Budget Hive › Guides · Last updated: October 14, 2026

How to Track Your Subscriptions (and Cancel the Ones You Don't Use)

The short answer

Go through a couple of months of bank and card statements and list every recurring charge with its price and renewal date. Cancel what you don’t use by following each company’s instructions, and keep a record of your request. [1] Then watch your statements. If charges continue after you cancel, dispute them with your card company. [1]

Step 1: Find every subscription

Check your bank, credit card and debit card statements for repeat charges. Look for:

Streaming, music and news
Apps and cloud storage
Gym and club memberships
Delivery and subscription boxes
Free trials that turned into paid plans

Free trials are easy to miss. Usually you have to give your card number, so the company can charge you if you don’t cancel before the trial ends. [1]

Step 2: Make a list

For each one, write down:

Name and price
How often you’re charged
Next renewal date
How you pay (which card or account)
How to cancel
Keep, cancel or downgrade?

Add the total to your budget. Our guide on how to make a budget and stick to it shows where it fits. The Budget Tracker printable is one way to keep the list on paper.

Step 3: Cancel what you don’t use

The FTC’s steps: [1]

Look up the company and follow its cancellation instructions.
Keep a copy of your cancellation request and notes on any conversations.
Watch your statements for charges after you cancel.

Stopping automatic bank payments. The CFPB says you have the right to stop a company from taking automatic payments from your account, even if you allowed them before. [2] Tell the company, then tell your bank or credit union, and follow up both calls in writing. [2] Some banks also suggest a stop payment order. Banks generally charge fees for those. [2]

Stopping payments doesn’t cancel the contract. For a gym or cable plan, cancel the contract with the company as well. [2]

Step 4: If charges keep coming

If a company keeps charging you after you cancel, the FTC says to file a dispute (a chargeback) with your card company online or by phone, then follow up in writing to the address for billing disputes. [1] Keep your letters, notes and emails. [1] The FTC says to report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. [3]

For bank account debits, tell your bank right away if you see a payment you didn’t allow or one made after you revoked permission. [2]

Step 5: Stay ahead of renewals

Mark trial end dates. Put a reminder on your calendar to cancel before a free trial ends. [1]
Read renewal notices. A real renewal notice for a plan you already set to auto-renew shouldn’t ask for your card number. If one does, stop and check. It could be a scam. [1]
Check the price. A renewal can cost more than you paid before, especially after a promotional rate ends. [1]
Watch for pre-checked boxes when you sign up. Uncheck anything you don’t agree with. [1]
Review your list every few months.

What about “click to cancel”?

You may have heard about the FTC’s “click to cancel” rule. A federal appeals court vacated that 2024 rule, and in February 2026 the FTC restored its earlier Negative Option Rule. [4] In March 2026, the FTC asked for public comment on whether to adopt new rules about online subscriptions and cancellations. [3][4] The comment period closed on April 13, 2026, according to Reginfo.gov. [4] Check the FTC’s website for updates.

For more money basics, visit the Budget Hive or set aside cash for yearly renewals with sinking funds.

Make it easier

Want it on paper? Use the Budget Tracker to keep track as you go.

Not financial advice.

Get more practical guides

Enjoy practical guides like this one? Join the Useful Hive newsletter for simple guides to cooking, money and everyday life. Sign up here