A subscription fee is a charge that is paid by a customer to access or use a product, service or content for a specified period of time. This fee typically grants the user ongoing access to the item in question and may include additional benefits such as exclusive content, discounts or other perks. The term "subscription" refers to the act of paying for this access regularly, usually through automatic billing methods like credit card charges or direct debit transactions. Subscription fees are commonly used by businesses that offer digital media (such as streaming services), software and hardware products, as well as publications and other forms of content.