Free trials and forgotten subscriptions: stop paying for things you don't use

Streaming services, apps, meal kits, cloud storage, "free" samples. Small monthly charges add up quickly, and many start as a free trial. Here's how to keep them under control.

Before you start a free trial

The FTC's guide, FTC: Getting in and out of free trials, auto-renewals and negative option subscriptions, recommends:

• Read the terms: what you're agreeing to, how long the trial lasts, and how and when to cancel.
• Look for pre-checked boxes that sign you up for extra products or let the company keep charging you.
• Be wary of "free" offers that charge shipping or fees. As the FTC puts it, free means free.
• Search the company name with "scam" or "complaint" first.

The 15-minute subscription audit

1. Pull your last two or three months of card and bank statements.
2. Highlight every recurring charge, including annual ones.
3. Check the subscriptions list in your phone's app store account.
4. For each one, ask: did I use this in the last month? Would I sign up again today at this price?
5. Cancel what you don't need, and downgrade what you do (ad-supported tiers, annual billing, family plans).

How to cancel and make it stick

• Follow the company's own cancellation steps and save a copy or screenshot of the confirmation.
• Watch your next statements. If you're charged after canceling, or charged for something you didn't agree to, dispute it with your card company and follow up in writing. See how to dispute a charge.
• Read renewal notices carefully, and be suspicious of any "renewal" for something you don't have; it may be a scam.

A money-saving trick

Rotate instead of stacking. Keep one or two streaming services at a time, binge what you want, cancel, and switch. Some services offer lower promotional rates to returning customers; know when the promo price ends.

Published October 25, 2026. We do not use affiliate links on this page; see our Affiliate Disclosure.