How to earn more rewards on subscriptions you already pay for

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From Netflix and Spotify to meal kits and gym memberships, subscriptions have quietly become a nearly inevitable part of life. Most of us sign up once, set up autopay, and rarely think about them again. And if they're something we use all the time, subscriptions can be a great deal.

But those recurring charges don't have to be money that simply disappears each month.

Maximizing recurring purchases is even easier since some cards offer statement credits when you use them to pay. There are other ways to maximize rewards on subscriptions as well, including taking advantage of bonus categories and stacking card perks with merchant offers.

Here's a rundown of ways you can get the most out of subscriptions you already pay for.

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Take a few minutes to list every recurring charge, including streaming services, music apps, meal kits, software subscriptions, cloud storage, gym memberships, and even niche services you may have forgotten about.

Review your credit card and bank statements from the last two or three months to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Once everything is in one place, you can decide which subscriptions are worth keeping and which might be easy to cancel.

Some credit cards offer monthly or annual statement credits when you use the card to pay for specific services. If you already pay for these subscriptions anyway, switching the payment method to the right card can instantly lower your out-of-pocket costs.

Popular cards that offer statement credits for subscriptions include the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (with a monthly Disney streaming credit) and the American Express Platinum Card® (with a $300 digital entertainment credit), to name a few.

Be sure to read the fine print on statement credit offers since many credits require enrollment or cap how much you can earn each month or year.

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Some rewards cards also offer bonus points for categories like streaming services, which can cover a wide range of subscriptions. As an example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+, whereas the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card earns 3% cash back on eligible streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix.

Whichever cards you have, assigning each subscription to the card that earns the most rewards can provide a boost to your overall return — and you don't necessarily need a premium credit card to make it work.

Finally, don’t overlook credit card "offers" programs that provide extra savings or bonus rewards for spending with specific merchants. It's not uncommon to see Amex Offers or Chase Offers for streaming services, meal kit subscriptions, and more, and you can stack these offers with the rewards you earn for paying with your card.

This strategy takes a little work, since offers change frequently and may only apply to one or two streaming bills. For purchases that do qualify, stacking a shopping portal on top can stretch your rewards even further — here's how shopping portals work. The payoff can be worth it if you're willing to check deals and switch up your payment method.

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