Hi, and thank you for subscribing to 404 Media. This page is our customer service FAQ Version 1.0. We anticipate this page changing as 404 Media grows and as we learn how to best serve our readers.

If you are having any trouble with your account, please read below, but also feel free to reach out to us at support@404media.co

How do I subscribe?

Click here:

How do Paid Subscriptions Work?

You can subscribe to 404 Media at the paid tiers on a monthly or annual basis.

No matter when you cancel, you will retain access for the period you paid for. Subscription management tools are fully in your hands (more on this in the questions below). This means that you are responsible for managing your subscription, and there are no pro rata refunds for access to 404 Media. After you cancel, your access will be automatically turned off once the period you paid for expires.

How do I sign in to the website?

Go to 404media.co and click "Sign In" in the top right corner. You will be asked to enter the email you used to subscribe. When you click "Continue," the site will send a magic login link to the email you entered. 

If you are having trouble logging in, please make sure that you are not already logged in. Once you login for the first time, you will likely stay logged in for weeks or months before having to log in again on the same browser.

If you have trouble logging in please email us at support@404media.co. We have had a few people tell us they can’t login and we are trying to identify and diagnose the problem.

Can I create/use a username/password?

Currently, Ghost uses magic login links tied to email only. This is more secure than using a username/password, because we at 404 Media do not then need to store usernames and passwords. We understand there are pros and cons of using magic links, but this is currently the only way our service provider offers user logins.

Can I unsubscribe from the FREE newsletter?

You can, by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link that exists at the bottom of every newsletter we send. 

In addition, you can log in to 404media.co, click the "Account" button, and in the "Emails" box, click "Manage." At the bottom, click the big button that says "Unsubscribe from all emails." 


How do I cancel my PAID membership?

To cancel, please follow the steps below:

  • Log in to your account at 404media.co
  • Click on the Account button in the top right of the screen, and click 'Change' next to your subscription category
  • Scroll to the bottom, and click "Cancel subscription." In the next window, click "confirm cancellation."

You will retain access to the paid sections of the site for the duration of the period you paid for.

Because we strive to put control in the hands of the reader with this friction-free subscription management interface, we do not offer refunds unless there are extenuating circumstances—please email us at support@404media.co

PLEASE NOTE: If you click 'Manage' next to your email preferences and switch some or all email delivery off, this does not cancel your paid subscription. It simply stops email delivery.

Likewise, canceling your paid subscription will not unsubscribe you from the free email. See "Can I unsubscribe/cancel my free subscription?" for managing your email preferences.

Do your subscriptions auto-renew? 

Without additional intervention from you, subscriptions auto-renew at the full rate ($10/month, or $100/year), whether you subscribed at a discount or not.

If I cancel my subscription before the time I paid for runs out, will I retain access to the paid areas of the website?

Yes. You can "pre-cancel" your subscription using the subscription cancellation process above if you are concerned you will forget about the auto-renewal. You will retain access to the site through the paid period. However, you will not receive a notice about this event. You will simply stop receiving the paid-tier access at that time. Your premium podcast feed will also stop working.

Can I switch from a monthly to an annual subscription, or vice versa?

Yes, you can. Note that if you switch to an annual subscription from a monthly, you will be immediately upgraded to an annual subscription, and your year of paid access will start on the date you upgrade. That means if you have time left in the month you already paid for, it will be lost; therefore, if this concerns you, consider waiting until your current paid month has nearly or totally run out before upgrading to an annual subscription.

If you switch from an annual to a monthly subscription, you will retain access to the site through the annual period for which you paid, and then will be charged monthly after that. (This is a good solution if you are concerned about losing track of annual auto-renewal, but wish to prevent gaps in service.)

Can I give a subscription as a gift?

Do you offer group / organizational subscriptions?

Yes! But we have to do this manually. Please email support@404media.co and we’ll help your business/organization/school get set up.

Can I make a one-time contribution to 404 Media? 

I am a free subscriber, but think I am not receiving any of the emails!

We strongly recommend whitelisting the domain @404media.co in your favorite email provider. So far, we haven’t had trouble with our emails going to Spam, but this should prevent that from happening. 

I can't remember my login email!

Check the newsletters you have received to see what email address they are being delivered to. If that doesn’t work, email us at support@404media.co and we will check the backend—it is possible you signed up with a typo; we’ll do our best to help you.

I want to advertise on / sponsor / talk business with 404 Media

*FAQ adapted with permission from She’s a Beast