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The Subscription Trap:
By the Numbers

Data from our analysis of 1,189 subscription services · Updated February 2026

$133
wasted per month
on forgotten subscriptions (C+R Research)
12
subscriptions per person
average American adult
$219B
subscription economy
US market size in 2025
160
services rated HARD to cancel
out of 1,189 we analyzed

🚩 Dark Patterns Are Everywhere

543 out of 1,189 services (46%) use at least one dark pattern to prevent cancellation.

Hidden cancellation flow34%

Cancel button buried deep in settings or requires phone call

Retention offers / guilt trips28%

Multiple screens begging you to stay, discounts you didn't ask for

Auto-renewal without notice22%

Free trial converts to paid with minimal disclosure

Confusing pricing / billing16%

Weekly billing shown as daily cost, hidden fees, unclear plan tiers

📊 Cancellation Difficulty Across 1,189 Services

701
Easy
Online, < 2 min
328
Medium
Extra steps required
143
Hard
Phone call or in-person
17
Very Hard
Certified mail or contract

💸 Most Expensive Services That Are HARD to Cancel

1. ZoomInfoBusiness & Productivity
$1250/mo($15000/yr)
2. GongBusiness & Productivity
$1000/mo($12000/yr)
3. UnitedHealthcareFinance & Banking
$450/mo($5400/yr)
4. Kaiser PermanenteFinance & Banking
$450/mo($5400/yr)
5. Aetna Health InsuranceFinance & Banking
$400/mo($4800/yr)
6. Cigna Health InsuranceFinance & Banking
$400/mo($4800/yr)
7. Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)Finance & Banking
$400/mo($4800/yr)
8. NutrisystemHealth & Fitness
$300/mo($3600/yr)
9. Angi (Angie's List) Business LeadsBusiness & Productivity
$300/mo($3600/yr)
10. Yelp AdvertisingBusiness & Productivity
$300/mo($3600/yr)

📁 Subscription Categories We Track

Business & Productivity149
Entertainment & Media129
Finance & Banking85
Health & Fitness72
AI & Tech55
Retail & Shopping53
Other50
Food & Meal Kits49
Technology37
Telecom & Internet35

🔍 269 Mystery Bank Charges Decoded

Ever seen a confusing charge on your bank statement? We decode 269 common descriptors that people don’t recognize. Browse all mystery charges →

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One-time $5 · No account needed · 1,189 services in our database

Methodology

Data based on Just Cancel’s analysis of 1,189 subscription services and 269 mystery bank charges. Difficulty ratings are based on cancellation method (online vs phone vs in-person), number of steps required, presence of retention tactics, and user-reported experiences. Dark pattern classifications follow the FTC’s definitions from the 2024 “Click to Cancel” rule. Industry statistics from C+R Research (2024), Kearney Consumer Institute (2024), and UBS Evidence Lab (2025).

Cancel Button Report →Price Increases Tracker →Difficulty Index →