METHODOLOGY · UPDATED 2026.04
How we calculate your subscription waste score.
No black box. Every number on this site is computed in your browser from a public formula and a curated price database. Here is exactly how it works.
1. Where prices come from
Every monthly price in our database is pulled from the service's official American website. We use the standard individual or starter tier (not student, family, or annual-discount pricing) so that comparisons are fair. Prices are in US dollars, pre-tax. The database is reviewed every three months. The current snapshot is version 2026.04.
You can override any price in the calculator. If you got a promo, type your real price into the tile and the math updates instantly.
2. How we score usage
For each subscription you add, you click 1–5 dots that map to:
- 1 dot — Barely use: haven't opened it in weeks
- 2 dots — Sometimes: a few times a month
- 3 dots — Often: weekly
- 4 dots — A lot: several times a week
- 5 dots — Cry without: daily or essential to work
3. The waste formula
For each subscription, the share of dollars classified as "waste" is:
1–2 dots = 100% waste.
3 dots = 50% waste.
4–5 dots = 0% waste.
The weekly-or-better users (3+ dots) get partial or full credit for using their service. The 1–2 dot users are paying for something they don't actually need — that's the waste number you see in red.
Annual waste = sum of (monthly price × waste share × 12) across every subscription you added.
4. The "could save" projection
This is the green number that estimates what you'd save by switching to alternatives. It's calculated per subscription:
- If a free alternative exists in our database for that service, the projected saving is the higher of (a) your current waste share or (b) 70% of the annual cost. The 70% floor reflects realistic switching: most people stop paying entirely once they confirm the free version is good enough.
- If only a cheaper paid alternative exists, projected saving is 40% of the annual cost.
- If we have no curated alternative, projected saving is $0 (we don't speculate).
This is a model, not a guarantee. Some people switch and save 100%. Others stay subscribed because they like the original brand. The number is intentionally a realistic median.
5. Verdict tiers
Verdict labels are based on monthly subscription spend (not waste):
- Under $25/mo — Conscious Spender
- $25–$74/mo — Mild Subscription Habit
- $75–$149/mo — Subscription Trap (around the American average)
- $150–$299/mo — Subscription Hostage
- $300+/mo — Subscription Catastrophe
6. How alternatives are picked
For each service in our database, we list up to three alternatives: a free pick, a cheaper paid pick, and a best value pick (which may be the original on a discounted plan). Alternatives must be: actively maintained as of 2026, available to American users without a workaround, and meaningfully comparable in features. We do not list low-quality knockoffs just because they're cheap.
7. Sources cited on this site
Headline statistics about American subscription spending come from independent surveys, including:
- C+R Research — Subscription Service Statistics (2024)
- Bango — Subscription Wars 2024
- Empower — Subscription Spending Report (2025)
- Pew Research Center — Streaming and Cord-Cutting Trends
- Statista — Average US streaming spend
We update the citations whenever a fresher report is published. If we've cited a stale statistic, please use our contact form and we will fix it within 48 hours.
8. Limitations
This is a self-report tool. We don't see your bank statements, so we can't catch subscriptions you forgot. We also don't price-match every regional promotion. The numbers should be interpreted as a fast directional estimate — not a financial advisor's recommendation.
SubscriptionShame is not a financial advisor and nothing on this site constitutes financial advice. Use the math here as a starting point, then make your own call.