Monthly subscriptions can add up fast — especially when you forget about canceling a free trial (or three).
In 2022, Americans estimated they spent $86 a month on streaming services, memberships and other subscriptions, according to a report from C+R Research. The reality, however, was closer to $219 a month.
That’s why a good subscription tracker can come in handy: It lets you keep tabs on recurring charges and makes it easier to unsubscribe from services you no longer want.
CNBC Select compared over a dozen mobile apps, websites and services to find the best subscription trackers based on pricing, features, ease-of-use and perks like bill negotiation. (See our methodology for more information.)
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Best for tracking and saving: Rocket Money
Rocket Money
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Cost
Free, with the option to upgrade to Rocket Money Premium for a fee of $4 to $12 per month (with 7-day free trial). Bill negotiation costs between 30% to 60% of the 12-month savings achieved as a result of the negotiation.
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Standout features
Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions, track your spending and credit score, automate savings and get help lowering bills
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, Rocket Money instantly identifies your top spending categories
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android), as well as online
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Security features
Rocket Money accesses users’ transaction data via an encrypted token, uses Plaid API so user credentials are never stored, provides bank-level 256-bit encryption and hosts servers on secure Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is used by the Department of Defense, NASA and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Pros
- Negotiates cell phone and cable bills, plus helps you get refunds for some bank fees
- Free version available
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- Instantly finds and tracks your subscriptions
- Website says 80% of people save money by using Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions
- Provides breakdown of user spending and notifies of upcoming charges and low balance alerts
- Helps users create a budget
- Users can see their Experian VantageScore 3.0 credit score and get access to their credit report
- Provides an interest-free pay advance up to $100 directly to qualifying users’ checking accounts
- Users can set goals, save money with autopilot Smart Savings feature
- Concierge service available to identify bills to be lowered and, for a fee, Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) will negotiate on users’ behalf for the best rates (non-refundable negotiation fee is anywhere from 30% to 60% of the 12-month savings achieved as a result of the negotiation)
- Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) Premium Service features include free access to Smart Savings feature, unlimited budgeting categories, custom spend categories, real-time account balance updates, premium chat, subscription cancellation concierge, “Truebill Offers” and educational material
- Coming soon: Users can track their net worth
- High Trustscore rating of 4.3/5 stars (from 392 reviews)
Cons
- Costs between $4 and $12 per month to upgrade to Rocket Money Premium Service
- Non-refundable negotiation fee anywhere from 30% to 60% of the 12-month savings achieved as a result of Rocket Money’s bill negotiation on users’ behalf
- Less than 10 Better Business Bureau reviews
- Does not negotiate internet, landline phones, cable/phone/internet bundles, alarm and security systems, satellite radio/TV or electric bills
Who’s this for? Rocket Money is best if you need help tracking your spending, ending unwanted subscriptions and keeping on top of your credit score. You can link your bank, credit card and investment accounts into one easy-to-use system.
Standout benefits: Rocket Money provides a spending breakdown and sends alerts when your checking balance is low or your credit card spending is unusually high. Rocket Money Premium cancels services for you and can even work to negotiate subscription refunds on your behalf.
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Best for texters: Trim
AskTrim.com
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Cost
Free; one-time bill negotiation fee is 33% of total annual savings
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Standout features
Communicates via SMS text: Scans users’ bills and texts them to get permission to cancel any subscriptions it finds. Users can easily ask questions
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Categorizes your expenses
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
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Availability
Offered online and via SMS text
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Security features
Trim uses major bank 256-bit SSL encryption and Plaid API so user credentials are never stored, hosts servers on secure Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is used by the Department of Defense, NASA and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), plus two-factor authentication or OAuth when signing in
Pros
- 14-day free trial available
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- Makes it easy to cancel unwanted subscriptions
- Website says customers save over $600 in their first year on average
- Trim negotiates cable, internet, phone and medical bills, plus credit card interest rates, for a fee (Trim works with Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon and most other providers)
- You can also ask Trim (via SMS or Facebook Messenger) questions like how much you spent with a certain merchant or for info on your credit card balance
- Offers a FDIC-insured high-yield savings account called Trim Simple Savings with a 4% annualized bonus on users’ first $2,000 saved and .001% on any amount saved after that
Cons
- $99 annual subscription
- One-time bill negotiation fee is 33% of total annual savings
- Does not negotiate satellite radio, electric or utility bills
- Has less-than-average Better Business Bureau score (2.53-star BBB rating with 46 customer reviews with 79 customer complaints in the last three years)
Who’s this for? Trim by OneMain isn’t a mobile app: Users communicate with agents and cancel subscriptions on the spot via text message.
Standout benefits: Trim lets users connect bank and credit card accounts so it can find and cancel unwanted recurring subscriptions. You can also upload bills you want negotiated.
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Best for budgeting: Pocket Guard
PocketGuard
Information about PocketGuard has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by PocketGuard prior to publication.
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Cost
Upgrade to a Pocketguard Plus monthly subscription, for $12.99 per month, or a yearly subscription for $74.99 per year, which broken down equals $6.25 per month giving members an over all 50% savings.
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Standout features
Taking into account your estimated income, upcoming expenses and savings goals, “In My Pocket” feature uses an algorithm to show how much you have available for everyday spending
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
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Security features
Major bank-level encryption, PIN codes and biometrics like Touch ID and Face ID
Pros
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- “In My Pocket” feature uses an algorithm to show how much you have available for everyday spending
- Users can create savings goals
- Has bill payment tracker and bill negotiation feature (negotiated bills cost a fee)
Cons
- Basic version costs $74.99/year and premium version costs $155.88/year
- Some user reviews report that transactions are categorized incorrectly on occasion
Who’s this for? PocketGuard excels in tracking your spending on subscriptions, but it’s also a standout budgeting app that lets you review your cash flow, assets and debts.
Standout benefits: Users can set up customized spending categories and get a visual of their expenses. You can get notified about upcoming due dates, receive alerts about potential fraud and see how much spending money you have left after paying bills and meeting savings goals. There are also budgeting tools and a useful debt-payoff planner.
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Best for Chase customers: Chase Stored Cards
Chase Saved Account Manager
Information about Chase Saved Account Manager has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by Chase prior to publication.
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Cost
Free to use as Chase credit cardmember
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Standout features
Cardmembers can see where they’ve saved credit card information online and in digital wallets, plus monitor their recurring payments and receive notifications if there’s an irregular charge
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, Chase can provide customers with a personalized spending report that shows how much they spent in each merchant category so far this year or the entire previous year
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Links to accounts
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Availability
Offered in the Chase Mobile® app
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Security features
Multiple authentication checks, suspicious activity alerts, secure chase.com windows and 128-bit encryption technology to protect username, password and other personal account information
Pros
- Free to use if you have a Chase credit card
- Syncs to your Chase credit cards
- Track where credit card information has been used online for payments and where merchants are storing it for future transactions
- Monitor recurring monthly payments and receive notifications if there is an irregular charge
- See which businesses recently saved payment information and update card details with a quick tap in the Chase Mobile app; this provides an opportunity to review or delete credit card information merchants are retaining
Cons
- Doesn’t have budgeting features that other subscription tools might offer
- Only tracks your Chase credit card(s)
- There is no bill negotiation feature
Best for Capital One customers: Eno Capital One Assistant
Eno®—Capital One® Assistant
Information about Eno®—Capital One® Assistant has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by Capital One prior to publication.
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Cost
Free to use as Capital One credit card user
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Standout features
Notifies users about duplicate transactions or increases in subscription charges
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Categorizes your expenses
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Links to accounts
Yes, Capital One credit cards
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Availability
Offered 24/7 online, in the Capital One® Mobile app, via email alerts and over SMS text
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Security features
Multi-factor authentication like SwiftIDSM by Capital One
Pros
- Free to use if you have a Capital One credit card
- Syncs to your Capital One credit cards
- Looks out for free trials and can remind users before they end
- Notifies users when it spots a bill that’s higher than usual
- Alerts users about suspicious charges and helps to resolve them
- Checks in with users if it detects a tip that’s more than their usual amount
- Users can text Eno questions about their Capital One checking, savings, credit card and auto loan accounts, such as account balances, available credit, minimum payment amounts, due dates and transaction history
Cons
- Doesn’t have budgeting features that other subscription tools might offer
- Only tracks your Capital One credit card(s)
- There is no bill negotiation feature
Who’s this for? If you have a Capital One credit card, the Eno Capital One Assistant can help track your spending and keep tabs on free trials and recurring charges (especially if they increase).
Standout benefits: In addition to providing spending insights and monitoring bill payments, Eno can create virtual card numbers, alert you about suspicious charges, send notifications when you get money back and help to prevent duplicate charges.
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More on our top subscription trackers
Rocket Money
Cost
Rocket Money is free to use. Rocket Money Premium is $6 to $12 per month (after a 7-day free trial) and includes additional services like bill negotiation, net worth tracking, and accessing a full credit report. Bill negotiation services cost 35% to 60% of total savings
Security features
Bank-level 256-bit encryption, partnered with Plaid to link financial accounts, servers hosted on secure Amazon Web Services (AWS).
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Trim by OneMain
Cost
Free to use. Bill negotiation service costs 15% of annual savings.
Security features
Bank-level security, 256-bit SSL encryption on website and encrypted databases, partnered with Plaid to link financial accounts, servers hosted on secure Amazon Web Services (AWS), two-factor authentication, securely store sensitive data using third-party vaulting and tokenization service, VGS.
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PocketGuard
PocketGuard is a budgeting app that also offers personal finance courses.
Cost
Free to use. PocketGuard Plus subscription costs $12.99 monthly or $74.99 annually and comes with added features like unlimited bank connections and budget categories, plus the ability to attach receipts, duplicate cash transactions and create debt payoff plans.
Security features
256-bit SSL encryption, which is the same level of security as major banks
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Chase Stored Cards
Cost
Free for Chase cardholders
Security features
Zero liability protection, 24/7 credit card fraud monitoring, data encryption, secure technology using biometrics, safeguards against suspicious activity, additional validation checks, secure connection to apps, 2-step verification
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Eno Capital One Assistant
Cost
Free for Capital One credit cardholders
Security features
Biometrics login, real-time fraud alerts, dispute transactions, debit card lock/unlock, fraud reporting, $0 liability for unauthorized charges
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What is a subscription tracker app?
A subscription tracker app keeps tabs on recurring monthly charges by syncing to the bank account or credit card used to set up the subscription.
Reminders
Most apps send reminders when a subscription payment is upcoming or when a trial period is ending. They can also help you locate and cancel unwanted subscriptions.
Bill negotiation
If you’ve been paying for a subscription without realizing it, some programs will offer to negotiate with a streaming service, retailer or other company to get you a partial or full refund. This may only be offered to premium customers or come with a fee that is a portion of the money you save.
How to choose a subscription tracker app
There are a lot of subscription trackers out there. Here’s what to consider
Price
If the goal of managing your recurring charges is saving money, paying for a tracker might be counterproductive. There are many free options, but if you think a premium tier will ultimately pay for itself, it could be worthwhile.
Keep in mind that most plans that offer to negotiate to get you a rebate on forgotten subscriptions expect a portion of the money they save you that year.
Features
On the most basic level, a subscription tracker should be able to identify recurring charges and get reminders about them. More advanced programs can help you cancel subscriptions, negotiate bills for you, let you set up a budget and track other financial services.
Usability
An app may have a dashboard full of useful tools, but it doesn’t do any good if it’s difficult to navigate or enter information. Ideally, you want a service that makes it easy to sync to your bank account and credit cards, find recurring payments and set reminders. The more you can do in-app, the better.
Security
If you’re concerned about online safety, check to see that your subscription tracking app uses bank-level security, end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication for your protection. You may also want to find out if the app shares your personal information and how.
Is a subscription tracker a good idea?
Knowing how much you’re paying in recurring charges can be a big help with budgeting and subscriptions are often the first things you can trim when trying to save. They’re easy to forget about , so you could be paying for a service you no longer use.
Tracking apps are also helpful if you only intend to use a subscription for a limited time, like during a free trial period or to catch your favorite series.
But there are some drawbacks: Most apps offer a free version, but you may be encouraged to pay for a deluxe tier with bonus features or the option to negotiate with subscription services for a refund or reduction. In the end, you could wind up with more recurring fees, instead of fewer.
While the best apps have robust security features, sharing sensitive banking information always comes with the risk of being hacked. Many services also share your personal information with other financial companies, advertisers and additional third parties.
Alternatives to subscription trackers
If you don’t want to use an app or other tracking service, there are several ways to keep on top of recurring charges.
- Schedule reminders for the day of the month you are charged for that account
- If you enrolled in a free trial, set reminders to cancel that subscription or service.
- Use a separate email address for your recurring charges so all correspondence is in one place.
- Dedicate one credit or debit card specifically for recurring payments and subscription.
FAQs
How much do people spend on subscription services?
What’s the best way to pay for subscription services?
How can I find all my subscriptions myself?
To find all your subscriptions yourself, you need to pull up each of your credit card and banking accounts and look at the last few months’ statements. Look at the statements for recurring charges.
Why trust CNBC Select?
Our methodology
To determine which subscription trackers offer the best user experience, CNBC Select compared more than a dozen mobile apps,websites and services. We looked at factors like pricing, features, ease of use, accessibility, security features and customer satisfaction, as well as benefits like bill negotiation, budgeting tools and user customization.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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