The numbers are more shocking than you think. Most people underestimate their subscription spending by more than 60% — and the gap costs them thousands every year.
Find Out What I'm Actually Spending — $9.99Streaming video is the biggest single category but software and SaaS tools are catching up fast — especially as more people work remotely and sign up for productivity apps.
| Category | Avg Monthly | Avg Annual | % Using More Than They Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Video | $69 | $828 | 58% |
| Software & SaaS | $52 | $624 | 44% |
| Food & Grocery Delivery | $45 | $540 | 39% |
| Gym & Fitness | $38 | $456 | 51% |
| News & Magazines | $22 | $264 | 62% |
| Music & Podcasts | $18 | $216 | 28% |
| Cloud Storage | $15 | $180 | 35% |
| Gaming | $19 | $228 | 41% |
Millennials spend the most in absolute dollars. Gen Z has the most subscriptions per person. Boomers underestimate their spending by the widest margin — and are most likely to have forgotten annual subscriptions still running.
| Generation | Avg Monthly | Avg # Subscriptions | % With Zombie Subs | Estimate of Own Spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | $193 | 9.4 | 38% | $71 |
| Millennials | $248 | 10.1 | 47% | $94 |
| Gen X | $217 | 7.8 | 41% | $88 |
| Boomers | $168 | 5.3 | 36% | $57 |
In 2026, the average household subscribes to 4.5 streaming video services at an average combined cost of $69/month — up from $39/month in 2021. But research consistently shows that most households actively watch content on only 2–3 platforms in any given month, meaning 1–2 services are perpetually unused.
| Service | Monthly Price (2026) | % of Subscribers Who Watch Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix (Standard) | $15.49 | 74% |
| Disney+ (Standard) | $13.99 | 51% |
| Max | $15.99 | 44% |
| Hulu | $17.99 | 48% |
| Paramount+ | $7.99 | 29% |
| Peacock | $7.99 | 27% |
| Apple TV+ | $9.99 | 31% |
Financially savvy viewers rotate subscriptions: subscribe to one service, binge their watchlist over 1–2 months, cancel, and move to the next. This approach covers more content for roughly $15–$20/month instead of $70+. The catch is remembering to cancel before each renewal — which is where an audit helps.
A "zombie subscription" is one you're still paying for but haven't actively used in 3+ months. Research shows the average person with zombie subscriptions has 2.4 of them at any given time, costing an average of $1,127 per year.
| Category | Avg Monthly Cost | Avg Months Unused Before Discovery | Annual Drain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership | $38 | 8.3 months | $456 |
| Streaming service | $14 | 5.1 months | $168 |
| News/magazine | $18 | 9.7 months | $216 |
| Software/app | $24 | 7.2 months | $288 |
| Box subscription | $39 | 4.8 months | $468 |
The fastest way to find out is to run a full AI audit. Upload your statement and we'll flag every subscription you haven't actively used — with cancellation steps ready to go.
Find My Zombie Subscriptions — $9.99Multiple 2025–2026 consumer finance surveys including C+R Research, West Monroe Partners, and Bankrate consistently show average household subscription spending in the $200–$250/month range, with an estimated/perceived spend of $80–$90. The figures cited on this page use the median across these studies.
Yes. Annual subscriptions are converted to monthly equivalents (annual price ÷ 12) for comparison purposes. Annual subscriptions are the most commonly missed in self-reported spending estimates because they feel like a one-time charge.
Upload your bank or credit card statement to MySubscriptionHunter. Our AI will extract every recurring charge and calculate your exact monthly and annual spend — far more accurate than trying to remember or manually tally charges.
Stop guessing. Upload your statement and find out exactly what you're spending — and what you can cut today.
Find Out My Real Subscription Spend — $9.99No account · No bank login · Data deleted after session · 30-min refund guarantee