19 Expert Hacks to Save Big on Subscription Services

Subscription services are like tempting dessert trays at fancy restaurants: they look so appealing that you just can't resist, and before you know it, you've piled on many of them! The good news is that you can keep enjoying those "desserts" without breaking the bank. Stick around as we reveal 19 Expert hacks to help you save on your subscription services and keep your budget in check.

In this post, you'll learn:

How to optimize your subscription management
Tips for finding hidden discounts and promotions
Strategies for sharing and splitting costs
Tricks to maximize free trials
And much more…

1. Audit Your Current Subscriptions

You wouldn't keep paying for a gym membership you never use, right? The same principle applies here. Start by listing all your active subscriptions. You might be surprised at the forgotten services quietly draining your wallet.

Steps to Audit Your Subscriptions:

Create a list: Write down every service you're subscribed to.
Evaluate usage: Identify which services you use regularly.
Cancel the rest: Cut the cord on services you seldom or never use.

2. Utilize Free Trials Wisely

Free trials are like those excellent samples at the grocery store, but only if you don’t buy a ton of stuff you don’t need. To make the most out of free trials without falling into the trap of unintended payments:

How to Maximize Free Trials:

Stagger your trials: Don’t sign up for multiple trials at once. Instead, use them one after another.
Set reminders: Use your phone or email calendar to remind you to cancel before the trial ends.
Use multiple emails: If permissible, use different email addresses to extend trial periods.

Popular Free Trials:

Service	Free Trial Duration	Regular Cost (per month)	Cancellation Reminder Setup
Netflix	30 days	$15.49	25 days after signup
Amazon Prime	30 days	Three months	25 days after signup
Spotify Premium	3 months	$9.99	80 days after signup

3. Take Advantage of Student and Family Plans

If you’re a student or have family members who share your interests, this one’s a no-brainer. Many services offer substantial discounts for students or family packages that can be split.

Examples of Discount Plans:

Spotify Premium for Students: $4.99/month, including Hulu and Showtime.
Apple Music Family Plan: $14.99/month for up to six people.
Amazon Prime Student: 50% off regular price and includes additional perks.

How to Apply:

For student discounts, verify your student status via UNiDAYS or SheerID.
For family plans, gather your family or friends, set up a single account, and split the cost.

4. Negotiate Lower Rates

Yes, you can haggle over subscription services! This isn’t your local flea market, but customer service reps often have the power to offer discounts or better deals, especially if you're thinking of canceling.

Steps to Negotiate:

Call customer service: Be polite but firm.
Express dissatisfaction: Mention if you're considering canceling due to cost.
Ask for promotions: Inquire if any current promotions or discounts are available.
Mention competitors: Let them know you’re exploring cheaper alternatives.

Remember when you were a kid and shared your toys with friends? The same concept applies here. Many subscription services offer family or multi-user plans that allow you to share access with others, effectively splitting the cost.

Popular Shareable Subscriptions:

Netflix: Allows multiple profiles on one account.
Spotify Family: Up to six accounts for the price of 1.5 individual accounts.
Disney+: Supports up to seven profiles and four concurrent streams.

How to Split Costs:

Choose a trusted group: Family members, close friends, or roommates.
Set up a payment method: Use apps like Venmo or PayPal to collect and distribute payments.
Rotate billing responsibility: Each member takes turns paying the bill to share the load.

6. Switch to Annual Billing

While monthly payments might seem manageable, they often add up to more yearly. Many subscription services offer significant discounts if you opt for annual billing instead of monthly.

Why Choose Annual Billing:

Save money: Annual plans typically cost less than the equivalent monthly plans.
Fewer bills to manage: Simplifies budgeting with fewer transactions.
Commitment to services you love: This is a no-brainer if you're sure you'll use the service long-term.

Example Savings from Annual Billing:

Service	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Savings
Amazon Prime	$12.99	$119/year	Save $36.88/year
Adobe Creative Cloud	$52.99	$599.88/year	Save $37/year
Microsoft 365	$9.99	$99.99/year	Save $19.89/year

7. Leverage Cash-Back and Discount Sites

Cash-back and discount sites are like finding hidden treasure. Using these platforms, you can get some of your money back or find exclusive deals you wouldn’t encounter otherwise.

Best Cash-Back and Discount Sites:

Rakuten: Offers cash-back on purchases from various subscription services.
Honey: Automatically applies coupon codes at checkout and offers cash-back options.
Groupon: Features discounts on a wide range of subscription services, from streaming to fitness.

How to Use Them:

Sign up for an account: Most platforms are free to join.
Shop through the portal: Make purchases via the cash-back site or apply available discounts.
Track your rewards: Watch your savings grow over time.

8. Explore Alternative Services

Sometimes, switching to a more affordable service is the best way to save. Many niche services offer features similar to big names at a fraction of the cost.

Alternatives to Consider:

Streaming Services: Consider Peacock or Paramount+ as alternatives to Netflix or Hulu.
Music Services: Explore Tidal or Deezer for music streaming instead of Spotify or Apple Music.
Software Tools: GIMP or Inkscape can replace expensive design software like Adobe Photoshop.

How to Evaluate Alternatives:

Compare features: Ensure the alternative meets your needs.
Read reviews: Check user reviews and expert opinions to gauge reliability.
Test-free versions: Many alternatives offer free versions or trials.

9. Use Promotional Offers and Discount Codes

Promotional offers and discount codes are like gold mines for savvy shoppers. Often, companies run special promotions to attract new customers or encourage existing ones to renew. Keeping an eye out for these deals can lead to significant savings.

How to Find Promotional Offers:

Sign up for newsletters: Companies often send exclusive discounts and early access to sales to their subscribers.
Follow on social media: Brands frequently post special promotions or discount codes on their social media channels.
Check deal sites: Websites like Dealhack, RetailMeNot, and Coupons.com regularly update with new codes and deals.

Example Discount Codes and Promotions:

Service	Promotional Offer	Discount
Hulu	Student Discount	50% off
HBO Max	Annual Subscription Promo	20% off
Adobe Creative Cloud	Black Friday Sale	40% off

10. Monitor Your Subscription Usage

Keeping track of how often you use each service can be eye-opening. It’s easy to forget about a subscription you rarely use, and it’s even easier to let it continue draining your wallet.

How to Monitor Usage:

Use built-in tracking tools: Some services provide usage statistics or reports.
Create a log: Keep a manual log of when and how often you use each subscription.
Set alerts: Use calendar reminders to review your usage periodically.

11. Use Gift Cards and Reward Points

Gift cards and reward points can offer a convenient way to pay for subscriptions without touching your budget. Many services accept gift cards, and some reward programs let you redeem points for subscription credits.

How to Utilize Gift Cards and Points:

Purchase gift cards at discounted rates from retailers or online platforms.
Redeem reward points: Check if your credit card or loyalty program offers subscription credits.
Check for special offers: Some services offer additional discounts when paying with gift cards.

12. Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs

Some subscription services offer loyalty programs or reward systems that provide discounts or perks based on customer length. These can be great ways to get more value out of your subscription.

How to Benefit from Loyalty Programs:

Enroll in programs: Sign up for loyalty programs or reward schemes.
Track rewards: Keep an eye on the points or rewards you accumulate.
Redeem for discounts: Use accumulated rewards for discounts on future payments or additional perks.

13. Consider Shared Subscription Services

Shared or collaborative plans can be cost-effective for some services, especially those related to online storage or cloud services. These plans often offer the same features at a reduced rate if you’re willing to share with others.

Popular Shared Subscription Services:

Google One: Offers shared storage plans with family members.
Dropbox Family: Allows sharing a storage plan with up to six people.
Microsoft 365: Family plans allow multiple users to benefit from a single subscription.

Set clear guidelines: Agree on usage and payment responsibilities with those you share with.
Monitor usage: Keep track of how the shared service is being used.
Communicate regularly: Discuss any issues or changes with your sharing group.

14. Explore Corporate Discounts

Many companies offer corporate discounts on subscription services as part of employee benefits. If your employer has partnerships with service providers, you might be eligible for reduced rates or additional perks.

How to Access Corporate Discounts:

Check with HR: Inquire about any available discounts or benefits related to subscription services.
Use corporate portals: Some companies have dedicated portals for accessing employee discounts.
Look for partner offers: Companies often partner with services for exclusive employee rates.

Example Discounts:

Service	Corporate Discount	Discount Type
Microsoft 365	Employee Purchase Program	Up to 50% off
Adobe Creative Cloud	Corporate Subscription	40% off
LinkedIn Learning	Employer Discount	30% off

15. Use Credit Card Benefits

Many credit cards have perks that can help you save on subscription services. These can include statement credits, discounts, or even free subscriptions as part of their rewards programs.

Credit Card Benefits to Look For:

Cash-back on subscriptions: Some cards offer cash-back on recurring payments.
Travel rewards: Points from travel rewards cards can sometimes be redeemed for subscription credits.
Exclusive offers: Cards may provide exclusive promotions or discounts on various subscription services.

Example Credit Card Perks:

Credit Card	Benefit	Applicable Subscriptions
Chase Sapphire	3x points on travel and dining	Use points for travel subscriptions
American Express	$10 monthly credit for streaming	Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Citi Double Cash	2% cash back on all purchases	Apply cash back towards subscriptions

16. Explore Alternative Payment Methods

Specific payment methods, like prepaid cards or cryptocurrencies, can offer discounts or additional savings on subscription services. Some companies offer special deals for using particular payment methods.

Alternative Payment Methods to Consider:

Prepaid cards: Purchase at a discount and use them to pay for subscriptions.
Cryptocurrencies: Some services offer discounts for paying with Bitcoin or other digital currencies.
Third-party payment services: Platforms like PayPal or Apple Pay sometimes have associated discounts or promotions.

How to Benefit:

Research available options: Check if the service accepts alternative payment methods.
Compare savings: Evaluate if using an alternative payment method offers better savings.
Stay informed: Look out for promotional campaigns offering discounts for specific payment methods.

17. Look for Referral Bonuses

Many subscription services offer referral programs where you can earn rewards or discounts by referring friends and family. This is a great way to get additional value from your subscription while helping others save.

How to Utilize Referral Programs:

Check for referral offers: Visit the service’s website or contact customer support to learn about referral programs.
Share your link: Invite friends and family with your unique referral link.
Track rewards: Monitor your account for any referral bonuses or discounts you earn.

Example Referral Bonuses:

Service	Referral Bonus	Benefit
Dropbox	Extra storage for both parties	Additional 1GB per referral
Acorns	$5 for each referral	$5 bonus for each friend
MasterClass	20% off for both parties	Discount for both referrer and referee

18. Stay Updated on Annual Sales and Events

Many subscription services run annual sales or special events that offer significant discounts. Tracking these events can help you snag a deal on services you’re interested in.

Key Events to Watch For:

Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Massive discounts on various services.
Back-to-School Sales: Often feature deals on educational and streaming services.
Holiday Sales: Look for special promotions around major holidays.

How to Stay Updated:

Subscribe to newsletters: Many services send out notifications about upcoming sales.
Follow on social media: Watch for announcements on social media channels.
Use deal aggregators: Websites like Dealhack track and list significant sales events.

19. Combine and Bundle Subscriptions

Bundling services can be a cost-effective way to get multiple subscriptions at a reduced rate. Many companies offer package deals with several services at a lower combined price.

Popular Bundles to Consider:

Disney+ Bundle: Includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ at a reduced rate.
HBO Max and AT&T: Some AT&T plans include HBO Max for no additional cost.
Amazon Prime and Whole Foods: Prime members get discounts and other benefits at Whole Foods.

Tip: Check out today’s AT&T coupons.

How to Choose the Right Bundle:

Assess your needs: Choose bundles that include services you use regularly.
Compare bundles: Evaluate different bundle offers to find the best value.
Check for exclusions: Make sure the bundle covers all the services you want without additional costs.

FAQ

What is the best way to start saving on subscription services?

Begin by auditing your current subscriptions. List all services you're subscribed to, evaluate their usage, and cancel those you rarely use. This simple step can immediately reduce unnecessary expenses.

How can I find discount codes for subscription services?

Look for discount codes on deal websites like Dealhack, RetailMeNot, and Coupons.com. Additionally, subscribe to newsletters and follow companies on social media for exclusive offers.

Are there ways to save on subscriptions without canceling them?

You can explore options such as switching to annual billing, taking advantage of corporate discounts, sharing subscriptions with family or friends, and negotiating with customer service for a better rate.

What are the benefits of using free trials?

Free trials allow you to test a service before committing. To maximize their benefits, stagger your trials, set reminders to cancel before the trial period ends, and use different emails if allowed to extend trial periods.

How can I find alternatives to expensive subscription services?

Research alternatives that offer similar features at a lower cost. Look for reviews and compare features to ensure the alternative meets your needs. Services like GIMP or Inkscape can be cost-effective alternatives to expensive design software.

Can I share subscription costs with others?

Yes, many services offer family or multi-user plans that allow sharing. For instance, Spotify and Netflix provide plans to share with family or friends to reduce individual costs.

What are corporate discounts, and how can I access them?

Corporate discounts are special rates offered by companies to their employees. To access these, check with your HR department or use corporate portals if available. Discounts can apply to various subscription services.

How do I monitor my subscription usage effectively?

Use built-in tracking tools offered by some services, create a manual log of your usage, and set up calendar reminders to review your subscriptions periodically. Apps like Bobby or TrackMySubs can also help monitor usage.

Are there any benefits to using reward points or gift cards for subscriptions?

Yes, using reward points or gift cards can offset subscription costs. Look for services that accept these payment methods or use points earned from credit cards to cover subscription fees.

How can I stay updated on sales and subscription promotions?

Subscribe to newsletters from your services, follow them on social media, and use deal aggregators to track upcoming sales and promotions. Major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday often feature significant discounts.