A survey from June 2025 shows that Americans are paying for fewer subscriptions than before. The research asked 1,138 adults about their monthly habits and spending. On average, households now have 2.8 subscriptions compared with 4.1 in 2024.
Monthly costs dropped as well. People spent about 59 dollars a month last year. This year, the average is 37 dollars. That means many households are saving roughly 264 dollars over a year by cutting services.
Wasted Spending Remains
Even with fewer accounts, people are still paying for things they don’t use. The study found that each person wastes about 127 dollars a year on unused subscriptions. That figure equals nearly three months of typical subscription spending.
Younger adults are more likely to forget about old accounts. Those between 18 and 24 had fewer subscriptions overall, but they wasted more money compared with older groups. People in the 35 to 54 age bracket held the most subscriptions, while older adults over 55 tended to be more careful.
Streaming Under Pressure
Streaming platforms continue to dominate, with 53 percent of households paying for at least one service. Even so, sign-ups are down from earlier years. Price increases and new rules on password sharing have caused many to cancel.
The shift also changes viewing habits. Around 46 percent of people said they would be more likely to turn to piracy if they cancelled their streaming accounts. That number shows how pricing decisions can influence behaviour outside the platforms themselves.
Food Delivery and Shopping Services
Food delivery subscriptions make up a smaller share. About 15 percent of people pay for passes such as Caviar or Grubhub, though many said they hardly use them.
Retail subscriptions also exist, covering items like cosmetics or household goods. About 10 percent of households keep one of these. The study suggests many of these memberships remain active out of habit rather than frequent use.
Fitness and Dating Apps
Fitness and dating services are less common but still part of the picture. Around 5 percent of people pay for fitness programmes, and 4 percent use dating app subscriptions. Both follow the same pattern seen elsewhere: people sign up, lose interest, and forget to cancel.
Why People Cancel Subscriptions
The survey also asked participants what pushed them to cancel. Rising living costs topped the list, with about a third citing affordability as the main issue. Others said they didn’t use the service enough, dropped accounts after free trials ended, or left because of price hikes. Some found better deals elsewhere, while a smaller group blamed poor customer service.
Changing Habits Since the Pandemic
During the early 2020s, households signed up quickly for new services. Subscriptions were seen as affordable alternatives to outside entertainment and shopping. That trend is fading. With tighter budgets and higher prices in 2025, many are cancelling accounts and weighing each service more carefully.
The findings show a shift. Subscriptions are still common, but people are more selective. Companies relying on recurring payments face greater pressure to show value, since customers are more willing to walk away.
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next:
• Sensitive Data Is Slipping Into AI Prompts, And Few Workers Realize the Risk[2]
• New Research Warns Multitasking Leaves Employees Exposed to Phishing[3]
References
- ^ The survey (www.self.inc)
- ^ Sensitive Data Is Slipping Into AI Prompts, And Few Workers Realize the Risk (www.digitalinformationworld.com)
- ^ New Research Warns Multitasking Leaves Employees Exposed to Phishing (www.digitalinformationworld.com)