Back to Articles

Indian Subscription Spending Report 2025 - Why Your Wallet Is Leaking (And How To Fix It)

Data-backed insights on India’s subscription economy, OTT price hikes, UPI frictionless payments, and practical steps to regain control of recurring spend.
Published At: 29 August 20252 min read
Share Via :

By Amandeep Singh

Founder, CancelMates. Helping India take control of subscription chaos.

Global subscription economy market size forecast 2024 to 2034, showing growth from USD 487 billion to USD 2,129.9 billion at 15.9% CAGR.

India is experiencing a massive subscription boom — from Netflix to niche fitness apps, monthly charges are everywhere. But with growth comes “subscription fatigue.” This 2025 Indian Subscription Spending Report breaks down key numbers, consumer impact, and how you can stop money leaks before they drain your wallet.

1. Executive Summary

  • Active internet users (2025): 900M+
  • OTT market size (2023): ₹17,496 crore
  • OTT market projection (2028): ₹35,062 crore (CAGR ~14.9%)
  • UPI transactions (2023): 117B+ — recurring payments are now effortless

2. The 3 Forces Driving Subscription Growth

  1. Massive internet adoption: Over 900M users entering the subscription economy.
  2. Frictionless payments: UPI autopay + saved cards make subscribing easier than ever.
  3. Explosion of content & apps: OTT, fitness, learning, SaaS, and niche apps flood the market.

3. OTT — India’s Biggest Subscription Category

OTT (Over-The-Top streaming) is the single largest contributor to subscription spending. With ad-free (SVOD) models dominating and new players entering every year, this sector is expected to nearly double by 2028.

Metric Value
OTT Market (2023) ₹17,496 crore
OTT Market (2028 est.) ₹35,062 crore
SVOD share (2028 est.) 65%

4. The Consumer Impact: Subscription Leaks

  • Forgotten renewals: Trials that quietly convert to monthly charges.
  • Duplicate services: Families paying for 2–3 similar OTT apps.
  • No visibility: No single dashboard to view all active recurring charges.

5. Practical Steps to Take Back Control

  1. Audit UPI & card statements monthly.
  2. Cancel anything unused in the last 30 days.
  3. Prioritize only the subscriptions you actively use.
  4. Use a tool like CancelMates to automate tracking & reminders.

Never Pay for Unused Subscriptions Again

CancelMates finds, tracks, and reminds you of all subscriptions — before they renew. Save thousands every year with one simple dashboard.

Try CancelMates Free

7. Quick Infographic & Highlights

  • India’s internet users cross 900M+ in 2025.
  • OTT market to nearly double by 2028 → ₹35,000+ crore.
  • UPI makes recurring payments seamless → also easier to forget.
  • One forgotten subscription can cost you ₹3,000+ annually.

Figures sourced from industry projections, TRAI, IAMAI, and financial reports (2023–2025). Numbers may vary slightly across sources.

Handpicked For You

Discover more premium content tailored to enhance your financial knowledge.

How to Stop Auto-Renewal on Google Play, Paytm & PhonePe
26 Jun 2025

How to Stop Auto-Renewal on Google Play, Paytm & PhonePe

A simple step-by-step guide to help Indian users disable auto-renewal for services like YouTube, SonyLIV, and other subscriptions on Google Play, Paytm, and PhonePe.

Read more
Why Zoho is Becoming India’s Default Choice: From Arattai to Ministries
14 Oct 2025

Why Zoho is Becoming India’s Default Choice: From Arattai to Ministries

From government ministries to millions of new users, Zoho is rapidly becoming India's go-to software suite. This isn't just about a 'Made in India' tag. It's a story of digital sovereignty, a unique business model, and a product ecosystem ready for its moment. This is the definitive guide to why it's all happening now.

Read more
We Tested 15 of India's Top 'Refer & Earn' Apps. Here's Why Only 2 Are Worth Your Time in 2025
2 Feb 2026

We Tested 15 of India's Top 'Refer & Earn' Apps. Here's Why Only 2 Are Worth Your Time in 2025

Tired of "Refer & Earn" apps that promise big but deliver pennies? We put 15 of India's most popular earning apps to the test to cut through the noise. This definitive 2025 guide reveals the shocking truth: only two are actually worth your time. Find out which apps deliver real cash and why the rest are a trap.

Read more

Was this guide helpful?