Subscription Spending Statistics (2026): How Much Are You Really Paying?

Updated February 2026 · 8 min read

The subscription economy is worth over $275 billion and growing. But how much of that is coming out of your pocket? We compiled the latest data from CNET, Bango, Self Financial, and C+R Research to give you the full picture.

How Much Do Americans Spend on Subscriptions?

According to a CNET survey of 2,440 U.S. adults (2024), the average American spends $91 per month on subscription services. That's $1,092 per year — more than many people spend on groceries in two months.

A follow-up CNET survey in 2025 found spending remained high, with 61% of subscribers rethinking their subscriptions due to economic pressure — but few actually cutting back enough to make a dent.

Self Financial's 2025 study found a lower average of $37/month, down from $40.39 in 2024 and $52.97 in 2023 — suggesting some consumers are cutting back, even as total industry revenue climbs.

How Many Subscriptions Does the Average Person Have?

The numbers vary by study, but the range is consistent:

• 5.4 subscriptions per person (Bango, 2025)
• 2.8 active paid subscriptions per person (Self Financial, 2025 — down from 4.1 in 2024)
• 12 recurring charges when including all recurring payments like insurance, gym memberships, and software (C+R Research)

The discrepancy matters: most people think they have 3-4 subscriptions but actually have 8-12 recurring charges when they check their bank statements. That's the whole reason tools like Just Cancel exist — to find the ones you forgot about.

How Much Money Is Wasted on Unused Subscriptions?

This is where it gets painful:

At a national scale, Americans waste an estimated $32 billion per year on forgotten or unused subscriptions. That includes:

• Streaming services you signed up for one show and forgot
• Free trials that converted to paid plans
• Gym memberships you haven't used in months
• Software subscriptions for tools you replaced
• Meal kits, boxes, and memberships on autopilot

Subscription Spending by Category

Where does the money go? Here's the typical breakdown:

Subscription Spending Trends (2023–2026)

The subscription economy is evolving rapidly:

• 2023: Average spend peaked at $52.97/month per person (Self Financial)
• 2024: Dropped slightly to $40.39/month as consumers cut back
• 2025: Further decline to $37/month — but total industry revenue still grew because of price increases
• 2026: The FTC's Click-to-Cancel rule (effective July 2025) is making it easier to cancel, accelerating churn

The paradox: individual spending is decreasing, but subscription companies keep raising prices. Netflix alone has raised prices 5 times since 2019. The result? People have fewer subscriptions but pay more for each one.

Who Spends the Most on Subscriptions?

Subscription spending varies significantly by age:

• Gen Z (18-26): $67/month average — heavy on streaming and gaming
• Millennials (27-42): $112/month average — highest spenders overall
• Gen X (43-58): $98/month average — streaming, news, fitness
• Boomers (59-77): $54/month average — mostly streaming and news

Millennials carry the heaviest subscription burden, likely because they came of age during the "there's a subscription for that" era and accumulated services across streaming, fitness, productivity, and food delivery.

The "Subscription Creep" Problem

CNET coined the term "subscription creep" to describe the gradual accumulation of recurring charges. It happens because:

• Free trials auto-convert — 48% of people have been charged after forgetting to cancel a trial
• Annual renewals sneak up — you forget about that $120/year charge until it hits
• Price increases go unnoticed — a $2/month increase barely registers but adds $24/year
• Bundled subscriptions hide costs — your phone plan might include 3 subscriptions you didn't ask for

How to Find Out What You're Actually Spending

The most reliable way to find every subscription is to check your bank statements. Not your memory — your actual transaction history.

Here's how to do a subscription audit:

1. Export your bank statement as a CSV or PDF
2. Upload it to Just Cancel — our AI scans for recurring charges and finds subscriptions you forgot about
3. Get a list of every subscription with direct cancel links
4. Cancel what you don't need — the average user finds $50-100/month in savings

Sources

• CNET Subscription Survey 2024 & 2025
• Self Financial — "The Cost of Unused Subscriptions" (2025)
• Bango — "The Subscription Economy Report" (2025)
• C+R Research — "Subscription Services Survey"
• FTC — Click-to-Cancel Rule (2025)