terms and prices can be changed; a material change applies to you at your next renewal or on new purchases, not mid-term.

    We reserve the right to change the terms of any of our products, including the price.

  8. + ADDEDThe Atlantic can cancel your subscription

    They can suspend or cut off access for missed payment or for breaking the site's Terms and Conditions. Whether you get any money back is entirely their choice.

    We reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise restrict access to your subscription at any time due to (i) payment failure or (ii) if you violate our

  9. + ADDEDApp Store and Google Play subscriptions must be canceled there

    If you subscribed through Apple or Google, The Atlantic's customer service cannot cancel or refund it for you — you have to do it in the app store.

    We are not able to initiate, amend, cancel, or refund any third-party subscription on the customer's behalf.

  10. + ADDEDCancel any time; access lasts through the paid term

    You can cancel from your Account page or by contacting Customer Care. You keep access (and print issues) until the end of the term you already paid for; only future charges stop.

    you will retain access to your subscription (and, where applicable, receive all purchased print products) through the end of your then-current term

  11. + ADDEDExtra rights for EU, UK, Germany, and Québec readers

    EU and UK subscribers get a full refund if they withdraw within 14 days. German subscribers can get a prorated refund with 30 days' notice. Québec subscribers can get a prorated refund, minus a cancellation fee of up to 10% (capped at CAD $50).

    you have the right to withdraw from your trial or subscription within fourteen (14) days of the date of purchase

Full text changes — 20240801_rev01 to 20260811_rev01

COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED

1_**Last Updated: August 3, 2026**_
2
3The following Terms of Sale govern the sale of digital and print subscriptions offered by The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC, 610 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. By subscribing, you agree to these terms, our [Terms and Conditions](https://www.theatlantic.com/terms-and-conditions/), and our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theatlantic.com/privacy-policy/).
4
5_If you are a subscriber located outside of the United States, please refer to the Additional Terms for Certain Jurisdictions Outside of the United States section at the bottom of this page for additional rights and information that may apply to you._
6
7**Payment & Subscriptions**
8
91. **Subscription Types** You are not required to make any purchase to access our digital products, however your access will be limited without a subscription. We offer four different types of subscriptions, detailed below. Subscriptions may be purchased for yourself or you may purchase a subscription as a gift for someone else. Self-purchased subscriptions are automatically renewing, except in special circumstances. Gift subscriptions may be purchased on an automatically renewing or one-time basis. Unless otherwise noted, each subscription term is one (1) year. All purchases are non-refundable. For more information about our subscription options, please visit our [subscription](https://accounts.theatlantic.com/products/) page
10 - _Digital_ - Digital subscriptions provide you with unlimited access to TheAtlantic.com and our iOS and Android app.
11 - _Print & Digital_ - Print & Digital subscriptions give you all the benefits of a Digital subscription as well as 12 print issues of the magazine.
12 - _Premium_ - Premium subscriptions give you ad-free web browsing on TheAtlantic.com as well as all the benefits of Print & Digital subscriptions
13 - _Premium Plus_ - Premium Plus subscriptions come with all the benefits of Premium subscriptions, as well as three additional digital subscriptions you can share with friends or family members.
142. **Subscription Billing Terms**
15 - _Automatically Renewing Subscriptions -_ Self-purchased subscriptions are automatically renewing, except in select circumstances. These subscriptions require recurring charges at regular intervals (first, when you initially subscribe and then annually or every two years depending on the option you chose at checkout). By selecting an automatically renewing subscription, you authorize us to charge you the subscription fee in effect at the time of your renewal, plus any additional taxes that may apply. You will continue to be charged at your selected interval unless, prior to your renewal date, you (i) opt out of automatic renewal by visiting your [Account](https://accounts.theatlantic.com/accounts/details/) page or by contacting our [Customer Care](https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) team; or (ii) cancel your subscription. Please refer to the Cancellation and Refunds section below for more information.
16 _One-Time Purchases_ - When you purchase a one-time, non-renewing subscription, we will charge your selected method of payment at the time of purchase. You will be charged the price displayed to you on the checkout page plus any taxes that may apply. One-time purchases are only available in select circumstances.
17 - _Gift Subscriptions_ - When giving a gift subscriptions we will charge your selected method of payment at the time of purchase. If you select an automatically renewing gift subscription, you will additionally be charged annually unless, prior to your renewal date, you (i) opt out of automatic renewal by visiting your [Account](https://accounts.theatlantic.com/accounts/details/) page or by contacting our [Customer Care](https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) team; or (ii) cancel your subscription. Please refer to the [Cancellation and Refunds]() section below for more information.
18 - _Third-Party Subscriptions_ - Subscriptions purchased through a third party are solely managed through that third party. These subscriptions are subject to the billing, cancellation, and refund terms of the third party. We are not able to initiate, amend, cancel, or refund any third-party subscription on the customer's behalf.
193. **Payment Methods** We accept all major credit cards, checks, and any other payment method made available on our subscription page (e.g. Paypal). Available payment methods may vary by location.
204. **Price Changes** We reserve the right to alter our subscription prices at any time. If you have an active subscription on the effective date of the price change, you will not be charged any additional fees for your current subscription term. You will be charged the price then in effect for any subsequent purchases. We will give you notice of the current prices before you make your purchase on our checkout page and, if you have an automatically renewing subscription, in advance of your renewal date.
215. **Unpaid Fees** If we are unable to process your payment or payment is otherwise not tendered in a timely manner we reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise restrict your subscription at our discretion. If you need to update your payment method, please contact our [Customer Care](https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) team.
22
23**Paid Trials**
24
25For those who wish to sample the subscriber experience, we offer short-term paid trials to eligible customers. Regardless of your selected subscription tier, trials afford you digital-only access to The Atlantic during the trial term. At the end of your paid trial, your year-long, automatically renewing subscription at your selected tier will automatically begin. Trials must be canceled prior to their end date to avoid being charged for a one-year subscription. Except where otherwise noted, trials are non-refundable. Trial cancellations take effect at the end of the trial term.
26
27**Promotions and Free Trials**
28
29From time to time, we may offer free, trial subscriptions. If you activate a trial subscription, you will be able to access the applicable products free of charge during your trial period. Once your trial period has ended, you will be charged the price advertised to you in your trial offer. You may cancel your trial at any time during the trial period free of charge. Except where otherwise noted, cancellations take effect at the end of the trial term.
30
31**Cancellation and Refunds**
32
331. **Cancellation by You** You may cancel your subscription at any time by visiting your Account page or by contacting our [Customer Care](https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) team. To cancel a gift subscription, please get in touch with [Customer Care](https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/requests/new). In order to avoid charges for a subsequent subscription term, all cancellations must be made before the end of the current term.
34
35 If you purchased your subscription via a third party (e.g. the Google Play Store or Apple App Store), you must cancel through that third party. We do not have the ability to cancel a third-party subscription on a customer's behalf.
36
372. **Refunds** EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. Cancellation does not entitle you to any refund or credit for the timing remaining in your subscription term, except where required by law. We reserve the right to issue refunds or credits at our sole discretion. Issuance of a refund or credit in one instance creates no obligation to issue a refund or credit in another circumstance.
38
393. **Effect of Cancellation** If you elect to cancel your subscription, you will retain access to your subscription (and, where applicable, receive all purchased print products) through the end of your then-current term. Cancellation has no retroactive monetary effect and will only cancel any scheduled future payments you may have (including any automatically renewing payments).
40
414. **Cancellation by Us** We reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise restrict access to your subscription at any time due to (i) payment failure or (ii) if you violate our [Terms and Conditions](https://www.theatlantic.com/terms-and-conditions/). At our sole discretion, we may issue a refund or credit for the remainder of your subscription term.
42
43**Changes to Terms of Sale**
44
45We reserve the right to change the terms of any of our products, including the price. If a material change is made during the course of your active subscription, the change will apply to you upon renewal of your subscription or to any purchase made on or after the date of the change.
46
47**Contact Us**
48
49If you have any questions or need to make changes to your subscription, please contact our Customer Care team:
50Phone: +1 (855) 940-0585
51Email: [\[email protected\]](https://www.theatlantic.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection)
52
53**Additional Terms for Certain Jurisdictions Outside of the United States**
54
551. **Place of Contract -** For all subscriptions, the place where services will be performed is the address provided during the purchase process.
562. **Customers Residing in the European Union and United Kingdom -** If you are a resident of the European Union or United Kingdom you have the right to withdraw from your trial or subscription within fourteen (14) days of the date of purchase.
57
58 Upon withdrawal, we will provide you with a full refund of fees paid in relation to the canceled purchase. Your digital access subscription will be canceled with immediate effect and, where applicable, you will stop receiving print copies of our magazine.
59
60 You may withdraw from your purchase by visiting your [Account](https://accounts.theatlantic.com/accounts/details/) page, or by completing this [form](https://theatlantic.com/withdrawal-form/) and emailing it to [\[email protected\]](https://www.theatlantic.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection) or mailing it to: The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC, ATTN: Subscriptions, 130 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012.
61
623. **Customers Residing in Germany -** If you are a resident of Germany, you have the right to obtain a prorated refund if you cancel your subscription or paid trial in the middle of a subscription or trial term, provided that you give us thirty (30) days notice of your intent to cancel. The refund will be the value of the remainder of your term minus the thirty day notice period.
634. **Customers Residing in Québec -** If you are a resident of Quebec, you have the right to obtain a prorated refund if you cancel your subscription in the middle of a subscription term. However your cancellation may be subject to a cancellation fee of up to 10% of your refund amount (not to exceed CAD $50).