Streaming and Entertainment
The most common forgotten subscriptions are streaming services subscribed to for a specific show or event and then abandoned. Check for: Netflix, Disney+, Max (HBO), Hulu, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Peacock, AMC+, Shudder, Discovery+, BritBox, Acorn TV, Crunchyroll, Funimation. Also check for streaming add-ons through Amazon Prime Video Channels — these appear as a single Amazon charge and are easily forgotten. Sports streaming services (ESPN+, DAZN, Fubo, Sling TV) are commonly subscribed during a sports season and then forgotten. Check for YouTube Premium and any paid podcast apps (Luminary, Spotify podcast subscriptions).
Software, Productivity, and Cloud Tools
Work-related software is the category where people most frequently pay for tools from a previous job or project that they no longer use. Check for: Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, Google One (cloud storage), iCloud+, Dropbox, Notion, Evernote, Todoist, 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane, Bitwarden, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Grammarly Premium, Canva Pro, Figma, Sketch, Miro, Loom, Zoom Pro. Also check for domain registrations and website hosting (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, Squarespace, Wix, WordPress.com) — these often renew annually and can be surprisingly expensive.
Health, Fitness, and Wellness
Wellness apps have some of the highest rates of subscription abandonment — people sign up with high motivation and gradually stop opening the app while continuing to pay. Check for: Headspace, Calm, Ten Percent Happier, Peloton app, MyFitnessPal Premium, Strava, Nike Training Club, ClassPass, Noom, Weight Watchers (WW), Fitbod, Whoop membership, Oura membership, Garmin Connect Premium, Strava Summit. Gym memberships — especially from previous cities or employers — also appear here. Check for any automatic billing arrangements with gyms, even ones you haven't visited in months.
Learning, News, and Subscriptions You Signed Up For "Just to Read One Article"
News paywalls and learning platforms are another high-abandonment category. Check for: New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist, The Guardian (supporter), Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, local newspaper subscriptions, Substack paid newsletters, Patreon subscriptions to creators. Learning platforms: MasterClass, Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera Plus, Udemy subscriptions, Duolingo Super, Rosetta Stone, Babbel. Gaming subscriptions: Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online, Apple Arcade, EA Play, Humble Choice. Finally, check for any app "Premium" tiers — weather apps, note-taking apps, photo editing apps — that you might have upgraded once and forgotten about.