The 10-minute subscription audit checklist

Find every recurring charge, decide what stays, and make sure nothing renews without you deciding.

Updated November 3, 2026

A subscription audit takes about ten minutes and you only need to do it once a year. Print this page or keep it open on your phone and work through it top to bottom.

1. Collect every recurring charge

• iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions (everything Apple bills). Walkthrough
• Your email: search "receipt", "renewal", "trial" and "your subscription"
• Your last two card and bank statements: anything that repeats
• PayPal: Settings → Payments → Automatic payments
• Amazon: Account → Memberships & Subscriptions
• Google Play, if you have used Android: Payments & subscriptions
• Phone and internet bills: add-ons and streaming bundles hide here

2. Write down the yearly cost of each

Monthly prices hide the real number. $12.99 a month is $155.88 a year. Use the subscription cost calculator to see the total.

3. Ask four questions about each one

• Did I use it in the last 30 days?
• Would I sign up for it again today, at this price?
• Does another subscription already cover it? (Two video services, two cloud storage plans, music included in a bundle)
• Is there a cheaper tier, an annual plan, or a family plan I could share?

4. Act on it today

• Cancel what failed question 1 or 2 — step-by-step guides for 48 services
• Downgrade or switch to annual where it makes sense
• Note the end date of every free trial you keep
• Check your next statement to confirm the cancellations took

5. Make it stick

The audit fixes today. Reminders fix next year: a tracker that tells you before each renewal means nothing renews without you deciding.