Stay on Top of all your Recurring Payments 

Is there a juggle with Netflix, Spotify, domain names, business software, gym memberships, and other recurring subscriptions? No more surprise charges and forgotten renewals! Armed with a smart Subscription Tracker in Microsoft Excel, you'll always be one step ahead of the due date, cancellation window, or auto-renew cycle.

This post guides you through creating a simple, dynamic Excel tracker that organises your subscriptions and reminds you when to take specific actions. Whether you're a freelancer keeping track of software licenses or a household trying to manage bills, this will save you time, money, and stress.


🧠 Why Use Excel for Subscription Tracking?

  • Customizable & scalable: Add/remove subscriptions as needed
  • Visual alerts: Highlight upcoming renewals before they sneak up
  • Accessible offline: No sign-ins or syncing needed
  • Supports automation using formulas, conditional formatting, and dynamic dates

🛠️ Basic Columns for Your Subscription Tracker

Column
Purpose
Subscription Name
Netflix, GoDaddy, Microsoft 365, etc.
Provider/Platform
Website or company name
Start Date
Original start date
Billing Cycle
Monthly, Yearly, Quarterly, etc.
Cost
Subscription cost
Renewal Date
When the next payment is due
Cancel By
The last date to cancel before auto-renewal
Status
Active, Cancelled, On-Hold
Notes
Login info, plan details, or contact email

⚙️ Make It Smart: Excel Formulas

1. Calculate Renewal Dates

If subscriptions renew monthly:

 =EDATE([@Start_Date],1) 

For renewals every year:

 =EDATE([@Start_Date],12) 

2. Calculate Days Until Renewal

 =[@Renewal_Date] - TODAY() 

3. Populate Conditional Formatting for Soon-to-Be Expired Subscriptions

  • Go to Home -> Conditional Formatting -> New Rule
  • Use a formula such as:

 =AND([@Status]="Active", [@Renewal_Date] - TODAY() <= 7) 

  • Red fill or warning icon, please.

This styling instantly draws the eyes to subscriptions that require attention this week.


🔥 Hot Tips for Pro Users

  • Create drop-downs in the Billing Cycle and Status columns using Data Validation.
  • Add a check box column for cancellation tracking.
  • Create a dashboard with a count for 'Renewing Soon' and 'Monthly Spend'.
  • Thereafter, link it with Power Query to pull in email notifications/payment logs.

In the era of auto-renewals and switched charges, Excel-based subscription and renewal tracking gives you back your control. From Netflix to business tools, managing it all in one customizable spreadsheet relieves financial stress and puts organization at one's fingertips. 

Start working with 5-10 subscriptions at a time, then scale up as required. Configure with smart formulas, alerts, and filters to make sure you are never caught off guard again.


🎓 Learn More with Other Levels

Take your Excel skills to the next level:


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