TidyToolsWhat subscriptions really cost
Subscriptions are designed to feel painless — a few dollars a month barely registers. But the yearly and multi-year totals tell the real story. To find the annual cost, multiply the price by how many times you're billed a year (12 for monthly, 52 for weekly, and so on). Divide by 365 for the daily cost, and multiply the annual figure by the number of years to see the long-term drain. Suddenly a "$12.99 a month" service is over $150 a year and nearly $800 across five years.
Enter the price and billing frequency to see all of it — a quick gut-check before your next renewal.
A worked example
A $12.99/month subscription is $155.88 a year, about 43 cents a day, and $779 over five years. If you're not using it enough to justify that five-year number, it's a good candidate to cancel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the yearly cost of a monthly subscription?
Multiply the monthly price by 12. A $12.99/month plan is $155.88 per year.
Why look at the multi-year cost?
Because subscriptions renew quietly for years. Seeing the 5-year total makes it obvious whether a service is worth keeping.
Is yearly billing cheaper?
Often yes — many services discount annual plans versus monthly. Compare the annual price here against 12 monthly payments.