Streaming money down the drain: 1 in 3 Australians pay for a subscription they don’t use
Key takeaways
- 7.4 million people are paying for a subscription they aren't using.
- Among those with unused paid subscriptions, the median monthly wastage is $26 -$50.
- Make it a habit to review your subscriptions every few months.
Australians are losing track of unused subscription services, wasting hundreds of dollars a year, according to a report by Finder.
Finder's 2026 Household Report found 34% of Australians – equivalent to 7.4 million people – are paying for at least one subscription service they do not use.
Among households with unused paid subscriptions, the median monthly wastage cost is between $26 and $50.
Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) with unused subscriptions are paying $51 or more each month for things they don't use. That's more than $600 a year.
Mariam Gajabi, utilities expert at Finder and report author, said small recurring charges were quietly eating into household budgets.
"Subscriptions are easy to forget about, especially when you've signed up for a free trial with plans to cancel it later. Before you know it, you're paying for something you barely use or don't use at all.
"A few dollars here and there might not feel like much, but once you add everything up, it can easily run into hundreds of dollars a year."
Finder's report shows it's more of a younger-household issue. A whopping 51% of gen Z say they are paying for at least 1 unused subscription, compared to 42% of millennials, 25% of gen X, and just 11% of baby boomers.
Gabaji said with cost-of-living pressures still biting, it pays to plug these money leaks.
"Make it a habit to review your subscriptions every few months. If you haven't used something in the last month, cancel it – you can always sign up again later.
"It's also worth checking if there's a cheaper plan, like an ad-supported tier or a bundle, that still gives you what you need.
"Then put that extra money towards something else in your entertainment budget, or use it to pay down debt, invest or add to your savings account," Gabaji said.
Are you currently paying for any subscriptions you don't actually use?
| Yes, 1 | 13% |
| Yes, 2-3 | 14% |
| Yes, 4-5 | 5% |
| Yes 6 or more | 2% |
| No, I use everything I pay for | 47% |
| I'm not sure what I'm subscribed to | 2% |
| I don't have any paid subscriptions | 18% |
| Source: Finder's Household Report 2026. September 2026, n=1,004. |  |
Credits
- PR & Insights research team: Taylor Blackburn, Kate Boddington, Natascha Kwiet-Evans, William Capada
- Survey operation: Qualtrics
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