There is no single right way to track subscriptions. The best method is the one you will actually keep up, and that warns you before a renewal instead of after it. If you have ever searched “track my subscriptions” right after an unexpected charge, this comparison is for you: five common methods, what each one does well, and where each one falls short.

What a subscription list needs

Whatever method you choose, every entry needs the same few details:

  • The service name and plan
  • The price and currency
  • The billing cycle: weekly, monthly, quarterly, every six months or yearly
  • The next renewal date
  • Who bills you: Apple, Google Play, Amazon, PayPal, Roku or the company itself
  • Where to cancel it

The last two matter more than they look. When you decide to cancel, you have to do it with whoever bills you, and that is not always the company whose app you use. If you are not sure what you are paying for yet, start by finding all your subscriptions.

Method 1: A spreadsheet

A spreadsheet in Google Sheets, Excel or Numbers is free and completely flexible. Give each subscription a row and each detail above a column, and add a formula to total what you pay each month.

Good for: people who already budget in a spreadsheet and like full control over the layout and the math.

Falls short on: reminders. A spreadsheet will not warn you before a renewal, and you have to roll each renewal date forward by hand after every charge. It is also easy to forget to add a new subscription on the day you sign up.

Method 2: Calendar reminders

A repeating calendar event for each renewal solves the reminder problem. In Google Calendar, for example, you can create a recurring event and choose how often it repeats. Set the alert a few days early so there is time to cancel.

Good for: a handful of subscriptions on regular cycles.

Falls short on: the overview. Calendar events do not add up your spending, and when a price changes or a free trial turns into a paid plan, you have to edit the event yourself.

Method 3: Bank and card statements

Your statements show every subscription charged to that account or card, including the ones you forgot about.

Good for: a regular audit, and catching charges you did not expect.

Falls short on: timing and clarity. A statement only shows a charge after it has happened, and the name on it is not always the service name. Apple charges, for instance, appear as apple.com/bill, and Apple says several purchases can be grouped into one charge. Subscriptions paid with another card, through PayPal or by a family member will not appear on your statement at all.

Method 4: Store and account subscription lists

Each billing platform keeps its own list of what it bills you for:

  • Apple: Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions on an iPhone or iPad
  • Google Play: the Subscriptions page in the Play Store
  • Amazon: Your Memberships and Subscriptions
  • PayPal: automatic payments in your PayPal settings
  • Roku: my.roku.com/subscriptions

Good for: accuracy. These lists are where cancellation actually happens, and they show the renewal or end date the platform has on file.

Falls short on: coverage. Each list shows only what that platform bills, so a complete picture means checking five or more places, and none of them reminds you about the others. Our App Store and Google Play guides show where those two lists live and what to do when a subscription is missing.

Method 5: A subscription tracking app

Tracking apps fall into two groups, and the difference is how your subscriptions get into the app.

Bank-linked apps read the transactions from the accounts you connect and build the list from them. Rocket Money, for example, says on its help center that it finds subscriptions by reviewing transactions from linked bank accounts and credit cards, and that bills paid by check or from unlinked accounts have to be added by hand. This approach can surface charges you forgot about, but it means connecting your financial accounts to the app. We look at the trade-offs in our Rocket Money alternative comparison.

Apps you fill in yourself

Manual trackers skip the bank connection. You add each subscription once, and the app does the remembering. Subex works this way:

  • You add subscriptions by hand, either from the app’s built-in catalog of services or as a custom entry.
  • It handles weekly, monthly, quarterly, six-monthly and yearly billing cycles, in 65 currencies.
  • You can turn on a reminder 1 or 3 days before each renewal, set per subscription.
  • When you decide to stop one, a step-by-step guide opens the provider’s own cancel page.

Subex does not detect subscriptions, read statements or link to banks, and it does not cancel anything for you. If you do not add a subscription, Subex does not know about it. It is free for one subscription added by hand. Premium is $49.99 a year or $7.99 a week and adds spending breakdowns by category and billing cycle. Subex is on Android today, and the iPhone app is not available yet.

Good for: reminders before renewals, without giving anyone access to your bank.

Falls short on: discovery. A manual app only knows what you tell it, so pair it with a statement check now and then.

Which method fits you

  • A few subscriptions on one card: a calendar reminder for each, plus a quick look at your statement every month.
  • You already live in spreadsheets: keep the sheet, and add calendar reminders for the renewals that cost the most.
  • You want reminders without linking a bank: a manual tracker app such as Subex.
  • You want charges found for you: a bank-linked app, if you are comfortable with the account connection it requires.
  • Whatever you use: check the store lists once in a while, because that is where you will cancel.

Many people combine two methods: one that reminds them before renewals, and one that catches surprises after the fact.

A simple routine that works

  1. On the day you sign up: add the subscription to your list with its renewal date and who bills you. For a free trial, use the date the trial turns into a paid plan as the renewal date.
  2. Before each renewal: decide whether to keep it. If not, cancel with whoever bills you; our guide to turning off auto-renewal shows where.
  3. Once a month: compare your list with your statements and add anything missing.
  4. Every few months: add everything up in the subscription cost calculator and drop what you no longer use.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to track my subscriptions?

The easiest method is one that reminds you, because a list you never look at will not stop a renewal. A calendar works for a few subscriptions. Once you have more than a handful, a tracker app with renewal reminders is usually less work.

How do I see all my subscriptions in one place?

No single store list shows everything, because Apple, Google Play, Amazon, PayPal and individual companies each keep their own. Build your own list by checking each of them and your statements. Our find subscriptions guide lists where to look.

Can I track subscriptions without linking my bank account?

Yes. A spreadsheet, a calendar or a manual tracker app such as Subex all work without a bank connection. The trade-off is that you enter each subscription yourself.

How often should I review my subscriptions?

A monthly check against your statements catches new charges quickly, and a reminder before each renewal gives you time to cancel. Yearly plans deserve extra attention, because the charge is larger and comes around only once a year.