Take control of recurring subscriptions
Easily track, manage and cancel recurring charges with Capital One’s subscription management tools.
By Matt Knise, SVP, Premium Experiences at Capital One & Mike Wolf, MVP, Software Engineering at Capital One
March 17, 2025
Managing and keeping track of recurring subscriptions and payments has increasingly become the new — and often burdensome — normal for consumers. From entertainment and fitness to meal delivery and home security, the modern consumer’s financial life is increasingly dominated by recurring payments.
The growing number of subscriptions have turned into financial blindspots: Consumers are often unaware or underestimate just how much they’re spending on these services. The average consumer has 4.5 subscriptions,[1]while 10 percent have more than 10 and 2 percent have more than 15.[2] And while most consumers estimate their monthly subscription spend to be just $86, the figure is actually closer to $219 — adding up to thousands of dollars in unexpected spend per year and sometimes resulting in unnecessary financial strain.[3]
As we approach Financial Literacy Month this April, we wanted to look at how subscription spending is quietly reshaping finances and what we can do to protect consumers. Technology can play an important role in the solution. Capital One is focused on bringing the best of our technology stack to create tools and services that help customers stay on top of their finances, including in the world of recurring subscriptions.
The hidden cost of auto-renewals
Subscription services have made everyday spending seamless — but they’ve also made tracking expenses more complicated. Automated payments can create “financial numbness” — which means we don’t actively see or think about charges, and we spend more without noticing.
The result is “set it and forget it” spending, where recurring charges continue unnoticed for months or even years. Add to this a slew of auto-renewals and the potential for complex cancellation processes, and consumers face an even greater risk of overspending on services they don’t use — or continuing to pay for those they thought they’d canceled.
How consumers can take back control of subscription spending
The first step to smarter financial management is awareness. The second is having the right tools to take action. Traditional monthly statements are backwards looking, leaving it up to customers to determine which upcoming charges may be subscriptions.
If consumers are going to take back control, they must review all recurring charges regularly to ensure they’re only paying for what they use. If subscription services neglect to send reminders to consumers ahead of auto-renewals, consumers must create their own — setting renewal date calendar reminders as soon as they sign up. In addition to this, they have to set up spending alerts to receive notifications when recurring charges hit their accounts — not wait until the end of the subscription renewal period to realize they’ve been overpaying.
A monthly audit is a great way to stress-test their personal financial health and ensure their subscription total is one they are comfortable with — and capable of — paying.
A new era of digital control
Fortunately for consumers, we are entering an era where digital tools give greater proactive control over recurring payments — not just passive tracking. Through innovative technologies, millions of customers are becoming empowered to solve some of the most challenging problems in finance.
Capital One has a long history of using data, tech and analytics to deliver superior financial services products and services for our millions of customers. Today, we leverage our modern tech stack, data ecosystem, engineering excellence and collaboration from our teams spanning technology, product and design to solve some of the most challenging problems in finance and deliver value to millions of customers. That’s especially true when it comes to helping our customers manage their finances.
Take for instance Capital One’s innovative suite of subscription management tools. Capital One leverages machine learning models to identify and categorize expected recurring changes, and gives customers the tools to take action where needed. Customers can view all their active subscriptions in one clear, organized dashboard, cancel select recurring charges or block unwanted charges before they hit and receive proactive alerts about upcoming subscription renewals — all within the Capital One app.
Better habits for a better financial future
Technology plays a huge role in helping consumers take charge of their financial future, but true financial literacy requires more than just tools — it demands a mindset shift. Managing subscriptions isn’t just about canceling payments — it’s about changing habits to prevent a never-ending game of subscription whack-a-mole.
As the subscription economy expands and shifts toward recurring billing models, it’s important that customers take action to stay ahead of their spending. Without clear oversight, these payments accumulate, impacting finances more than expected. To stay in control, consumers must take intentional steps — reviewing charges, setting up alerts and leveraging banking tools — while being more mindful of their overall spending.
Financial management should be a habit, not a burden. Fortunately, innovative digital tools like Capital One’s are here to help consumers stay in control and ensure their recurring payments bring joy, not stress. That’s an idea we can subscribe to.
Find out more about Capital One’s subscription management tools today.
The content is paid for and supplied by advertiser. The Washington Post was not involved in the creation of this content.
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