Westpac research has found Australians are wasting hundreds of dollars each year on subscriptions that they don't use or have forgotten about.
The new data has uncovered three in ten Australians admit they are losing up to $600 annually on duplicate services and apps they no longer use.
According to the research, the most common reason for overspending is forgetting to cancel a trial before autorenewal (38%). Almost one in three (32%) have paid for subscriptions they've forgotten about and one in three (31%) have difficulty cancelling a subscription.
Westpac Acting Chief Executive, Consumer, Carolyn McCann, says on average Australians are spending almost 20 per cent more on subscriptions than they realise.
"Convenience is clearly appealing to Australians and they're willing to pay for it. But our research has found these services might be running away from them a little bit. When we compared total estimated spend against customer transaction data we could see customers are spending about $14 more each month than they think they are on subscriptions," McCann said.
"While subscription costs might not seem like much in isolation, they can quickly add up - especially if these are apps or services you no longer use. This is hundreds or even thousands in potential savings that could be redirected elsewhere."
The average Australian is paying for more than five subscriptions at a time with video streaming the most popular, followed by music subscriptions and fitness and wellness apps.
CONVENIENCE COSTS ON THE RISE
An analysis of Westpac customer transaction data reveals average monthly spend on subscriptions has increased in 2025 - up 11 per cent (11.3%), representing an average annual cost of $141.
Reflecting broader cost-of-living trends, food and household purchases had the biggest annual growth with Food and Convenience subscriptions up 7.7 per cent followed by Home and Utility subscriptions which were up 3.8 per cent.
"Our data suggests customers are willing to spend on what makes life easier, with a significant uplift in spend on food services. But there's also growing awareness around value. While spend on home and utility subscriptions recorded the second highest spend growth, customers also said these services delivered the least value," McCann said.
Subscriptions aren't the only contributor to convenience costs. In June 2025 alone, the average Westpac customer spent $184.85 on takeaway - making it the leading recurring convenience expense, with customers spending over $2,200 annually1 on average - totalling more than $62 million each month across the Westpac customer base.
Streaming and gaming subscriptions remain household staples, with Australians spending an average of $21.63 per month on video platforms ($259.61 annually), $55.50 on gaming ($665.95 annually), and $16.98 on music services ($203.73 annually).
"With half of Australians saying they'd feel more in control with better visibility of their spending, we're investing in tools like Savings Finder to help. Whether it's cancelling unused subscriptions or tracking spending, we're helping Australians take back control and build financial confidence," McCann said.
Since October 2024, more than 85,000 customers have used Westpac's Savings Finder, with an average of 8,000 users each month representing an 18 per cent year-on-year increase2. Available in the Westpac App, the tool automatically calculates annual spend on subscriptions and regular bills, helping customers identify opportunities to reduce or cancel expenses.
FROM FORGOTTEN SUBSCRIPTIONS TO FOUND SAVINGS - WESTPAC'S TOP TIPS FOR SAVERS:
- Use Savings Finder to uncover personalised savings opportunities based on your actual spending habits. It scans your regular bills and subscriptions to highlight where you could cut costs or cancel unused services.
- Set Shared Goals with friends, partners or family members using Westpac's Shared Goals feature. It allows you to save collaboratively without merging accounts.
- Automate Your Savings by setting up recurring transfers to your savings goals in the Westpac App. It's a simple way to stay consistent and build momentum.
- Track Your Spending with Spend Categories and Cash Flow insights. Knowing where your money goes is the first step to making smarter financial decisions.
- Use Westpac Rewards to help save money when you shop. With features like Pay with Points, ShopBack and our Woolworths Everyday Rewards partnerships you can save on everyday essentials like groceries, fuel and even your morning coffee.
