In 2026, we don't buy things anymore—we rent them.
The average person now has between 12 and 15 active subscriptions. The problem? They aren't all in one place. Some are on your iPhone, some are in your Google account, and others are buried in a web portal you haven't visited in three years.
If you’re looking at your bank statement and seeing "mystery charges," here is the master map to finding where they live.
1. Check the "Big Two" (Mobile App Stores)
Most of your "daily" apps are managed by Apple or Google. Even if you deleted the app from your phone, the subscription might still be active.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions.
- On Android: Open Play Store > Profile Icon > Payments & Subscriptions.
2. The "Hidden" Web Subscriptions
This is where it gets tricky. Services like Netflix, Spotify, and many SaaS tools often encourage you to sign up on their website to avoid the "App Store Tax."
These will never show up in your phone settings. To find these, you have to look for the "Paper Trail" in your inbox. Search for:
subject:"Your receipt from"subject:"Membership confirmed"subject:"Billing statement"
3. The "Social Login" Trap
Did you "Sign in with Google" or "Sign in with Facebook" to join a gym, a streaming site, or a productivity tool? Often, these platforms handle the billing through those social accounts.
- Google: Check
myaccount.google.com/subscriptions. - PayPal: Many "forgotten" subs are hiding in Settings > Payments > Manage Automatic Payments.
4. The Bank Statement "Detective Work"
If you still see a charge you can't find, look for these common shorthand codes on your statement:
- STRP: Likely a subscription handled by Stripe (common for indie apps and newsletters).
- APPL/GGL: App Store or Google Play.
- DRI:* Digital River (often used for software like antivirus or Adobe).
Why Manual Hunting Usually Fails
The reason "Zombie Subscriptions" exist is because companies make the "Unsubscribe" button harder to find than the "Buy" button. Manually checking four different dashboards and searching 5,000 emails is a Saturday afternoon most people don't have.
A Better Way to Sweep
I built GhostSweep because I realized that our inboxes are the only place where every single "Digital Shadow" leaves a footprint.
The app doesn't just check one store; it performs a deep audit across your entire email history to map out every recurring payment, trial, and account—whether it’s from Apple, Amazon, or a random website you used once in 2024.
Stop the guessing game. Map your entire digital footprint and see exactly where your money is going.