1. Statements
Look through your recent bank and card statements for charges that repeat. Scan a full year if you can, because yearly charges only show up once. If you see a charge you do not recognize, search the exact name before you assume it is fraud. Some subscriptions bill under a name that is different from the brand you know.
2. Email
Search your inbox for words like "subscription confirmed," "trial ended," "receipt," and "renewal." This can turn up auto-renewals and add-ons that are not obvious on a statement.
3. App stores and account pages
- Apple: Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions.
- Android: Settings, Google, Manage your Google Account, then Wallet and subscriptions. Google Play also has a Subscriptions list.
- Stores, streaming, music and apps: look for Memberships or Subscriptions in each account's settings. Menus change, so go by what you see.
4. Phone and internet bills
Check for add-ons and extras you no longer use.
Decide: keep, pause or cancel
For each one, ask: would I sign up for this again today? Do I use it enough? Is there a cheaper plan, or a pause option? You decide. Some subscriptions are worth keeping.
Cancelling
Cancel where you signed up. If you signed up through an app store, cancel there. Save a screenshot or confirmation email, and check your next statement. Do not count on a one-click cancel button. The FTC adopted a "click-to-cancel" rule in 2024, but a court vacated it in 2025 on procedural grounds, so what you get depends on the company and your state.
If you want a checklist to follow
This guide walks you through where to look, what to check before you cancel, and word-for-word cancel scripts, and includes an Excel sheet that adds up the numbers and shows a 12-month outlook. It promises no savings and is not financial advice.
Subscription Audit Checklist
$5, 11-page PDF plus an Excel sheet. For anyone who wants to see what they are paying for.
More blogs to read
How often should a contractor post on social media?
A plain answer on posting frequency for trades businesses, with what the research says and a schedule that fits a work week.
Can I ask my customers for reviews? What's allowed?
Yes, you can ask. Here are the rules on incentives, review gating, and what the FTC bans, in plain words.
What should go on a contractor's invoice?
The basics every invoice should include, how to write clear payment terms, and what a simple invoice tool can and can't do.
Sources
Checked October 27, 2026. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important on the source page.