How to Save $100 by Unsubscribing from Entertainment Apps

Subscription creep happens. $10 turns into $50, and suddenly you’re paying $600 a year for stuff you hardly use. The upside is that it’s easy come, easy go—you can quickly figure out how to save $100 or more by starting with the basics: How much it all costs.

How Much Do Entertainment Subscriptions Cost?

Entertainment subscriptions can blow up your monthly bills quickly. Here’s an updated 2025 list of popular services, showing monthly and annual costs.

TV and Movies

Music and Radio

Deleting Netflix from your budget (sorry—too much?) could realistically save you between $100 and $300 a year. And you could save almost that much by dropping Hulu or Max. 

Many are swayed to sign up for subscriptions by credit card rewards. It happens to a lot of us. Some credit cards offer deals on subscriptions (like $20 vouchers) that save you money upfront. The upside is that it’s a fast way to save on things you already use. The downside is these credit cards make it easier to spend on stuff you don’t use (think pricey subscription bundles). 

Track spending to figure out where you fall, so you can spend smartly enough that debt relief never becomes necessary. You can review your subscriptions in a couple of ways to save money.

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How to Review Your Subscription Usage to Save Money

To save without sacrificing entertainment, start by reviewing which services you use daily or weekly. You can type manually into a spreadsheet (free), or link accounts to a budgeting app like Rocket Money. This is easy when you’ve created a budget.

Say you’ve got your list. Question one: Is the subscription worth keeping?

If a subscription delivers hours of enjoyment, it’s probably worth keeping. But for those you touch once a month or less, look for cheaper alternatives.

For instance:

• Love one Sirius XM show? Switch to free podcasts.

• Subscribing to Hulu for a single series? Buying the season might beat a monthly fee.

Unsubscribing from rarely-used services is a fast way to cut costs in a way you may barely notice.

How to Save Big by Cutting the Cable Cord

Cutting cable may save you $1,000 or more per year, and may be relatively easy if you lean toward streaming anyway. Even switching to live TV services like YouTube TV ($82.99 per month) or Hulu Live (also $82.99 per month) beats traditional cable, which often tops $100 per month.

How to Unsubscribe from Entertainment Apps

Unsubscribing is usually quick and easy. Here’s how to save by canceling subscriptions you don’t need:

1. Open the app or visit its website.

2. Navigate to account settings.

3. Hit “Cancel” or “Cancel Subscription.”

4. Confirm your choice.

5. Verify cancellation via email.

Unsure what to cut? Tools like Rocket Money can track subscriptions, or simply scan your bank statements for recurring charges. 

The Problem with Canceling Subscriptions to Save

You take the time to cancel subs, but sometimes you go right back. There are many forces pushing you to subscribe—your favorite streamer among them. Seriously. There’s a lot.

Here are some of the many forces yanking you into subscription land:

• Subscription companies (Netflix, Spotify): They earn when you stay.

• Payment platforms (Visa, Paypal): They earn a cut of every transaction. 

• Marketers and UX Designers: They're paid to catch and hold your attention.

Even subscription management apps like Rocket Money benefit when you over-subscribe, because it’s the solution to that subscription issue—without it, no app is needed. 

Entertainment apps create many systems to hook you:

• Auto renewals, free trials: You subscribe because you forget to cancel.

• Bundling, tiered pricing: You subscribe to services you don’t use.

• FOMO: You subscribe on impulse.

Frankly, it’s a lot for anyone to handle. It’s no wonder most people feel they’re spending too much on subscriptions—there are people who spend eight hours daily getting you to click “subscribe.” So many of us come right back unless something changes. You may need to do more than simply hitting that unsubscribe button to sustain long-term savings.

The Solution to Subscription Inflation

Create a system that doesn’t rely on how you feel. If you only cancel subscriptions when you feel like it, you’re playing directly into the hands of the forces that fight for your attention. They spend years mastering the feelings game. Play a different game—the systems game.

To create a system, set your own rules and stick to them.

Systems that sometimes work:

• Monthly check-in: Set a recurring monthly reminder to cancel subscriptions. Regular check-ins prevent you from re-subscribing on accident.

• One in, one out: Drop one subscription for every new one. This rule prevents subscription creep, when you spend more on subs without realizing.

• 24-hour pause: Delay subscribing for 24 hours. This rule prevents impulse buys. A single night’s sleep might save you over $100 in annual fees.

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. Experiment to discover what works, and discard strategies that don’t. Combining a monthly review and forbidding new subscriptions past 10 p.m. might work best, or some other combo entirely.

Systems help you overcome the psychology of overspending. The point is to create a system where your rules apply, one that replaces your current system with something that works. 

Improve Your Overall Financial Future

Learning how to save on subscriptions is a solid start to money management. Take it further with resources on debt, budgeting, and planning. At Freedom Debt Relief, you’ll find tools for a stronger financial future.

Learn More

• Reducing Expenses During a Sudden Financial Hardship (Freedom Debt Relief)

• 18 Ways to Save More Money (Freedom Debt Relief)