How can I save money on subscriptions in New Zealand?

Start by cancelling anything you have stopped using, then check whether the services you keep offer annual billing, a cheaper tier, or student pricing. The largest single saving is usually splitting a family plan: Spotify Family is $33.99 a month for up to 6 people, about $5.67 each, against $20.99 a month for an individual subscription.

Can you split subscriptions in NZ?

Yes. Most major subscription services sell group or family plans built for several people at once, and splitting the cost of one is normal use rather than a workaround. Spotify's Family plan in New Zealand costs $33.99 a month and covers up to 6 people, which is about $5.67 each if the cost is split evenly.

How much does it cost to split a Spotify Family plan in NZ?

Spotify Family costs $33.99 a month in New Zealand and covers up to 6 people, so an even split works out at roughly $5.67 each. Compared with Spotify Premium Individual at $20.99 a month, that is a saving of well over half.

What is the easiest way to split a subscription with other people?

There are two practical options. You can organise it yourself with people you know, which is free but means collecting money every month. Or you can use a platform that matches you with people and handles the recurring payments automatically, which costs a fee but removes the chasing.

How to Save Money on Subscriptions in NZ

Start with what you have stopped using

The cheapest subscription is the one you cancel. Before working out how to pay less for something, it is worth checking whether you still want it at all.

Your bank statement is the quickest way to find them, because subscriptions are designed not to be noticed. Search the last three months for the recurring charges you cannot immediately account for. The free trial you forgot, the app you used twice, the service you signed up to for one show and never went back to.

This is the only item on this list that saves you the full amount rather than a fraction of it, and it takes about ten minutes.

Cheaper ways to pay for what you keep

For the services you actually use, there are usually two or three cheaper ways to pay for exactly the same thing.

Pay annually instead of monthly.

Many services discount an annual plan against twelve monthly payments. It means paying up front, so it only makes sense for something you are certain you will keep for the year.

Drop a tier.

Premium tiers often exist to sell you higher video quality or more simultaneous streams. If you watch on a phone, or you are the only person using the account, you may be paying for something you never see.

Check whether you qualify for student pricing.

If you are enrolled at a recognised New Zealand institution, several services sell a discounted student plan. Spotify's is $10.50 a month, against $20.99 for the standard individual plan. It needs verification of your enrolment.

None of these change what you get. They change what you are charged for it, which is why they are worth doing first.

The biggest saving is splitting a family plan

If you are paying for a subscription on your own, it is worth checking whether the service offers a Family or group plan. These plans let several people use the same subscription, which can make the cost considerably lower once it is divided between the members.

Spotify Premium Family is currently $33.99 a month in New Zealand and can have up to 6 people on the plan. Divided evenly, that works out to about $5.67 per person each month. Spotify Premium Individual, by comparison, costs $20.99 a month.

Option	Plan cost	Per person
Spotify Premium Individual	$20.99/mo	$20.99
Spotify Premium Family, split 6 ways	$33.99/mo	$5.67
Joining a plan on KiwiSubs	paid by the host	$8.99

Per person, per month. A fully shared Family plan is around $15 a month cheaper than an individual subscription.

The exact savings will depend on the service, since Family and group plans all have different prices and limits.

Browse plans

Organising it yourself

The easiest way to split a subscription is usually to do it with people you already know. One person pays for the Family plan and the others transfer their share each month. This works particularly well for families, flatmates or groups of friends who already use the same service.

The problem tends to come later, when someone forgets to pay, decides they no longer want the subscription, or needs to be replaced. With several people involved, keeping track of everyone's payments every month can become more effort than it initially seemed.

Using a subscription-sharing platform

If you do not already have a group to share with, a subscription-sharing platform can connect people who have spare places on their plans with people looking to join one. The platform can also handle recurring payments, so the person paying for the plan does not need to collect money from everyone themselves.

KiwiSubs currently offers this for Spotify Premium Family in New Zealand. Joining a plan costs $8.99 a month, compared with $20.99 for Spotify Premium Individual. That works out to a saving of $12 a month, or $144 over a year.

People who already have a Family plan can also list their spare places. At the current Spotify Family price of $33.99, 5 members paying $5.67 each would contribute $28.35 towards the monthly cost of the plan. Listing a plan on KiwiSubs is free.

Which subscriptions can be shared?

The important distinction is between a service's own Family or group plan and simply sharing the password for an individual subscription. If a service provides a multi-person plan, that is the plan you would use when splitting the cost with other people.

The rules around these plans vary between services, so it is worth checking the current terms before joining or organising a shared plan. Providers can also change their pricing, eligibility requirements or other conditions over time.

KiwiSubs currently supports Spotify Premium Family in New Zealand, with additional services planned as the platform grows.

What should you check before sharing?

Before joining a shared subscription, check the current terms for that particular service and make sure you understand how its Family or group plan works. Prices and plan conditions can change, so it is worth checking the information provided by the service rather than relying on older articles or posts.

If you are considering sharing a subscription through KiwiSubs, our FAQ covers the practical questions around joining, payments and hosting, while our guide to subscription sharing goes into more detail about the different considerations that can apply to these plans.