The quickest check: divide what you paid in a period by the number of times you actually used the subscription in that period. Compare the result with the best realistic alternative. A high figure is a reason to think, not an automatic reason to cancel.
What does “worth it” mean?
For work software the value is time saved, for streaming it’s entertainment you actually watch, for cloud storage it’s knowing your photos are safe. So there is no amount in euros that makes a subscription good or bad in itself.
To decide, you need four things: the real price, how much you use it, what you get from it and the next best alternative. Then choose one clear action: keep, change plan, pause or cancel.
The formula
Cost per use = cost in a period ÷ number of uses in the same period.
If a subscription costs €28 a month and you use it seven times, each use costs €4. Use it twice and it’s €14. Cost and use must cover the same period: don’t divide a yearly price by one week’s use.
Decide first what counts as a use: a visit to the gym, a finished lesson in a language app or a working day when you needed the software.
Work out the cost per use
Per year: €155.88
The calculator runs on your device. The yearly cost assumes 12 equal payments.
Five questions before you decide
1. When did I last use it on purpose?
Check your history, calendar, screen time or training log. Memory tends to overestimate use. For seasonal services, look at a longer period.
2. Which concrete problem does it solve?
Describe the benefit in one sentence. “It might come in handy” is not a benefit. “It saves me two hours on every tax return” is something you can check.
3. Which alternative would I really use?
Don’t compare with a free option that doesn’t fit. A real alternative might be a smaller plan, a one-off purchase, the library, a bundle you already pay for or access for a single month.
4. Am I paying for features I don’t use?
Check storage, family places and add-ons. The smallest plan that covers your needs is worth more than the biggest discount on a plan that’s too large.
5. Would I sign up again today?
Judge the next payment by what you need now. Money already spent is no reason to renew. Real switching costs, such as exporting your data, do count.
Decision grid
| Used often | Used rarely | |
|---|---|---|
| High value | Keep, check the plan | Change the plan or how you pay |
| Low value | Look for a better alternative | Pause or cancel |
High value doesn’t have to mean money. Security, health, time or relaxation count too, as long as you can name them concretely.
When the number misleads
A backup service or a password manager doesn’t become more valuable because you open it often. Count months of protection or protected devices instead. The other way round, a work tool used once can pay for itself, while an app you open every day may give you little.
A three-month example
A service costs €36 a month. Over three months you use it seven, three and two times: €108 for 12 uses, so €9 per use. If the equivalent alternative costs €15 a visit, the subscription can stay. If you already have the same feature in another bundle, you’re probably paying twice.
Keep, change, pause or cancel?
Keep: the subscription regularly solves an important problem and the alternative would be worse or more expensive.
Change plan: the value is there, but you pay for places, storage or features you don’t use.
Pause: your need is seasonal and the provider really stops charging during the pause. Note when the pause ends.
Cancel: you hardly use it, can’t name a current benefit or have a better alternative. Save your data first.
Yearly or monthly?
Divide the yearly price by the monthly price. A €99 yearly plan against €11 a month becomes cheaper from nine months. That only matters if you use the service at least that long. To try out a tool or for a single project, paying monthly is often the smarter choice.
The 30-day test
Mark a doubtful subscription “to check” and, for 30 days, note every deliberate use with a short result. Then work out the cost per use and name the alternative. For a seasonal service, pick a suitable period, but still set a decision date before the next renewal.
Before you cancel
- the next payment date and when your access ends;
- the minimum term and notice period in your contract;
- exporting files, invoices and history;
- what it means for your family or team;
- the confirmation of the cancellation.
The notice period depends on your contract. If you’re unsure about your rights, the consumer organisation or consumer authority in your country can help.
After you cancel
Don’t delete the line straight away. Note the cancellation date, the confirmed end date and the last payment you expect, then check your next statement. The saving is real once no further payment arrives.
Common thinking traps
- “I’ll definitely use it next month”: judge what you actually do.
- “It’s only €10”: look at the cost per year.
- “The discount saves money”: a cheap subscription you don’t use is still a cost.
- “I deleted the app”: uninstalling and cancelling are two different things.
Short answers
What cost per use is reasonable?
There’s no fixed threshold. Compare with the realistic alternative and with what you get: €10 can be cheap for a specialist tool and expensive for a second streaming service.
After how many days without use should I cancel?
It depends on the service. A tax app is used differently from a streaming service. Decide first what rhythm you expect.
Can I rotate streaming services month by month?
With flexible monthly plans that can make sense. Check the notice period and the terms for coming back, and don’t keep several similar services running “for later”.