Do you ever get to the end of the month and wonder why strange charges from companies you barely recognize show up on your credit card statement? If so, you might be unintentionally paying for unused subscriptions stacking up on your iPhone.
You‘re not alone – in 2022 over 65% of iPhone users had some type of recurring subscription through the App Store. With tempting offers like free trials and flexible renewal periods, it‘s easy to lose track of what you‘re actually paying for month to month.
But don‘t worry, I‘m here to help! In this guide, we‘ll walk step-by-step through identifying and canceling subscription services on your iPhone.
Along the way, we‘ll cover:
- How to view all active subscriptions in one place
- The easy process to confirm subscription cancellations
- Tips to avoidforgetting about renewals
- Background on the recurring revenue model behind iPhone subscription services
Ready to finally get a handle onsubscriptions costs? Let‘s get started!
Step 1: Locate All Your Active Subscriptions
The first step is gathering all your active iPhone subscriptions in one place so you know exactly what you might want to cancel.
While some subscriptions can be viewed and managed in Settings, you‘ll need to check a couple different places to see the full picture:
Check Settings
The Settings app shows subscriptions made through your Apple account payment method. This includes services like iCloud storage, Apple Music, Apple TV+, etc.
It does not show subscriptions from third-party apps, which we‘ll cover next.
To view Apple account subscriptions:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap your Apple ID
- Select "Subscriptions"
You‘ll then see a list like:
| Subscription | Status |
|---|---|
| iCloud Storage (50 GB) | Active |
| Apple Music Voice Plan | Canceled |
Check the App Store
The App Store houses subscriptions for third-party apps you‘ve downloaded, like Spotify, Headspace, Babbel, etc.
To view App Store subscriptions:
- Open the App Store app
- Tap your profile icon
- Select "Subscriptions"
You‘ll see any active app subscriptions here:
| App Name | Price | Next Billing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Babbel | $12.99 | March 24, 2023 |
Between Settings and the App Store, you now have a comprehensive view of what subscriptions could be withdrawing from your payment method monthly.
Now…what looks charge-worthy of canceling?
Step 2: Cancel Any Unwanted iPhone Subscriptions
Once you‘ve identified subscriptions you want to cancel, it‘s simple to cancel iPhone subscriptions directly on your device.
To cancel App Store app subscriptions:
- In the App Store, tap your subscription
- Select "Cancel Subscription"
- Confirm cancellation
Example:
[Screenshot of Babbel subscription cancellation]To cancel Apple account subscriptions:
- In Settings, tap your subscription
- Choose "Cancel Subscription"
- Confirm cancellation
Example:
[Screenshot of iCloud subscription cancellation]And that‘s it! You‘ve just taken back control of recurring monthly costs.
Avoiding Re-Subscribing on Accident
Once canceled, you may still see options to "Renew Subscription" appear on expired subscriptions. This lets you resubscribe if you change your mind.
Be careful not to accidentally renew by:
- Turning off auto-renewals in your account settings
- Tapping through renewal screens quickly
Why Do We Forget Subscriptions?
If you‘re wondering how so many unused subscriptions can sneak their way onto your iPhone, you‘re not alone.
There are a few key reasons we unintentionally retain subscriptions:
We overestimate our usage – When offered an enticing free trial, we often imagine using the service more than we realistically have time for.
Features change over time – An app you loved 6 months ago may have undergone changes that now decrease its value.
Renewals are designed to be ignored – Savvy apps make canceling arduous compared to one-click renewals.
Life gets busy – Work, family, travel…it‘s easy for a $9.99 monthly charge to escape attention.
Understanding the psychological forces working against our ability to keep track of subscriptions makes it a bit easier to be proactive canceling them!
The Continued Rise of Subscription Models
While subscriptions may seem frustrating at times, they do offer obvious appeals to both businesses and consumers.
For companies, subscriptions provide:
- Reliable recurring revenue
- Lower barriers to entry to attract users
- Ongoing access to drive additional purchases
For customers, benefits include:
- Flexible ability to cancel anytime
- Try-before-you-buy with free trials
- Not needing to make large upfront investments
Over the past 5+ years, subscriptions have dramatically risen across all categories of apps:
[Insert data visualization chart showing increase in subscription apps]This trend reveals no slowdown in the strategic push toward subscription-based iPhone apps. Apps provide an easy conduit for people to unintentionally overpay for digital services.
But now that you know exactly how to identify and cancel iPhone app subscriptions, you can confidently avoid unused subscriptions!
We covered a lot today. To recap, you learned:
- Where to view all active iPhone subscriptions
- How to cancel renewals for both Apple and App Store subscriptions
- Strategies to help avoid re-subscribing accidentally
- Context on the rise of recurring subscription models
I hope this guide gives you the knowledge and confidence to manage subscription costs going forward. Let me know if any other iPhone subscription questions come up!
