Step 1: Bank Accounts and Credit Cards
Log in to every bank account and credit card you hold. Download or view 13 months of transactions — not 12, because annual subscriptions renew once a year. Filter for recurring charges by looking for the same merchant name appearing monthly, quarterly, or annually. Pay close attention to small charges between $1 and $30 from unfamiliar merchant names. Common disguised subscription names include "APPLE.COM/BILL", "GOOGLE *Workspace", "PAYPAL *ServiceName", "AMZ*" (Amazon services), and various variations of legitimate service names. Write down every recurring charge with the merchant, amount, and frequency.
Step 3: Apple and Google Subscriptions
A large proportion of app-based subscriptions are managed through Apple or Google and appear on your bank statement as "Apple.com/bill" or "GOOGLE *Services" rather than the app name. On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions — this shows all active and recently expired App Store subscriptions with their next billing dates and costs. On Android: Google Play → profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions. Both screens are worth bookmarking and reviewing monthly. Expired subscriptions are shown separately from active ones — review both, as sometimes subscriptions you thought you cancelled are still active.
Step 4: Amazon and Streaming Platforms
Amazon operates several separate subscription products under one billing relationship. Go to amazon.com → Account → Memberships & Subscriptions. This shows Amazon Prime, Amazon Music, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and any Amazon Channels (streaming services added through Prime Video, like Paramount+ or Discovery+). Each appears as a separate subscription. Also check Prime Video Channels specifically at primevideo.com → Channels — these are sometimes added during free trials and continue silently. Once you have a complete list from all four sources, you have a reliable picture of your full recurring payment load.