Australians spend $4.02m monthly on AI subscriptions: Westpac

Customers spend A$37 per month on average, based on credit card data.

Australians have completed one million payments for AI subscriptions over the past year, according to data from Westpac.

Customers are spending a total average of $4.02m (A$5.6m) each month on AI tools, Westpac said, citing internal card transaction data.

Individually, customers are spending an average $26.55 (A$37) per month on AI subscriptions, as of March 2026.

The same month, 150,000 retail customers are paying for at least one AI subscription each month. Three years ago, in March 2023, the number was just at 11,000, Westpac said.

This meant that AI subscription payments grew by 1,284% over the three-year period. In comparison, growth in the most popular online streaming service grew by just 35% in the same period, Westpac said.

“It’s clear that AI has moved well beyond hype. It’s now becoming more embedded as a practical tool that Australians are increasingly relying on, whether for study, work or managing the household,” said Carolyn McCann, Westpac chief executive of consumer.

The data is from an analysis of Westpac, St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne retail customer credit and debit card transactions from March 2023 until March 2026.

(US$1 = A$1.39)