How is the billing & payment of Storytel?
Reviewers overwhelmingly report serious issues with Storytel’s billing and payment system, with 203 negative mentions compared to just 2 positive ones. The overall sentiment has remained consistently poor, with average ratings hovering below 2 stars across most months in 2025 and 2026. While there was a slight improvement in early 2026, with ratings rising to 2.15 stars in March, the trend quickly reversed, dropping back to 1 star in August. Customers frequently describe the billing process as deceptive, citing misleading free trial offers, unexpected charges, and difficulty canceling subscriptions. Many report being charged without clear warnings, even after canceling, and claim they were unable to access their accounts despite payment. The frustration is compounded by technical issues, such as payment failures and account errors, which further erode trust in the system.
What customers praise
Only two reviews mention any positive aspects of Storytel’s billing system. One reviewer acknowledges the app’s functionality despite the billing issues, and another notes the availability of a 20% discount for subscribers. However, these points are overshadowed by the overwhelming negative feedback, and no praise relates directly to transparency, ease of cancellation, or clear billing communication.
What customers said:
- „As a subscriber, you get a "discount" of 20%“
- „So I get the app and i open it and why is there a Netflix logo?“
Common complaints
Customers repeatedly report being misled by the free trial offer, which they say leads directly to a high-cost subscription with no clear warning before billing. Many claim they were charged without consent or notification, even after canceling. The inability to cancel within the app and the need to go to the website are frequently cited as major frustrations. Several users report being unable to access their accounts despite paying, with messages stating their account doesn’t exist. Others describe the payment process as a scam, citing unauthorized charges and failed transactions.
What customers said:
- „Once the first 15 hours have been used up, there is no “warning” or notification before…“
„Once the first 15 hours have been used up, there is no “warning” or notification before being billed for a monthly subscription“
- „paying renewal without warning.“
- „Despite having the premium plan (not just the required, standard plan), there is no way…“
„Despite having the premium plan (not just the required, standard plan), there is no way for me to play without changing my payment method.“
How it has changed over time
The billing experience has shown little improvement over time. Ratings remained below 2 stars from September 2025 through August 2026, with only minor fluctuations. The highest rating, 2.15 stars, occurred in March 2026, but this was followed by a sharp drop to 1 star in August. The pattern suggests that while there may have been brief periods of slight improvement, the core issues, misleading trials, hidden charges, and poor cancellation processes, have persisted. The lack of sustained progress indicates that systemic problems remain unresolved.
What customers said:
- „Netflix- this is a dumb error code, and it should be a simple fix.“
- „I am also can sing the subscription“
- „I set the app to English only, but still it has a mix of English and Spanish“
Practical takeaways
Given the widespread complaints, users should avoid signing up for Storytel’s free trial unless they are prepared to pay a high rate. It is essential to cancel before the trial ends and to do so through the website, not the app, as in-app cancellation is reportedly unreliable. Users should monitor their payment methods closely and be ready to dispute charges if unauthorized. The app’s technical issues, including account access failures and payment errors, suggest that even paying does not guarantee service. For most, the risks outweigh the benefits.
What customers said:
- „I am not getting any success“
Over time
Data as table
| Month | Avg. rating | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | 1.29 | 7 |
| 2025-10 | 1.25 | 8 |
| 2025-11 | 2.00 | 11 |
| 2025-12 | 1.42 | 12 |
| 2026-01 | 1.80 | 5 |
| 2026-02 | 2.13 | 8 |
| 2026-03 | 2.15 | 13 |
| 2026-04 | 1.50 | 4 |
| 2026-05 | 2.06 | 16 |
| 2026-06 | 1.71 | 7 |
| 2026-07 | 1.42 | 12 |
| 2026-08 | 1.00 | 4 |
Sentiment over time
Data as table
| Month | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 7 |
| 2025-10 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 8 |
| 2025-11 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 11 |
| 2025-12 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 12 |
| 2026-01 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 5 |
| 2026-02 | 0% | 13% | 88% | 8 |
| 2026-03 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 13 |
| 2026-04 | 25% | 0% | 75% | 4 |
| 2026-05 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 16 |
| 2026-06 | 14% | 0% | 86% | 7 |
| 2026-07 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 12 |
| 2026-08 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 4 |
Customer voices
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„my time is up, and i need to pay more, which is a plain lie“
„I only took the free trial and cancelled instantly after“
„I got free 100 hours and canceled the subscription ahead of time so the subscription was cancelled immediately and I lost the remaining hours also.“
„After paying money, Google play doesnt show it.“
„This app has been taking money from me“
„This site is a scam, and has somehow got my details and is stealing from me“
„IT TRIED TO FORCE PAYMENT WITH NO LIKE OFFER JUST FULL ON FORCE PAYMENT“
„made me pay 20 dollars a month“
Cite this page
Citatio (2026). Storytel Billing & payment: customer reviews 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026 from https://citatio.ai/storytel-reviews/billing/
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