These days, subscription services are everywhere… streaming, software, food delivery, shopping perks, fitness apps, you name it. And since most of them are only a few bucks a month, it’s easy to sign up and forget about them. But over time, those small charges start stacking up in ways you don’t notice… until your bank balance starts feeling tighter than it should. This guide covers how to save money on online subscriptions by helping you track what you’re paying for, spot waste, and cut out the ones you don’t need.
This article walks you through how to zoom out and get a clear picture of what you’re spending on subscriptions, how to cut what you don’t need, and how to put that money to better use. If you’ve ever looked at your bank statement and thought, “Wait, I’m still paying for that?” then this one’s for you.
Why subscriptions quietly drain your wallet
Subscription-based services have become the norm. From the moment you sign up for a streaming platform or a software tool, you’re committing to an ongoing cost… even if you forget about it later. This is intentional. Businesses love subscriptions because they bring in recurring revenue, and consumers often don’t notice the impact right away.
In the past decade, the rise of software-as-a-service (SaaS) has accelerated. Instead of buying software once and owning it for life, users now pay monthly or annually for access. This model has become the foundation for some of the biggest tech companies in the world… think Adobe, Microsoft, and countless smaller platforms. It’s a predictable revenue stream for businesses, but for consumers, it often means accumulating dozens of small charges with no clear end point.
That “just $9.99 per month” approach is designed to fly under your radar. You barely feel it month to month, but when you add up every small charge across all your accounts, the total becomes significant. The issue is compounded by the fact that many people simply forget which services they’re subscribed to.
Most people underestimate their subscription spending
According to a 2022 survey by C+R Research, the average American believes they spend about $86 per month on subscriptions. In reality, the actual average was closer to $219 per month… more than double what people thought. That $133 gap represents charges that are often ignored, overlooked, or unknown altogether.
Here are a few key findings from the study:
- 42% of people said they’re still paying for subscriptions they no longer use.
- 74% admitted they find it easy to forget about recurring charges.
- Nearly one-third didn’t realize they were subscribed to certain services until reviewing their finances.
Subscriptions quickly add up across categories
Once you start listing all your subscriptions, it’s easy to see how they stack up. Most people have a few entertainment subscriptions, plus one or two for music, a retail membership, and possibly more for gaming, cloud storage, fitness, or niche services.
| Category | Common services | Est. monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming video | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ | $15–$45 |
| Music | Spotify, Apple Music | $10–$20 |
| Gaming | Xbox Game Pass, PS Plus | $10–$20 |
| Retail memberships | Amazon Prime, Walmart+ | $10–$15 |
| Fitness & wellness | Peloton, Apple Fitness+ | $10–$30 |
| Cloud/software | iCloud, Microsoft 365, Adobe | $5–$60+ |
With just a few subscriptions in each category, you could easily be spending over $2,000 a year. And if you’re only using half of them regularly, that’s a lot of wasted money that could be working for you instead.
How to save money on online monthly subscriptions
If you’re trying to figure out how to save money on online monthly subscriptions, the first thing you need is a clear view of what you’re actually paying for. Most people don’t realize how many recurring charges are quietly draining their accounts. Before you can start cutting costs, you have to know where your money is going each month.
Audit what you’re actually paying for
The first step to cutting down subscription waste is doing a full audit of what you currently pay for. This doesn’t have to be a tedious or overly technical process. It’s just about getting visibility into what’s quietly pulling money from your account every month, and deciding whether it’s worth it.
Most people are surprised by what they find during this step. You might uncover charges for an app you forgot, a trial you meant to cancel, or an annual renewal you didn’t plan for. It’s not about blame, it’s about clarity and control.
Check your bank and credit card statements
Start by reviewing the last two or three months of bank and credit card activity. Highlight any recurring charges, even the small ones. Look for odd totals like $1.99, $9.99, $12.99, or $14.99 and amounts that are typical for subscriptions. If you see something unfamiliar or vague, search for the company name online to identify the service.
Aside from checking your bank and credit card statements, don’t forget to check any other places where you could be getting charged for subscription services like PayPal or Apple Pay.
This manual review gives you a clear list of what’s active. It’s also a good way to find quarterly or annual subscriptions you might otherwise overlook.
Search your email for receipts and renewal notices
Your email inbox is another place to look for forgotten subscriptions. Use search terms like “subscription,” “renewal,” “receipt,” or “thank you for your payment.” Most services send automated emails when your plan renews or bills your card, and this can uncover subscriptions you aren’t actively using.
You may also find trial periods that quietly converted into paid plans. These are common with streaming services, cloud storage, and premium app features.
Maybe even try a subscription tracking app
If you want a more automated approach, there are apps that will analyze your transactions and detect subscriptions. Rocket Money, Truebill, Bobby, and Mint all offer some form of subscription tracking.
These tools can be helpful, especially if you want regular monitoring, but they do require connecting your financial accounts. They also assume that you have enough subscription services to warrant an entire additional app just to manage them. This new app may also come with it’s own costs.
For a quick overview of where you stand, try our subscription saver tool – it let’s you quickly and easily put all your monthly subscriptions in one place, see how much you’re spending, and also how much you can save by cutting various ones out. Figure out the damage all in one place without having to download an app.
Some people prefer to avoid these apps for privacy reasons and stick to manual tracking with something like a spreadsheet. Both methods work but what matters is getting everything listed in one place so you can evaluate it clearly.
Decide what stays and what goes
Once you’ve identified all of your active subscriptions, the next step is figuring out which ones are truly worth keeping. The goal isn’t to cancel everything, it’s to trim the fat and hold onto what actually brings value to your daily life. This step can make a noticeable impact on your budget without making you feel deprived.
Start by asking yourself a few honest questions about each subscription. How often do you use it? Do you look forward to it, or has it become something you ignore? Would you even notice if it disappeared tomorrow? These are the kinds of questions that help cut through the noise and get to what matters.
Simple rules for evaluating subscriptions
- Do you use it at least weekly? If the answer is no, you probably don’t need it.
- Would you miss it if it were gone? If not, cancel it and move on.
- Is there a cheaper or free alternative? Consider downgrading or switching platforms.
- Was it part of a forgotten trial? If yes, cancel immediately and consider setting calendar reminders for future trials.
It also helps to group your subscriptions by category. Are you paying for three video platforms but only using one regularly? Is there overlap between music and podcast apps? Often, you’ll find redundancy that’s easy to eliminate without changing your lifestyle much at all.
Make it a goal to cut at least one or two subscriptions immediately. Then, revisit your list every couple of months to keep things clean and intentional. You’re not trying to strip everything down, you’re just making sure your money is aligned with what you actually use.
Reallocate your savings to something smarter
Once you’ve cut the subscriptions you don’t need, don’t let that extra money just sit in your checking account. Reallocate it toward something that improves your financial situation. Even small amounts, redirected consistently, can lead to real progress over time.
If you canceled $40 per month worth of unused subscriptions, that’s $480 per year you can now put to better use. Maybe that goes into a high-yield savings account, an emergency fund, or your first investment account. You don’t need a huge income to start building wealth, you just need consistency and a plan.
Use compound interest to grow your savings
One of the smartest things you can do with your newfound savings is invest it. Even small monthly contributions add up when you take advantage of compound interest. Let’s say you invest that same $40 per month at an average 8% return. After 10 years, you’d have over $7,000 – just from canceling things you didn’t really use.
Use our compound interest calculator to see how much your trimmed subscription money could grow over time.
It’s not about cutting things just to save, it’s about freeing up cash and giving it a job that works for you. That’s how you start to take control of your money instead of letting small, forgotten expenses control you.
Conclusion
Online subscriptions can make life more convenient, but they can also sneak up on your budget if you’re not paying attention. By taking the time to audit your services, cancel the ones you don’t use, and redirect that money toward savings or investments, you take real control of your finances.
If even after reading this article you’re still struggling with how to save money on online monthly subscriptions, the answer isn’t about giving everything up, it’s about being intentional with what you keep.