Parent's Guide to Managing Kids' Subscriptions

Updated February 2026 · 9 min read

The average family with kids spends $67/month on subscriptions the kids signed up for — and most parents don't know about half of them. Here's how to find and fix it.

The Hidden Cost of Kids' Subscriptions

Your kid asked for Roblox Premium "just this once." Then came Fortnite Crew, Discord Nitro, Spotify, and a handful of gaming subscriptions you've never heard of. Each one seems small — $5 here, $12 there — but they add up to hundreds per year.

The problem isn't that kids want things. It's that modern platforms make subscribing frictionless and canceling confusing. Your 12-year-old can sign up for a subscription in 10 seconds. Finding and canceling it takes you 20 minutes.

Most Common Kids' Subscriptions (and What They Cost)

Service
Monthly Cost
How Kids Sign Up
Roblox Premium
$6–$22
In-app purchase
Fortnite Crew
$12
In-game store
Discord Nitro
$10
App/website
YouTube Premium
$14
Google account
Spotify Premium
$11
App Store
Minecraft Realms
$4–$8
In-game
Apple Arcade
$7
App Store
Xbox Game Pass
$10–$18
Console/app
Nintendo Switch Online
$4–$8
eShop
Crunchyroll
$8–$15
Website/app
Paramount+ (w/ Nickelodeon)
$6–$13
App/website
Amazon Kids+
$5–$10
Amazon account

Total if your kid has all of these: $97–$159/month ($1,164–$1,908/year). Most families have 3-5 of these running simultaneously.

Step 1: Find Every Subscription

Check Your Bank Statement

The fastest way to find every subscription — yours and your kids' — is to look at your bank and credit card statements. Upload them to JustCancel and it'll identify every recurring charge in under 90 seconds.

Check Apple Family Sharing

Check Google Family Link

Check Gaming Consoles

Step 2: Cancel What They Don't Use

Once you've found everything, ask your kids one question: "When did you last use this?" If the answer is more than 2 weeks, cancel it. They can always re-subscribe later.

Use our cancel guides for step-by-step instructions:

Step 3: Set Up Parental Controls

Prevent Future Surprise Subscriptions

Use a Virtual Card for Kids' Spending

Services like Privacy.com or your bank's virtual card feature let you create a card with a spending limit specifically for your kid's subscriptions. Set it to $20/month and they physically can't exceed it.

Step 4: Have the Money Conversation

The most effective long-term strategy is teaching kids about subscription costs. Show them:

The "Subscription Allowance" Method

Give your child a fixed subscription budget — say $25/month. They choose what to subscribe to within that limit. Want Discord Nitro ($10) and Spotify ($11)? Great, you have $4 left. Want Fortnite Crew ($12) too? Something has to go.

This teaches budgeting and prioritization. And when they want something new, they learn to evaluate whether it's worth dropping something they already have.

Not Sure What Your Family Is Paying For?

Upload your bank statement and find every subscription in under 90 seconds. See which ones your kids signed up for — and get cancel links for each one.

Scan Your Statement — $5 One-Time →

440+ cancel guides included · Files deleted after scan

FAQ

How do I see what subscriptions my child has signed up for?

Check Family Sharing (Apple) or Google Family Link settings to see all subscriptions. Also review your bank/credit card statements for recurring charges — upload them to JustCancel to automatically find every subscription.

Can my child sign up for subscriptions without my permission?

Yes, if they have access to a payment method. Kids can use saved credit cards, gift cards, or carrier billing to subscribe. Enable "Ask to Buy" (Apple) or purchase approval (Google) to require your approval for any purchase.

How do I cancel Roblox Premium for my child?

Go to roblox.com → Settings → Subscriptions → Cancel Renewal. If subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, cancel through your device's subscription settings instead. See our full Roblox cancellation guide.

What are the most common subscriptions kids sign up for?

The most common are Roblox Premium ($6-22/mo), Fortnite Crew ($12/mo), YouTube Premium ($14/mo), Spotify ($11/mo), Discord Nitro ($10/mo), Minecraft Realms ($8/mo), and various gaming battle passes.

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