The average US adult loses $252 each year due to subscription creep, paying for services they no longer use or need. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
- The $1,332 Reality: What US Adults Spend on Subscriptions
- The $252 Leak: Where the Waste Comes From
- How Free Trials Fuel Subscription Creep
- Who Is Most at Risk?
- How to Audit Your Subscriptions in 10 Minutes
The average US adult spends $1,332 a year on subscriptions and throws away $252 of that. Are you one of them?
Think about it. That $252 is not a rounding error. It is real money you could use for groceries, gas, or a night out. Instead, it goes to services you barely use or forgot you even signed up for.
This is not a small problem. A new survey from CNET called the Subscription Survey 2026 shows just how big subscription creep has become. The numbers are a wake-up call for anyone with a credit card and an email inbox.
Subscription creep is that slow, quiet rise in monthly payments. You sign up for a streaming service here, a meal kit there, a cloud storage plan, a fitness app. Each one seems small. But they add up. And pretty soon, you are paying for things you no longer need or want.
Let us break down what the survey found and what you can do about it.
The $1,332 Reality: What US Adults Spend on Subscriptions
The CNET survey asked US adults about all their subscriptions. Streaming services, software, subscription boxes, cloud storage, gym apps, news sites, and more. The average annual spend came out to $1,332.
That is over $110 a month. For many households, that is a big chunk of the budget. And it is not just one or two services. People often have multiple subscriptions running at the same time.
Think about the most common ones. Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, Apple iCloud, Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, meal delivery kits like HelloFresh, beauty boxes, pet supply boxes, and on and on. Each one costs something every month. Most people do not even realize how many they have until they add them up.
The $1,332 figure covers all types. But the survey did not break down exactly which categories take the biggest share. Still, it is safe to say streaming and software are heavy hitters. Many people also pay for multiple streaming services at the same time. That can easily add $30 to $50 a month or more.
And that number is only the average. Some people spend a lot more. Others spend less. But the point is clear: subscriptions are a major expense for the typical US adult.
The $252 Leak: Where the Waste Comes From
Here is the part that stings. Out of that $1,332, about $252 goes to waste. That is 19% of the total. Almost one-fifth of what you pay for subscriptions is simply thrown away.
How does that happen? It is not like people want to waste money. The waste comes from subscriptions you signed up for and then forgot about. Maybe you started a free trial and never canceled. Maybe you used a service for a few months and then stopped, but the payments kept going. Maybe you signed up for something on a whim and then never used it again.
The survey did not compare this waste percentage to previous years. But the fact that it is 19% is troubling. If you spent $1,332 on groceries and threw away $252 worth of food every year, you would notice. But because subscriptions come out of your account automatically every month, the waste is hidden. It is easy to ignore.
Think about it this way. That $252 could pay for a nice dinner out, a new pair of shoes, or a contribution to your savings account. Instead, it goes to companies for services you do not use. It is a leak in your budget that you can plug.
And the waste might be even higher for some people. The average includes people who are careful and those who are not. If you have not checked your subscriptions in a while, your waste could be well above $252.
How Free Trials Fuel Subscription Creep
Free trials are a big reason subscription creep happens. Companies offer a free week or a free month to get you in the door. You sign up, maybe with a credit card, and then you forget to cancel before the trial ends.
The survey from CNET points this out directly. Free trials are a common entry point for forgotten subscriptions. The idea is simple: try it for free, and if you like it, keep paying. But the reality is that many people do not remember to cancel. The free trial becomes a paid subscription that they never fully use.
Companies know this. That is why they push free trials so hard. It is a marketing tactic that works. They bet on you forgetting or being too busy to cancel. And often, they are right.
Some companies make it easy to sign up but hard to cancel. They use what are called dark patterns. These are design tricks that make cancellation confusing or frustrating. You might have to click through multiple screens, talk to a chatbot, or even call a phone number during limited hours. The goal is to make you give up and keep paying.
The survey did not name specific companies or dark patterns. But if you have ever tried to cancel a subscription and found it took ten minutes of clicking around, you know what we are talking about. That is not an accident. It is intentional.
Free trials are not the only way subscriptions creep in. Sometimes you sign up for a service because you need it for a specific project or event. You use it for a month and then stop. But the payments keep going. You might not notice for months or even years.
The key is that subscription creep happens gradually. You do not wake up one day and decide to spend $252 on nothing. It builds up over time, one forgotten subscription at a time.
Who Is Most at Risk?
The CNET survey did not break down the data by age, income, or behavior. So we cannot say for sure which groups are most affected. But we can make some educated guesses based on what we know about subscription habits in general.
Younger adults, especially those in their 20s and 30s, tend to sign up for more streaming services and digital tools. They grew up with subscriptions as a normal way to get content. They might have multiple streaming accounts, a music service, cloud storage, and various apps. That makes them more vulnerable to subscription creep.
Older adults might have fewer subscriptions but could still be at risk. They might sign up for a service to help with a hobby or to stay in touch with family, and then forget about it. Or they might have subscriptions that auto-renew without their full attention.
People with higher incomes might spend more on subscriptions overall, but they might also waste more because they do not feel the pinch. People with tighter budgets might be more careful, but they can still fall into the free trial trap.
Without specific data from the survey, we cannot give exact numbers. But the general pattern is clear: anyone with a credit card and an internet connection is at risk. Subscription creep does not discriminate. It affects people across all ages and income levels.
How to Audit Your Subscriptions in 10 Minutes
The good news is that you can stop the leak. You do not need to be a financial expert. You just need to set aside ten minutes and follow these steps.
- Check your bank and credit card statements. Look for any recurring charges. You might be surprised at what you find. Go back at least three months to catch anything you missed.
- Make a list of every subscription you find. Include the name, the amount, and how often it charges (monthly, yearly, etc.).
- Ask yourself: Do I use this service regularly? If you have not used it in the past month, it is probably a candidate for cancellation. Be honest with yourself. Just because you might use it someday does not mean you should pay for it now.
- Check for free trials that turned into paid subscriptions. If you signed up for a trial and then forgot, cancel that service immediately. You are paying for something you never intended to buy.
- Cancel the ones you do not need. Go to the account settings or contact customer support. Be prepared for some companies to make it difficult. Stick with it. Your money is worth the effort.
- Set a reminder to do this audit every three months. Subscription creep never stops. New services pop up all the time. Regular checkups will keep your budget under control.
That is it. Ten minutes could save you $252 a year or more. And that is just the average. Some people might save hundreds of dollars by cutting unused subscriptions.
One more tip: before you sign up for any new free trial, set a calendar reminder to cancel before the trial ends. This simple habit can prevent a lot of waste. Write it down or set an alert on your phone. Do not rely on your memory.
What This Means for Businesses and Consumers
The CNET survey is a reality check for both sides of the subscription economy. For consumers, the message is clear: you are probably paying for things you do not use. That $252 is real money you could keep in your pocket. The solution is simple: audit your subscriptions and cancel what you do not need.
For businesses, the survey highlights a tricky balance. On one hand, subscription revenue is reliable and predictable. Companies want to keep customers paying month after month. On the other hand, if customers feel cheated or trapped, they will eventually leave. Trust matters.
Companies that use dark patterns to make cancellations hard may win in the short term. But they risk losing customers for good. People talk. Bad experiences spread. A reputation for being hard to cancel can hurt a brand.
Some companies are starting to make cancellations easier. They offer a simple online button or a quick chat. They know that a positive cancellation experience can lead to a customer coming back later. Others still make it a maze.
The survey did not recommend specific actions for businesses. But the implication is clear: transparency and ease of cancellation are good for business in the long run. Customers appreciate being treated fairly.
For regulators, the issue of dark patterns is getting more attention. Some governments are looking at rules that require companies to make cancellation as easy as sign-up. That would be a big change. But for now, the responsibility still falls mostly on consumers to stay alert.
The bottom line is simple. Subscription creep is real. It costs the average US adult $252 a year in waste. That is money you earned and then gave away for nothing. You do not have to accept that.
Take ten minutes today to check your subscriptions. You might find a few you can cancel. And next time you see a free trial offer, think twice before you sign up. Your wallet will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do US adults spend on subscriptions annually?
The average US adult spends $1,332 per year on various subscriptions. This includes services like streaming, software, and subscription boxes. This averages out to over $110 each month.
How much money do US adults waste on unused subscriptions each year?
US adults waste an average of $252 per year on subscriptions they don't use or have forgotten about. This represents about 19% of their total subscription spending.
What is subscription creep?
Subscription creep is the gradual and often unnoticed increase in monthly payments for various subscription services. These small, individual costs add up over time, leading to significant overall spending on services that may no longer be needed or wanted.
How do free trials contribute to subscription creep?
Free trials are a common way people start subscriptions they later forget to cancel. Companies offer these trials to attract users, and many people end up continuing the payments after the trial period ends without realizing it.
Why is subscription waste often overlooked?
Subscription waste is easily overlooked because payments are automatically deducted from accounts each month. Unlike visible expenses like groceries, these recurring charges can become hidden in a budget, making them easy to ignore until they are added up.
Are there specific companies known for making it hard to cancel subscriptions?
The article mentions that some companies use 'dark patterns' to make canceling subscriptions difficult. These are design tricks that can confuse or frustrate users during the cancellation process, though specific company names were not provided in the survey.
Which age groups are most at risk for subscription creep?
While the survey didn't provide specific data by age, younger adults, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are considered more vulnerable. They tend to sign up for more digital services and grew up with subscriptions as a standard way to access content.
