A low monthly price can make a service feel inexpensive even as many recurring charges accumulate.
Subscriptions change the way a purchase feels. A small monthly amount is easier to accept than a larger one-time price, and recurring revenue gives the business a more predictable relationship with its customers. Both sides get something from that arrangement when the service remains useful.
The trouble is that each payment is easy to overlook on its own. Several modest charges can add up to a meaningful expense, especially when the services are used rarely. A subscription is not automatically bad value, but it deserves the same attention as any other recurring commitment.