Roach Motel - Dark Patterns

Roach Motel

What's a roach motel? This dark pattern is usually used for subscription services. It is easy to sign up for it, but it's much harder to cancel it (i.e. you have to call customer support).

Amazon: How to cancel Audible subscription?

The process follow some of the classic patterns out of dark patterns book designed to complicate the process.

LinkedIn: How to cancel LinkedIn Premium subscription?

Canceling a subscription should be simple. But often, it’s not. The user experience design that promises ease and transparency can sometimes serve other purposes, like making it harder to cancel a service.

DoorDash: How to cancel DashPass subscription?

DoorDash DashPass subscription cancellation process. These steps reveal several dark patterns designed to make you think twice about cancelling.

HelloFresh: How to cancel HelloFresh subscription?

The Roach Motel is a common dark pattern used to trick people into subscription. HelloFresh uses this strategy to lower their cancellation rates.

Dribbble: Dark patterns in subscription cancellation

Dribbble's cancellation process, showcases classic signs of the Roach Motel pattern.

Which?: Classic usage of a Roach Motel dark pattern

"Which?" uses a classic dark pattern called the "Roach Motel" to trap its users and keep them subscribed.

Shutterstock: Terms and conditions apply

Shutterstock: Terms and conditions apply

Each industry has its own dark pattern standards. Airline websites use...

The Economist: Tricky subscription cancellation

The Economist: Tricky subscription cancellation

The Economist uses the Roach Motel dark pattern and asks users to call or text customer support services to cancel the subscription.

Scribd: Classic roach motel situation

Scribd: Classic roach motel situation

The Scribd cancellation process is one of the most classic representations of the "Roach Motel"...

The Athletic: How to cancel a subscription?

The Athletic: How to cancel a subscription?

When you try to cancel The Athletic subscription on their website, they will take you...

Dropbox: 5 step subscription cancellation process

Dropbox: 5 step subscription cancellation process

Dropbox's flow is one of the best representations of...

The New York Times: Call in to cancel your subscription

The New York Times: Call in to cancel your subscription

The New York Times "successfully" uses the Roach Motel pattern by making the subscription process very easy but the cancellation process much more complicated.