ChatGPT Is Fastest-Growing Subs-Based Service

What are the most popular subscription services? How much do we spend on monthly online entertainment? How many subscriptions do users maintain on average? A market overview based on the SubsCrab app – a subscription management tool that helps users track online subscriptions and monitor costs, revealed.

ChatGPT, used for work and entertainment, has grown by 296 per cent compared to 2023, becoming the fastest-growing subscription-based service worldwide. Other online subscriptions that grew extensively are YouTube Premium (122 per cent), Telegram Premium (73 per cent), X Premium (64 per cent) and Snapchat+ (59 per cent).

On average, users maintain 12 online subscriptions, including Netflix, Spotify and YouTube Premium – the most popular services worldwide. In some countries local services are leading the way; for instance, in Brazil, the top position is held by the national streaming platform, Globoplay.

Streaming services are the most subscribed category, with 22 per cent of users signing up for these platforms. However, multi-subscription services that combine TV and movies, games, Internet and telecom, are gaining popularity, attracting 16 per cent of customers. The convenience of accessing a range of services in a bundle outweighs the “music” category with its 8 per cent of subscribers worldwide.

Productivity tools, telecom and delivery services constitute a significant cluster of online subscriptions beyond entertainment. Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, LinkedIn Premium, Canva and Discord rank among most countries’ top 20 popular services. Additionally, local providers such as telecoms, marketplaces or delivery services make up the remainder of the top 20 in each country.

As for the most frequently cancelled subscriptions, Netflix, YouTube Premium and Spotify are leading the way here; the flip side of being the most popular services in the world.

“With the growing variety of offers, the number of users’ subscriptions tends to grow, as well as the budgets spent on them. A reliable subscription management tool can help users keep online subscriptions organised, remind them of the ones they’ve forgotten about and eliminate unnecessary payments,” commented Kirill Yurkin, Head of SubsCrab.

He added that this “also allows them to cancel unwanted services in a timely manner and helps them choose attractive new offers from thousands of options. It’s a mindful and savvy approach to managing these services that are becoming an integral part of our lives.”

Monthly payment plans are the preferred option for 76 per cent of users, while 17 per cent choose yearly subscriptions and 7 per cent favour other payment periods, such as weekly or two-year plans. However, the share of annual subscriptions is constantly growing, from 13 per cent in 2022 to 17 per cent in 2024.

The average cost of online subscriptions per year totals $938. Türkiye boasts the lowest average subscription price at $4 per month, $23 per year, as well as the cheapest Netflix Premium plan at $5 per month. In contrast, the UK has the highest average monthly subscription price at $13, while Germany has the highest average yearly subscription price at $64.