Practical guide
How to audit your subscriptions
A subscription audit turns scattered recurring charges into one list of deliberate decisions. The goal is not to cancel everything; it is to know what renews, what it costs annually, and why you are keeping it.
Published and updated July 10, 2026
01
Build one complete list
Review recent statements, email receipts, app-store subscriptions, and annual renewals. Record the service, current price, billing cycle, next renewal, and how it is paid.
02
Put every price on annual terms
Multiply monthly prices by 12 and quarterly prices by 4. Keep yearly prices as entered. This exposes the scale of small recurring charges without pretending they share one billing date.
03
Judge current use, not past intent
Mark when each service was last used, whether somebody in the household still depends on it, and whether a cheaper plan or bundled alternative meets the same need.
04
Choose a dated next action
Decide to keep, downgrade, cancel, or review later. Record the decision and a date instead of leaving an uncertain charge on the list indefinitely.
Worked example
Three small prices become a $663 annual decision.
Consider a $12 monthly streaming plan, a $99 yearly cloud plan, and a $35 monthly gym membership. Comparing annual cost makes their different billing cycles easier to discuss.
- Streaming: $12 × 12 = $144 per year
- Cloud storage: $99 per year
- Gym membership: $35 × 12 = $420 per year
- Combined estimated annual cost: $663
Questions for every recurring charge
- When did I last use it?
- Would I subscribe again at today's price?
- Does another service already cover the same need?
- Is a cheaper billing tier enough?
Limits of this review
Annual totals are estimates based on the prices you enter. They do not include taxes, exchange-rate changes, future price increases, cancellation terms, or financial advice. Check the provider before changing a plan.
Put the review into practice