How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Subscriptions in 2026?

How much do you think you spend on subscriptions each month? If you are like most people, your estimate is probably off by 2-3x. Studies consistently show that people underestimate their recurring spending.

Here are the latest numbers on subscription spending in 2026, and what they mean for your budget.

The numbers

The average American spends approximately $75 per month on subscriptions, totaling about $900 per year. That includes streaming services, software, cloud storage, news, fitness apps, and more.

But averages hide a lot of variation. Power users and professionals often spend $200 or more per month, especially when SaaS tools for work are included.

Where the money goes

The most common subscription categories by spending:

1. Streaming video (Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, etc.): $30-50/month for households with multiple services.
2. Music (Spotify, Apple Music): $10-15/month.
3. Cloud storage (iCloud, Google One, Dropbox): $3-10/month.
4. Productivity software (Microsoft 365, Adobe, Notion): $10-55/month.
5. Fitness and wellness (gym, meditation apps): $10-50/month.
6. News and publications (NYT, WSJ, Substack): $5-30/month.

The estimation gap

Research shows people estimate their subscription spending at about $80/month on average but actually spend closer to $200/month when all recurring charges are counted. This gap exists because:

• Annual subscriptions are easy to forget (you paid once, months ago)
• Small charges ($3-5/month) feel negligible individually
• Free trials that converted to paid subscriptions slip through
• Price increases happen silently

This is the core problem that subscription creep describes: small charges accumulate until they are a meaningful part of your budget.

How to find your real number

The only way to know your actual subscription spending is to track it. Here is a quick approach:

1. Check your last 3 months of bank and credit card statements
2. List every recurring charge you find
3. Include annual subscriptions (divide by 12 for monthly equivalent)
4. Add up the total

Most people are surprised by the result. The average person finds 2-3 subscriptions they had completely forgotten about.

What can you do about it?

• Audit regularly: review your subscriptions at least once per quarter.
• Track free trials: never let a trial convert without a conscious decision. Here is how to track trials effectively.
• Use a tracker: a dedicated subscription tracker makes recurring costs visible and sends reminders before charges hit.
• Set a subscription budget: decide on a monthly cap and stick to it.
• Watch for hidden costs: price increases, forgotten trials, and duplicate services.

The bottom line

$900/year is the average, but your number could be much higher, especially if you use SaaS tools for work. The first step to controlling subscription spending is knowing what you actually spend.

A subscription tracker like Subvisory gives you that visibility in minutes, with automatic reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.