How to do a subscription audit

1. List every subscription

Start with a complete list: app stores, PayPal, card statements, your inbox and team tools. How to find all your subscriptions covers where to look.

2. See what each one costs per month and per year

Monthly, quarterly and yearly prices are hard to compare. Turn each one into a monthly and a yearly figure: a yearly plan counts as its price divided by 12, a weekly one as its price times 52 divided by 12. The subscription cost calculator does this for you.

3. Flag trials, yearly renewals and overlaps

• Free trials that convert to a paid plan soon. Note the last day to cancel; the free trial reminder puts it on your calendar.
• Yearly renewals in the next few months, since they are the largest single charges.
• Overlaps: two tools that do the same job, such as two AI assistants, two storage plans or two design apps.
• Anything you haven't opened in the last month.

4. Decide: keep, downgrade, cancel or later

Give every subscription one of four decisions:

• Keep: you use it and it is worth the price.
• Downgrade: you use it, but a cheaper plan or a different billing cycle would do.
• Cancel: you don't use it enough, or another tool covers it.
• Later: you're not sure yet. Put it on next month's list instead of letting it renew without a decision.

5. Cancel before the renewal date

Most services charge on the renewal date, so cancel a day or two before it. The cancel guides give the steps for popular services, and each one links the service's own help article.

6. Repeat every month

Subscriptions creep back as you sign up for new tools and trials. A short review each month keeps the list honest. In Subskim, the monthly Skim walks through each subscription with the same four decisions.

More guides

• How to find all your subscriptions
• How to cancel popular subscriptions