Enter your numbers
Type the subscribers you have today, new subscribers per month, your monthly cancel rate (or last month's cancellations), price, extra spend and platform fee.
WAVESPEED AI CHURN & LTV CALCULATOR Works in your browser
100% FREE
Subscriber Churn & LTV CalculatorWhat a subscriber is worth, and what churn costs you.
Enter your subscribers, new subscribers per month, cancel rate and price to see how long a subscriber stays and what they are worth after the platform fee.
Project subscribers and revenue month by month, see where growth levels off and compare what a few points less churn would change.
Lifetime valueMonthly projectionChurn scenarios
No sign-up Unlimited use Remembers your numbers
Example value. Check your platform's current fee and add payment fees if they are charged separately.
Optional: ads, promotions or free trials, per new subscriber.
Percentage points lower and higher.
Lifetime value per subscriber (after fee)
Gross $156.25 · $10.00 a month after fee × 12.5 months average lifetime
- Average subscriber lifetime
- 12.5 months Half of a month's new subscribers are gone after 8.3 months.
- Lifetime value (gross)
- $156.25 $12.50 per subscriber a month
- Platform fee per subscriber
- $2.50 Per month
- Steady-state subscribers
- 750 Where new subscribers equal cancellations: $7,500.00 a month after fee.
- Subscribers in month 24
- 716 $7,162.05 that month after fee
- Revenue over 24 months (after fee)
- $155,136.38 Platform fees: $38,784.10
Subscribers month by month
If churn changes by 2 points
| Lower churn · 6% | Your churn · 8% | Higher churn · 10% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly churn | 6% | 8% | 10% |
| Average subscriber lifetime | 16.7 months | 12.5 months | 10 months |
| Lifetime value per subscriber (after fee) | $166.67 | $125.00 | $100.00 |
| Subscribers in month 24 | 887 | 716 | 592 |
| Revenue in month 24 (after fee) | $8,867.50 | $7,162.05 | $5,920.23 |
| Revenue over 24 months (after fee) | $179,409.18 | $155,136.38 | $135,717.90 |
| Steady-state subscribers | 1,000 | 750 | 600 |
Same inputs, only the monthly churn changes.
Retention curve
Share of one month's new subscribers who are still subscribed after a number of months.
- After 1 month92%
- After 3 months77.9%
- After 6 months60.6%
- After 12 months36.8%
- After 24 months13.5%
Month-by-month projection
| Month | Cancelled | New | Subscribers | Gross revenue | Platform fee | After fee | Total after fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 60 | 520 | $6,500.00 | $1,300.00 | $5,200.00 | $5,200.00 |
| 2 | 42 | 60 | 538 | $6,730.00 | $1,346.00 | $5,384.00 | $10,584.00 |
| 3 | 43 | 60 | 555 | $6,941.60 | $1,388.32 | $5,553.28 | $16,137.28 |
| 4 | 44 | 60 | 571 | $7,136.27 | $1,427.25 | $5,709.02 | $21,846.30 |
| 5 | 46 | 60 | 585 | $7,315.37 | $1,463.07 | $5,852.30 | $27,698.59 |
| 6 | 47 | 60 | 598 | $7,480.14 | $1,496.03 | $5,984.11 | $33,682.71 |
| 7 | 48 | 60 | 611 | $7,631.73 | $1,526.35 | $6,105.38 | $39,788.09 |
| 8 | 49 | 60 | 622 | $7,771.19 | $1,554.24 | $6,216.95 | $46,005.04 |
| 9 | 50 | 60 | 632 | $7,899.50 | $1,579.90 | $6,319.60 | $52,324.64 |
| 10 | 51 | 60 | 641 | $8,017.54 | $1,603.51 | $6,414.03 | $58,738.67 |
| 11 | 51 | 60 | 650 | $8,126.13 | $1,625.23 | $6,500.91 | $65,239.57 |
| 12 | 52 | 60 | 658 | $8,226.04 | $1,645.21 | $6,580.83 | $71,820.41 |
| 13 | 53 | 60 | 665 | $8,317.96 | $1,663.59 | $6,654.37 | $78,474.78 |
| 14 | 53 | 60 | 672 | $8,402.52 | $1,680.50 | $6,722.02 | $85,196.79 |
| 15 | 54 | 60 | 678 | $8,480.32 | $1,696.06 | $6,784.26 | $91,981.05 |
| 16 | 54 | 60 | 684 | $8,551.89 | $1,710.38 | $6,841.52 | $98,822.57 |
| 17 | 55 | 60 | 689 | $8,617.74 | $1,723.55 | $6,894.19 | $105,716.76 |
| 18 | 55 | 60 | 694 | $8,678.32 | $1,735.66 | $6,942.66 | $112,659.42 |
| 19 | 56 | 60 | 699 | $8,734.06 | $1,746.81 | $6,987.25 | $119,646.67 |
| 20 | 56 | 60 | 703 | $8,785.33 | $1,757.07 | $7,028.27 | $126,674.93 |
| 21 | 56 | 60 | 707 | $8,832.51 | $1,766.50 | $7,066.01 | $133,740.94 |
| 22 | 57 | 60 | 710 | $8,875.91 | $1,775.18 | $7,100.72 | $140,841.66 |
| 23 | 57 | 60 | 713 | $8,915.83 | $1,783.17 | $7,132.67 | $147,974.33 |
| 24 | 57 | 60 | 716 | $8,952.57 | $1,790.51 | $7,162.05 | $155,136.38 |
| Total | 1,224 | 1,440 | $193,920.48 | $38,784.10 | $155,136.38 |
Subscriber counts are averages and are rounded for display; the money columns use the unrounded numbers.
How this is calculated
- Average lifetime
lifetime = 1 ÷ monthly churn
If 8% of subscribers cancel each month, a subscriber stays 1 ÷ 0.08 = 12.5 months on average. With 0% churn there is no limit.- Lifetime value
LTV = (price + extra spend) × (1 − fee) ÷ churn
What one subscriber pays a month, minus the platform fee, times the months they stay on average. The gross value leaves out the fee.- Subscribers each month
next month = this month × (1 − churn) + new
Each month a share of last month's subscribers cancels and the new ones join. Everyone counted in a month pays for that month.- Steady state
steady state = new per month ÷ churn
The number of subscribers where the cancellations each month equal the new subscribers. Your count moves toward it from above or below and stays there.- Retention curve
still subscribed after m months = (1 − churn)^m
Each month the same share of the remaining group cancels, so the curve falls quickly at first and then flattens.- Payback period
payback = first month where the money after fee ≥ cost
The fee is taken first, then the cost. The payback period counts the cancellations, so a group of new subscribers on average has paid the cost back by that month. If lifetime value is not above the cost, it never pays back.- Churn scenarios
churn ± points, everything else the same
The comparison reruns every number with churn a few percentage points lower and higher, kept between 0% and 100%.- Assumptions
- Churn, price, extra spend and new subscribers stay the same every month. In practice many creators see different cancel rates for new and long-time subscribers, so treat the results as an estimate and update them with your own numbers. Taxes and payment fees are not included unless you add them to the platform fee.
Calculated on your device. What you type is not sent anywhere.
THREE SIMPLE STEPS
How to work out subscriber lifetime value
Read the value
See the average lifetime, the lifetime value after the fee, the steady-state subscriber count and, if you add a cost per subscriber, the payback period.
Compare scenarios
Check the month-by-month projection and the retention curve, and see what churn a few points lower or higher would change.
Worked examples
From churn to lifetime value
A subscription costs $10 a month, subscribers spend $2.50 extra on average, the platform keeps 20% and 8% of subscribers cancel each month.
- Average lifetime = 1 ÷ 0.08 = 12.5 months.
- After the fee a subscriber brings (10 + 2.50) × 0.8 = $10 a month.
- Lifetime value = $10 × 12.5 months.
Lifetime value: $125 after the fee ($156.25 gross).
Where growth levels off
500 subscribers today, 60 new subscribers a month and 8% monthly churn.
- Month 1: 500 × 0.92 + 60 = 520. Month 2: 520 × 0.92 + 60 = 538.4.
- Growth slows as cancellations catch up with new subscribers.
- Steady state = 60 ÷ 0.08 = 750.
About 716 subscribers after 24 months, levelling off at 750.
Two points less churn
The same creator brings monthly churn down from 8% to 6%.
- Lifetime: 1 ÷ 0.06 = 16.7 months instead of 12.5.
- Lifetime value: $10 ÷ 0.06 = $166.67 instead of $125.
- Steady state: 60 ÷ 0.06 = 1,000 instead of 750.
Each subscriber is worth a third more and growth levels off a third higher.
The churn and lifetime value formulas
lifetime = 1 ÷ c, LTV = (price + extra) × (1 − fee) ÷ csubscribers next month = subscribers × (1 − c) + new, steady state = new ÷ cc is the monthly churn as a fraction (8% = 0.08). The formulas assume churn stays the same every month, so a subscriber is still there after m months with a chance of (1 − c)^m.
With no churn the lifetime and lifetime value have no limit, and subscribers grow by the new subscribers each month.
WaveSpeed AI
Need visuals for your next post?
When the numbers are done, WaveSpeed AI turns a short prompt into images, videos and 3D models.
Image Generator
Make cover images, banners and promo graphics.
Video Generator
Turn a still image into a short teaser clip.
3D Generator
Turn a picture into a 3D model.
- 1,000+ AI models
- Image, video and 3D
- Pay as you go
$1 in free credits for eligible new accounts. No card needed. Generators have separate account and credit requirements. The churn and LTV calculator is free.
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123751656780930_IfFPY7R0.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123737177812425_RjKT3cku.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123748309870128_xlkNgK8N.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123738630744263_oR09R0aj.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791177033162457776_uQ09OY7g.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123734319125607_JdnwGPY7.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123746355630206_udnxGPY7.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123744771362580_yC0sPezZ.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123738606970169_5KIR1ais.webp){kind=small}
/filters:quality(82)/media/images/1791123748197655725_EUmuFNW6.webp){kind=small}
Churn & LTV Calculator FAQ
How do I find my monthly churn rate?
Divide the subscribers who cancelled during a month by the subscribers you had at the start of that month. 40 cancellations out of 500 is 8%. You can also switch the churn box to Count and type last month's cancellations; the calculator works out the rate from today's subscribers.
What is a good churn rate?
There is no single number that fits every creator: it depends on your price, your niche, how often you post and how long your subscribers have been with you. The most useful comparison is your own history. Track churn each month and use the scenario table to see what a lower rate would be worth to you.
Why is the average lifetime 1 ÷ churn?
If the same share of subscribers cancels each month, each subscriber has the same chance of leaving every month. On average they stay 1 ÷ churn months: 12.5 months at 8%, 20 months at 5%. That is also why small changes in churn make a big difference to lifetime value.
Which platform fee should I enter?
The share your platform keeps from what subscribers pay, as stated in its current terms. The calculator has no built-in platform rates because they change; the default is only an example. If payment processing or taxes are taken separately, add them to the fee for a closer result.
What does steady state mean?
It is the subscriber count where the cancellations each month equal the new subscribers: new per month ÷ churn. If you have fewer subscribers, you grow toward it; if you have more, you shrink toward it. To raise it, win more subscribers or lower churn.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and your numbers are saved only on this device, so the calculator opens where you left it.
More free tools like this
All Free Tools
Know what a subscriber is worth
Lifetime, value after fees and what lower churn would change, in seconds.