Subscription Cost Calculator — Total & 10-Year Cost
A subscription cost calculator adds up everything you pay for each month — streaming, music, cloud storage, apps, gym — and shows the monthly, yearly and 10-year totals, plus what that money would be worth if you invested it instead. It also flags the subscriptions you never use.
How it works
- Add each subscription with its name and monthly price.
- Mark each one as used or unused — the unused ones are added up separately.
- Set the yearly return for the “invested instead” comparison (7% is the long-term stock market average). Your totals appear instantly.
Formula
Worked example
Netflix at $17.99 a month costs $215.88 a year. And $50 a month of subscriptions you never use adds up to $6,000 over 10 years — invested at 7% a year instead, it would be worth $8,654.24. Research by C+R Research found people guess they spend $86 a month on subscriptions when the real figure is $219; CNET (April 2026) found the average household spends $111 a month, with $21 a month wasted on unused subscriptions.
Frequently asked questions
How much do people spend on subscriptions?
More than they think. C+R Research found people guess $86 a month while the real figure is $219. CNET (April 2026) put the average household at $111 a month, with $21 a month going to subscriptions nobody uses.
How do I find subscriptions I forgot about?
Check your bank and card statements for the last 3 months, then look at your phone's subscriptions page (App Store or Google Play) and your email for renewal receipts. Most people find at least one forgotten subscription.
What does “invested instead” mean?
It shows what your monthly subscription total would grow to if you invested it every month at a fixed yearly return, instead of spending it. At 7% a year, $50 a month becomes $8,654.24 in 10 years.
What return rate should I use?
7% a year is the long-term average return of the stock market before inflation. It is an average, not a promise — real returns vary every year and can be negative.
Should I cancel a subscription I use once a month?
Compare the cost with what you would pay per use. A $15 monthly service used once is $15 per use — renting or buying that one thing is usually cheaper. Keep the ones you use weekly.
Does this calculator save my subscriptions?
No. Everything you enter stays in your browser and is never sent anywhere. Close the page and it is gone.