How much do the French spend on subscriptions each year?

The French are spending more and more money on subscriptions: video streaming, music, online storage, apps... Paid services are now a part of our daily lives.

In the past, we used to buy a CD or DVD just once. Today, we often pay a monthly subscription fee, and over time, these expenses can add up to a significant amount.

But how much do the French actually spend on subscriptions? And, more importantly, how can they lower that bill?

📲 The Surge in Subscriptions in French Households

Today, many households have multiple subscriptions.

• one or more streaming platforms: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video
• a music subscription service like Spotify
• online storage (cloud)
• a fitness app like Strava

Subscribing has become very easy: with just a few clicks, you can add a new service.

The problem is that, over time, subscriptions pile up, and it becomes easy to forget what you're paying each month.

🔎 The Phenomenon of Forgotten Subscriptions

Many people pay for monthly subscriptions they no longer use...
This is often because a free trial turned into a paid subscription, or because they signed up for a service for only a short time, or because there are two identical subscriptions in the same household.

Since these deductions are automatic, they often go unnoticed!
As a result, money is spent every month without us even realizing it.

Taking a few minutes to check your bank statements can help you spot these forgotten subscriptions and easily save money.

🧾 Why the bill keeps going up

There are several reasons why spending on subscriptions is increasing:

• Prices are rising steadily: some platforms have been raising their rates over the years.
• New services are emerging: there are more and more options available, which may make you want to subscribe to several services.
• Content is spread across several platforms: certain shows and movies are available only on a specific service. To watch everything, many people end up signing up for multiple subscriptions.

👥 Subscription sharing: A Solution to Rising Costs

As prices rise, more and more people are choosing to share their subscriptions.

The concept is simple: multiple users share the cost of a single subscription, particularly Family or Premium plans that support multiple devices.

Platforms like Spliiit make it easy to find people to share a service with.
The Owner subscription service takes a cut of the price, while the other users pay only a portion of the bill.

You can share a subscription with your loved ones or use a specialized platform to find other subscription partners.

⚠️ Please note: Some services require that users live in the same household. Before sharing a subscription, always check the service's terms of use.

🧐 Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a French household spend on subscriptions?

The amount varies significantly depending on the number of services subscribed to. A household with multiple movies and TV shows, a music subscription, and a cloud storage service can end up paying a substantial amount over the course of a year.

Which subscription service is the most expensive?

Movie and TV series streaming platforms are generally the most resource-intensive, especially when you subscribe to multiple exclusive platforms to access different libraries.

How can I figure out how much I'm actually spending?

Go through your bank statements from the last three months and make a list of all recurring debits.

This will help you identify your actual expenses and any subscriptions you may have overlooked.

Does sharing really help reduce these expenses?

Yes. By spreading out the cost of a multi-user plan plan among several people, each person significantly reduces their share of the cost while still retaining access to the service.

Take back control of your budget

French consumers’ spending on subscriptions is on the rise, but you can do something about it. By taking stock of your services and sharing the ones that lend themselves to it, you can lower your bill without giving up the things you love.

Spliiit helps you easily share your subscriptions, with secure payments and no commitment.