What is Subscription Fatigue?
Definition
The feeling of being overwhelmed by the number of active subscriptions and the cumulative cost of maintaining them.
Understanding Subscription Fatigue
Subscription fatigue has become increasingly common as more services shift to subscription models. The average consumer has 12+ subscriptions but studies show most people only actively use 5-7 of them. This leads to overspending on unused services — estimated at $133/month per person in wasted subscriptions.
Symptoms include losing track of what you're paying for, feeling reluctant to add new subscriptions, and being surprised by bank charges. The solution is regular auditing of your subscriptions using a tracker to identify which services deliver real value.
Related Terms
Subscription
A recurring payment arrangement where a customer pays at regular intervals to access a product or service.
Subscription Audit
A systematic review of all active subscriptions to evaluate their value, identify unused services, and optimize spending.
Subscription Creep
The gradual, often unnoticed increase in the number and total cost of subscriptions over time.