Netflix, Spotify, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, Amazon Prime, news subscriptions, professional software... Most of us have between 10 and 30 active digital subscriptions. Without proactive management, these charges continue to be billed for months after death, wasting estate funds.

The Problem of Ghost Subscriptions

After a loved one's death, families often discover dozens of active subscriptions they didn't know about. Some are obvious (Netflix), others much less so (software used only once, online journal subscription, professional tool).

Without a prepared list, families must:

  1. Identify all active subscriptions (often by searching through emails)
  2. Contact each service to cancel
  3. Dispute charges if the bank card is closed before cancellation
  4. Handle any refunds for unused periods

This process can take several weeks and generate stress during an already difficult time.

Inventory of Your Digital Subscriptions

Start by taking stock of all your subscriptions. Search your emails for words like "receipt," "invoice," "subscription," "renewal." Also check your bank statements to identify regular charges.

Subscription Categories to Document

Entertainment and Media

  • Video streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Hulu)
  • Music (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal)
  • Gaming (PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo Switch Online)
  • Podcasts and premium content (Patreon, Substack)
  • Online news and magazines

Professional Tools and Software

  • Office suite (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace)
  • Creative tools (Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Canva Pro)
  • Productivity tools (Notion, Evernote, Todoist)
  • Cloud storage (iCloud, Google One, Dropbox)
  • Industry-specific software

IT and Telecommunications Services

  • Web hosting, domain names
  • VPN
  • Antivirus and security
  • Password manager

Health and Wellness

  • Sports and fitness apps (Strava Premium, Peloton)
  • Meditation and relaxation (Calm, Headspace)
  • Health applications

Miscellaneous Services

  • Delivery services (Amazon Prime)
  • Transportation (bike-sharing, ride-hailing subscriptions)
  • Education (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Duolingo Plus)

What Your Loved Ones Will Need to Do

Identify Active Subscriptions

Without a prepared list, the most effective method is:

  1. Access your primary email (searching for "receipt," "invoice," "subscription")
  2. Review bank statements from the last 3 months
  3. Check subscription settings in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)

Contact Each Service

For each identified subscription, your loved ones will need to contact the service with:

  • A death certificate
  • Your account information (email, username)
  • A cancellation request and potentially a refund request

Some services have specific procedures for bereavement. Others may require disputing charges with the bank.

How to Prepare for Subscription Management

Create a Complete List

For each subscription, document:

  • Service name and URL
  • Login email
  • Monthly or annual subscription and amount
  • Renewal date
  • Instruction: cancel or temporarily maintain

Centralize Information in EchoPass

Include your subscription list in your EchoPass messages. Your loved ones will then have everything needed to handle this administrative task efficiently.

Specify for each subscription:

  • Should it be cancelled immediately?
  • Is there particular value (e.g., important data storage, transferable subscription)?
  • Are there refunds to request (in-progress annual subscriptions)?

Simplify Your Situation While Alive

Good subscription hygiene reduces the burden on your loved ones:

  • Cancel subscriptions you no longer use regularly
  • Consolidate payments on a single dedicated bank card
  • Enable subscription notification emails

Subscriptions with Value or Data to Recover

Some subscriptions contain important data to recover before cancellation:

Google One / iCloud: photos and documents. Ensure your loved ones know how to access these spaces and download the data.

Professional services: some subscriptions contain projects, client data, or professional assets to transfer.

Domain portfolios: if you own domain names, non-renewal can make them available for other buyers. Strict deadlines apply.

For a complete overview, read our guide on digital asset inventory and our digital succession checklist.

Prepare your subscription list in EchoPass and make things easier for your loved ones.