Why was I charged by Guardio?

Find out what a Guardio charge is: a yearly plan, an upgrade, a hold, a second account or an App Store charge.

Most surprise charges are one of three things: a yearly plan paid in one payment, an upgrade added at sign-up, or a second Guardio account. Find the one that matches below.

To see your plan, price and next charge date:

• In the app: tap Profile (bottom right), then Subscription.
• On a computer: go to app.guard.io/settings/plan and sign in.

The amount is bigger than I expected

A yearly plan is charged once a year, in one payment. A 2-year plan is charged once every 2 years. The "per month" price you may have seen is what the plan works out to each month, not what we charge each month. Full amounts are on Plans and prices.

Other reasons:

• Prices changed in September 2026. A renewal can cost more than your last payment.
• You added an upgrade when you signed up, such as VIP, a 2-year plan or a plan for more people. See the next section.
• There's no free trial right now. Your plan starts, and is charged, when you buy it. 

I see two or three charges close together

Usually one of these:

• An upgrade you added while signing up. Right after you join, we may offer upgrades like VIP, a 2-year plan or a plan for more people. If you said yes, it's charged too, usually as the difference in price. A VIP upgrade shows as GUARDIO*VIP. If you paid by card, you may first see a pending hold for each part, then one combined charge a little later. If you paid with PayPal, the upgrade can show as its own charge.
• A temporary hold. When we check your card, or a first payment try doesn't go through, your bank may show a pending GUARDIO*AUTH or GUARDIO*AUTH HOLD. A hold isn't a charge. Your bank removes it on its own.
• Two Guardio accounts. Signing up again with a different email, phone number, or Apple or Google sign-in creates a second account with its own plan. See Find your Guardio account.

Didn't mean to add VIP? You can turn VIP off yourself.

I don't recognize this charge

On a card statement, a Guardio charge usually starts with GUARDIO* followed by the plan and a short code. Some banks shorten it, for example Guardio INDIVIDU.

Before you call your bank, check these:

• Someone in your household signed up with your card or PayPal.
• You signed up with a different email, a phone number, or Sign in with Apple (its "Hide My Email" address ends in @privaterelay.appleid.com).
• A yearly or 2-year plan renewed. We email you before these renew.
• Search your email for "Guardio" to find the receipt and the email address on the account, or your text messages if you signed up by phone.

Charges from JustAnswer, Unsubby or other "cancel it for you" services are not from Guardio. See Fake Guardio phone numbers.

I was charged after I cancelled

Cancelling stops your next renewal. If you still see a charge, it's usually one of these:

1. The charge came before you cancelled. Your protection keeps running until the end of the time you paid for.
2. You cancelled a different account. Each account bills on its own. See Find your Guardio account.
3. You deleted the app or extension. That stops the software, not the payments. To stop paying, cancel your plan.
4. You pay through the App Store or Google Play. Cancel with Apple or Google. See the next section.
5. The cancellation didn't finish. When it's done, we email you a confirmation with the date your protection ends. No email? Cancel again.

I pay through the App Store or Google Play

If the charge is from Apple or Google, they bill you, so you manage or cancel the plan with them:

• iPhone or iPad: open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, then Guardio.
• Android: open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions, then Guardio.

Good to know: Apple Pay and Google Pay are different. They're a way to pay with your card, and Guardio bills you directly. You manage those plans in Guardio.

Still not sure what a charge is?

Write to us with the date, the amount and the last 4 digits of your card, or your PayPal email, along with any phone number you may have used or email. Never send the full card number. We'll find the account and tell you what the charge is for.

If a charge still looks wrong, write to us before you contact your bank. It's the fastest way to sort it out.

Related articles

• Plans and prices
• Check your plan and renewal date
• How do I cancel my Guardio subscription?

Still need help?

Write to us through our contact form or email support@guard.io. A person from our team reads every email reply.