The Ultimate Guide to Managing & Cancelling Your Subscriptions in 2026

Dec 30, 2025

Subscription fatigue is a real phenomenon and it’s getting worse. We now have more subscriptions than ever, both personally and as solopreneurs or business owners.

Almost every industry has moved to this model.

Movies became streaming services, software became subscriptions, and even some car brands now come with ongoing subscription fees. Every new product or app seems to arrive with a membership model attached.

The issue isn’t just how many subscriptions we have, but how they’re designed. They’re easy to start and hard to keep track of or cancel.

Small charges spread across different cards, app stores, and billing periods make it easy to get overloaded and forget what you’re paying for.
Free trials silently turn into paid plans, renewals happen on different days, and annual charges show up a surprise long after you stopped using the service or forgotten that you’re even subscribed.

Most people underestimate their subscription spend by a huge margin, studies show that 74% of users underestimate their spend by 2.5x. These costs quietly leak money month after month, and it’s not just the money. But the mental clutter it can cause.

It’s like having too many tabs open on your computer and not knowing what you need to close, it’s going creates a constant background stress and a feeling of being out of control.

What Managing Your Subscriptions Actually Means

Managing your subscriptions means knowing what you’re paying for, when it renews, and whether it still deserves its place.

That’s harder than it sounds.

Subscriptions can bill through different banks, cards, app stores, or invoices, and there’s no single place to see them all.

For many people, especially creators and small teams, who have a lot of tools and free-trials, this can quickly becomes messy.

Free trials renew, prices increase, unused subscriptions stick around, and business tools keep charging for seats no one uses. Charges land on different days of the month, making it hard to understand your real spending.

Putting a simple system in place changes everything. Regular reviews, renewal reminders, and clear visibility can help towards giving you back control.
When you know where your money is going, you reduce waste, lower stress, and feel confident trying new tools without fear of losing track and getting overwhelmed.

In this guide we will deepdive on how to better manage and cancel your subscriptions, especially the ones you aren’t getting enough use out of.

Common mistakes when managing your subscriptions

Even people who try to stay organised fall into the same traps. Here are the most common mistakes that cause subscription spend to creep out of control.

Missing subscriptions

These are the sneaky ones you simply forget about. Even if you list your subscriptions in a spreadsheet or tool, it’s easy to miss a few. Annual plans are especially easy to forget, as are subscriptions that were set up long ago and quietly kept renewing.

Whenever I ask people to list their subscriptions, they almost always discover more than they expected once they use a memory jogger. This often happens because subscriptions are spread across multiple cards, bank accounts, and app stores. Always check Apple and Google Play, as many app subscriptions get overlooked.

Free trials and short term subscriptions

Free trials are designed to convert into paid plans. Many businesses rely on people signing up and forgetting to cancel. The same applies to subscriptions you only intend to use for a month. Most auto renew by default, and unless you cancel immediately, they will continue charging you.

No regular review system

Without regular reviews, subscriptions pile up. This is especially true if you use many tools for work.

If you’re not using a dedicated subscription management tool, it helps to set aside time monthly or quarterly to review what you’re paying for, what you still use, and what needs to be cancelled.

It can also be wise to do a larger annual subscription review.

SaaS seat management

Business subscriptions that charge per user can become expensive fast. When team members leave or tools are underused, unused seats often keep billing. In many cases, removing a user does not automatically reduce the number of seats you pay for.

The larger your team and tool stack, the bigger this problem becomes if it’s not actively managed.

Relying only on spreadsheets and calendars

Some people manage subscriptions with spreadsheets and calendar reminders. While this can work, it’s manual and easy to miss things as subscriptions change. Purpose built tools exist to make tracking, reviewing, and cancelling far easier.

Forgotten annual renewals

Annual renewals are one of the biggest traps after free trials. They hit in a single large charge and are easy to forget because they don’t appear on your statements every month. When they renew unexpectedly, they can be both frustrating and costly.

Common Subscription Types You Should Track

Here are a few categories of subscriptions to keep an eye out for, this can also serve as a memory jogger for hidden subscriptions.

Personal subscriptions

Streaming services	HBO, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix
Music	Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music
Audiobooks/Books	Kindle, Audible
Social apps	X, Linkedin, Youtube +
Food delivery apps	Foodpanda, Hellofresh, Doordash
Dating Apps	Hinge, Bumble, Tinder, + other adult entertainment
Fitness and health	Headspace, Gym apps, Calorie trackers, Yoga apps, Opal, Classpass, Surf apps
Utility and learning apps	Masterclass, Duolingo, Courses, Evernote, Piano app, Sleeping apps, VPNs, Budgeting apps
Shopping	Amazon Prime, Walmart +, Costco, Coffee subscriptions, Wine Club, Subscription boxes
News and Media	Newsletters, NYT, Washington post, Radio
Life Utilities	Phone bill, Gym membership
Travel and Transport	Uber One, Airalo or Holafly Simcards, Membership Clubs (like Founderspass), Airport lounge memberships, Tripadvisor Plus, Clear airport priority
Gaming	Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Playstation+, Individual game subscriptions

Business and SAAS subscriptions :

Ai tools	ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Motion, other AI tools
Email	Google workplace, Brevo, Mailchimp
Creator tools	Capcut, Adobe Suite, Miro, Loom, Notion, Medium
Website & Design	Figma, Canva, Framer
Marketing and community	Telegram or Discord Bots, Reddit API, Ahrefs, Pahntombuster
Developer tools	Vercel, Railway, Supabase, Cloudflare, Sentry, AWS, Auth0
CRM tools	Monday.com, Airtable, Linear, Clickup
Other	Tally, Typeform, Zapier, Xero, Docsend, Bitwarden, Zoom

Best Ways to Manage Subscriptions Manually

Manual subscription management takes more effort, but it gives you full visibility and control. In this section, we’ll cover how to do it step by step. In the next section, we’ll look at tools and apps that can help streamline the process.

Step 1: Find All Your Subscriptions

The hardest part is tracking everything down. Start by checking the following:

Bank and credit card statements. Some neobanks automatically label recurring payments, which can help, although many subscriptions still appear under vague names like “Apple”.
Your email inbox. Search for terms like subscription renewal, invoice, receipt, and free trial.
App stores. Check your Apple ID subscriptions and Google Play subscriptions, as many app payments are hidden there.

Step 2: Create a Master List

Once you’ve found everything, list your subscriptions in a spreadsheet or use a simple tracking app like Subby on Android or Bobby on iOS. These apps charge a small one time fee.

For each subscription, record:

Renewal date
Cost
Monthly or annual billing
Free trial status
Any discounts and when they expire
Payment method, such as a specific card or app store

For business subscriptions, also note the number of seats and the cost per seat.

Step 3: Add Reminders and Reviews

Set calendar alerts for free trials that are about to end and for large annual renewals. This helps you avoid surprise charges.

Finally, schedule regular reviews. A quick review every two to three months keeps things tidy, with a deeper annual audit to reassess everything. During each review, ask yourself:

Have I added new subscriptions and forgotten to track them?
Have any prices increased?
Am I still using this enough to justify the cost?

This simple manual system won’t catch everything automatically, but it puts you back in control and dramatically reduces wasted spend.

Best Tools and Apps to Manage Subscriptions

Using tools and apps can significantly reduce the friction of managing subscriptions. The easier the system, the more likely you are to stick with it and stay in control long term.

Subscription Management Apps

Subscription management apps come in many forms. Some are full budgeting platforms, others are simple manual trackers, and some connect directly to your bank accounts to automatically detect subscriptions.

They serve different budgets and use cases, but all aim to reduce the manual effort involved in tracking renewals, free trials, and recurring charges.

There are two main categories to consider:

Manual tracking apps

With these apps, you add subscriptions yourself. In return, you get useful features like reminders, push notifications, syncing across devices, and a clean overview of your renewals.

They require discipline but offer strong privacy and reliability.

Automated tracking apps

These connect to your bank or cards through open banking providers such as Plaid and automatically populate your subscriptions. They can be convenient, but they are not always perfectly accurate and may not work in every country or with every merchant. They usually offer alerts for free trials, renewals, and price increases.

From a privacy standpoint, these apps do not access your bank login details. They receive read-only data through regulated providers. That said, some users are still cautious, especially if the app’s business model involves selling anonymised financial data. This is worth reviewing before choosing a tool.

Read our comparison of some of the best subscription tracking apps.

Banking Apps and Neobanks With Subscription Detection

Another option is using a bank that includes subscription detection built in. Many neobanks now offer basic subscription tracking, including tools like merchant recognition, virtual cards, and spending insights.

Apps like Revolut and Wise can be useful if you manage them carefully, especially when paired with merchant blocking or dedicated virtual cards for subscriptions.

Although, these solutions are usually more surface level than dedicated subscription trackers. They often miss subscriptions billed through Apple or Google Play and only show activity within that specific bank account. They can work well if set up intentionally, but they tend to have gaps.

For many people, banking apps are a good starting point, while dedicated subscription tools offer deeper control as your number of subscriptions grows.

How to Cancel Subscriptions You No Longer Need

Whether it’s a streaming service, SaaS tool, or fitness app, cancelling a subscription isn’t always as simple as hitting “unsubscribe.” Each platform handles cancellations differently, and knowing the common principles can save you time, money, and frustration.

Here’s what to understand before diving into the specifics of cancelling any subscription.

General Cancellation Principles

Most subscriptions fall into one of two categories:

Pay as you go (monthly)

You are charged on a monthly renewal. You can cancel at any time, but access usually continues until the end of the current billing period.

Annual contracts

These are often billed upfront or renewed yearly and usually come with stricter cancellation policies. Some charge monthly but lock you into an annual contract, meaning if you stop paying they may still pursue payment for the remaining term.

Important: Cancelling a subscription rarely means it stops immediately. Refunds for unused days are uncommon. In most cases, you keep access until the end of the billing period you’ve already paid for.

Billing Cycles and Notice Periods

Monthly subscriptions usually cancel at the end of the current billing cycle.
Annual plans often require cancellation before the renewal date, especially for SaaS tools.
Some services require a notice period, often between 7 and 30 days, particularly for business tools or memberships.

Always check the Terms of Service. Cancellation windows are often buried in the fine print.

Different Types of Cancellations

One click cancellation

Common for consumer services like Netflix or Spotify. You cancel directly in the app or on the website.

Manual or email cancellation

Some SaaS tools still require you to contact support by email to cancel.

Phone or agent cancellation

Common with gyms and some larger business tools. These often require speaking to customer service, making cancellation intentionally difficult. This is known as a dark pattern and is increasingly coming under scrutiny from governments.

In store or app store billing

Subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play must be cancelled there, not inside the app itself. This can be done through your account settings.

Read our guide on cancelling Apple App Store Subscriptions.

Seat based SaaS

You must cancel or reduce individual users to avoid paying for unused seats. In some cases, removing users does not automatically reduce the number of seats billed, so this must be checked under billing.

Free trial cancellation

You must cancel before the trial ends or you will be charged, usually with no refund.

Refunds: Myth vs Reality

Most services do not offer prorated refunds, especially for monthly plans.
Annual plans may offer refunds, but usually only within a short window such as 7 or 14 days. This often aligns with local consumer protection laws.
Apple and Google allow refund requests through their platforms, but approval varies.
Many services have strict no refund policies once a charge is processed.
Refunds for accidental renewals are sometimes granted if you act quickly, but they are never guaranteed.

In certain cases, pursuing a card chargeback may be an option.

What Happens After Cancellation

After cancelling, you will usually:

Retain access until the end of your billing period
Lose premium features or account data after expiry
See your account deactivated or deleted in some cases

Some platforms offer retention discounts or free months when you attempt to cancel, and others send offers after cancellation.

Other Ways to Cancel Subscriptions

There are alternative methods that can reduce friction.

Cancellation concierge apps

Apps like Rocket Money, Hiatus, and Trim offer done for you cancellation services as part of paid plans. These attempt to cancel subscriptions on your behalf but do not work for all services and may require additional information from you.

Neobank merchant blocking

Neobanks such as Wise and Revolut allow you to block specific merchants from charging your card.
This does not formally cancel the subscription, but it stops future payments. You may still receive emails about failed payments, and you’ll need to unblock the merchant if you want to restart the subscription later. This can be an effective last resort.

Ready to Cancel a Specific Service?

Explore the full Cancel Hub for step by step guides on cancelling popular subscriptions, including:

Streaming services
SaaS tools
Mobile apps
Creator platforms

New guides are added regularly.

Step-by-Step Cancellation Guides (Popular Services)

How to Cancel your Netflix Subscription

How to Cancel Amazon Prime

How to Cancel Spotify Premium

How to Cancel Adobe Suscription

How to Avoid Unwanted Subscriptions in the Future

One of the smartest ways to manage subscriptions is to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place. While it’s easy to get caught off guard by auto-renewals, free trials turning into charges, or forgotten annual plans, there are simple systems you can put in place to stay ahead of them.

Here are a few methods that can help you avoid unwanted subscriptions and save money long-term:

1. Be Strategic with Free Trials

Free trials are one of the biggest traps, they seem harmless but often convert into paid plans silently.

Tips:

Set a calendar reminder on the same day you sign up.
Use tools that track free trials automatically and notify you ahead of time.
Cancel immediately after activating (if you still get the full trial period).

2. Use Virtual Cards

Virtual cards give you more control by acting as disposable or subscription-specific payment methods.

Generate a card for a specific trial or service.
Pause or delete it before renewal.
Great for avoiding charges you didn’t expect or forget to cancel.

Apps like Orbit Money will soon offer virtual cards linked directly to your subscription dashboard and free-trial cards for even easier control.

3. Set Subscription Reminders

If you’re not using a tracker app, at least set recurring calendar reminders or use a tool that sends renewal alerts.

A quick 10-second reminder can save you from a surprise $99 annual charge.

4. Do Quarterly or Annual Reviews

Make it a habit every 3–6 months to sit down and review:

What you’re still using
What you’re no longer getting value from
Subscriptions that have increased in price

This helps you stay intentional and avoid money leaks.

5. Always Check the Renewal Terms

Before subscribing, skim the fine print:

Is it monthly or annual?
Is there a notice period to cancel?
Does it auto-renew?

Knowing this upfront gives you a better strategy for cancelling or setting alerts.

6. Find Deals Before You Subscribe

Some tools or services offer cancel-to-save deals or discounts during holidays.

Look for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or New Year sales.

Use platforms like JoinSecret, Unidayz (for college or university students) or Coupon Follow to find hidden discounts or startup deals.

You might end up paying 30–70% less on the same product just by planning ahead.

Manage Subscriptions for Businesses and Families

Subscription management isn’t just a solo task. Whether you’re sharing a Netflix account with your partner or managing software across a team, subscriptions can add up fast, and get messy without the right setup.

Here’s how to manage shared subscriptions more efficiently:

1. Family Plans

Services like Spotify, YouTube Premium, and Apple One offer family bundles that can save you money compared to multiple solo accounts.

Just make sure everyone’s actually using them, sometimes one family member signs up and nobody else joins.

2. Shared Subscriptions

For roommates or partners, clearly decide who pays for what.

Split costs using apps like Splitwise or ensure all shared services are paid from one account/card so there’s less confusion.

3. Managing Employee SaaS Subscriptions

For startups or small teams, SaaS creep is real. You might be paying for:

Extra seats no one is using
Tools the team has stopped using
Auto-renewing yearly plans with no review

Do regular subscription audits across the whole team and use tools that let you track subscriptions per employee or tool, and audit quarterly to remove unused access.

4. Expense Tracking for Teams

Ensure business subscriptions are:

Categorized properly
Mapped to the right teams
Set to renew with oversight (not on someone’s personal card)

This avoids tax issues and lets you scale SaaS spending more intentionally.

Orbit Money will be introducing split accounts for solopreneurs that allow you to more easily segregate personal and business subscriptions but under the same umbrella without co-mingling.

Optimise Your Subscriptions and Find Better Deals

Managing your subscriptions isn’t just about cancelling, it’s also about maximising the value you get from the ones you decide to keep.

Once you’ve done a clean-up, the next step is to make sure you’re not overpaying or missing opportunities to save, downgrade, or switch.

Here are a few ways to optimise what you’re already using:

1. Check for Better Plans or Free Versions

Many tools offer lower-tier or free plans that still cover your needs.
Consider switching from monthly to annual plans if you know you’ll use it long-term (they’re often 20–40% cheaper). Getting these during annual sales such as black friday can mean that you also get get the deal the following year.
Some tools even offer “pause” plans if you’re not using the full features right now.

2. Hunt for Active Discounts and Deals

Holiday sales (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, New Year) often include huge discounts on tools and services.
Use platforms like JoinSecret or FoundersPass to discover verified SaaS discounts, extended trials, and exclusive promo codes.
If you’re paying full price, there’s a good chance you’re missing a deal.

3. Cancel-to-Save Offers

Some companies offer retention deals when you try to cancel:

Discounted plans
Extra free months
Downgrade recommendations

It’s worth checking even if you don’t fully intend to cancel, just seeing what’s available could save you money. Some may only offer it months after you already cancel though.

4. Stack Value with Bundles and Family Plans

Services like Apple One, YouTube Premium Family, or Spotify Duo can reduce costs across multiple users.
SaaS bundles or startup packs often include a whole heap of tools for a fraction of the cost.

5. Watch for Overlapping Tools

If you’re using multiple apps that do similar things, like two AI writing tools or several budget planners, it may be time to consolidate.

By auditing, switching to better deals, and staying proactive, you can often cut your subscription costs by 30% or more, without giving anything up.

Final Thoughts: Take Back Control and Manage Your Subscriptions Smarter

Subscription fatigue is real, but so is the ability to take back control.

With just a little structure and the right tools, you can stop leaking money on unused services and start spending intentionally.

It’s not just about saving a few dollars, it’s about reducing stress and feeling confident in how your money’s working for you.

Explore more in our Cancel Hub or try a tool like Orbit Money to simplify everything from free trials to long-term subscriptions.

Sign up to the wailtist for access as soon as the app goes live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Managing Subscriptions

What’s the easiest way to manage subscriptions?

Using a dedicated subscription tracker app (like Orbit Money, Rocket Money or others) is often the simplest way to monitor, organise, and cancel subscriptions.

Can banks cancel subscriptions for you?

Some banks offer limited support, like stopping payments or flagging recurring charges, but they can’t always cancel the service itself.

Why is it so hard to cancel subscriptions?

Some companies use friction on purpose, requiring live chats, calls, or hidden cancellation buttons to discourage users from leaving.

Are subscription management apps safe?

Reputable apps use bank-level encryption and connect through secure services like Plaid. Always read the privacy policy before sharing data.

How often should I review my subscriptions?

A quarterly review is a good cadence. Once every 3–4 months helps you stay in control without micromanaging.

Can I get a refund after canceling?

It depends on the provider’s policy. Some offer pro-rated refunds, but many (especially for annual plans) don’t offer refunds after renewal.

How can I avoid getting charged after a free trial?

Use calendar reminders or a subscription tracker that alerts you before the trial ends. Virtual cards can also auto-decline renewals.

What’s the best way to manage business or team subscriptions?

Use tools that support seat tracking, team expense visibility, and categorisation, especially important for creators, freelancers, and small businesses.

Can I negotiate lower subscription costs?

Yes, some services like Rocket Money or Trim offer bill negotiation, or you can manually reach out to request discounts or switch plans.

Simon Chadwick

Written by

Simon Chadwick

Written by

Simon Chadwick

Written by

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