How much do subscriptions cost over 10 years?

The average person spends $273/month on subscriptions, which totals over $32,000 over 10 years. Services like Adobe Creative Cloud can cost over $6,500 alone in that time.

What could I buy instead of paying for subscriptions?

Instead of renting content, you could own it. For example, your streaming subscription costs could buy vinyl records, books, or permanent digital purchases. Our calculator shows what you could own instead of paying monthly fees.

How can I reduce my subscription costs?

Use our calculator to see your total spend, identify expensive subscriptions, find cheaper alternatives, and cancel services you rarely use. Many services have free alternatives or one-time purchase options.

How much does The Athletic cost per year?

The Athletic costs $9.99/month, which equals $119.88 per year. Over 10 years, you'll spend $1198.80.

Is The Athletic worth it?

At $9.99/month ($1198.80 over 10 years), consider what you could buy instead: 1 sports book or biography per month (~$15). Whether it's worth it depends on how often you use it.

How do I cancel The Athletic?

Cancellation difficulty for The Athletic is rated "Easy". You can cancel at: https://theathletic.com/account

What are alternatives to The Athletic?

Alternatives to The Athletic include: espn-plus, nyt-all-access. You can also consider one-time purchase options that don't require monthly payments.

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The Athletic

Ad-free sports journalism covering NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, and more.

Cost Breakdown

Monthly

$10

Yearly

$100

5 Years

$599

10 Years

$1,199

Reality check: Over the next decade, you'll spend $1,199 on The Athletic. That's equivalent to 80 meals out, or 24 books.

Last updated: 2024-12Report outdated price

Before You Subscribe

Known Issues

Pricing IssueMinor Issue

Aggressive introductory pricing ($1/mo for 6 months) auto-converts to full $9.99/mo. Now bundled with NYT, adding complexity to standalone cancellation.

Own vs Rent Calculator

See what you could own instead of renting access

Time subscribed5 years

1 year5 years10 years

Total spent on The Athletic

$599.4

$9.99/mo × 12 months × 5 years

What you could OWN instead:

Paperback Book

$15 each

books

Ebook

$10 each

books

Subscription

You own: 0

Stop paying = lose access

Buying

You own: 39+

Yours forever

The subscription trap: After 5 years, you've spent $599.4but own nothing. Cancel anytime and it's like you never subscribed. With ownership, you build a collection that lasts.