How to find all your subscriptions on Android

Why Google Play may not show everything

The Google Play list covers subscriptions bought through that Google Account and billed by Google Play. A service can instead bill you directly on its website, through PayPal, through a different Google Account, through a mobile provider, or through another app store. Some services also use an alternative billing system.

If a subscription seems to be missing, Google advises checking that you are signed in to the account used for the purchase. Look at other email accounts and old receipts if you cannot remember which account was used.

1. Check every Google Account on the phone

Tap the profile picture in Google Play and switch accounts, then reopen Payments & subscriptions. Work, personal and older accounts can each have a separate subscription list. Also ask whether a family member's account was used for the original purchase.

Record the service, price, billing frequency and renewal date shown. Do not cancel yet: first build the complete list so overlapping services and bundled benefits are easier to spot.

2. Search email for receipts and renewals

Search every email address you use for combinations of:

• subscription, membership, renewal or trial;
• Google Play, receipt, invoice or payment;
• the names of services you remember using; and
• the last four digits of cards that appear on older receipts.

Search at least 12 months so yearly plans are included. A free trial confirmation matters too, because it may show the date and price of the first charge.

3. Check PayPal and direct card payments

Open PayPal automatic payments and review active merchants. Then inspect 12 months of current-account and credit-card statements for recurring card payments, Direct Debits and unfamiliar merchant names. Use a receipt or the provider account to identify a charge rather than guessing from its amount.

4. Check the provider account

Streaming, fitness, software and news services often sell plans directly. Open the provider's own account or billing page to confirm the plan, current price, renewal date and who actually processes the payment. A subscription used on Android is not necessarily a Google Play subscription.

5. Put the results in one list

For each subscription, save:

• service and plan;
• price and billing cycle;
• next payment or renewal date;
• billing source—Google Play, PayPal, provider, bank or another store;
• annual cost; and
• a decision: keep, downgrade, review or cancel.

Convert monthly prices to yearly cost by multiplying by 12. Convert weekly prices by multiplying by 52. Keep different currencies separate rather than using a fixed exchange rate that will become inaccurate.

6. Cancel through the company that bills you

Deleting an Android app does not cancel its subscription. If Google Play is the billing source, select the subscription in Google Play and follow its cancellation steps. If another company bills you, use that company's current process. Keep the confirmation and check the next statement to make sure the payment stopped.

Android subscription questions

Why are some subscriptions missing from Google Play?

Google Play shows subscriptions associated with the selected Google Account and billed through Google Play. A subscription may instead use another Google Account, PayPal, a provider's website, a mobile provider, another app store or a different billing system.

How can I find annual subscriptions I have forgotten?

Search at least 12 months of email receipts and bank, card and PayPal activity. Look for terms such as subscription, membership, renewal, invoice and trial, then confirm the next renewal date in the provider account.

Does deleting an Android app cancel its subscription?

No. Uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription. Cancel through the company that bills you, keep the confirmation and check the next statement to confirm that the payment stopped.

Can I track subscriptions without connecting my bank?

Yes. You can build a manual list using Google Play, receipts, PayPal, statements and provider accounts. Subs HQ stores the subscription list you enter on your device and does not require a bank connection or a Subs HQ account.