Get a quote to replace a subscription
Paying every month for software that could just be yours? Tell me what it is and what you use it for. I'll reply with a free option if one exists, or a price for a pay-once replacement if it's something I can build.
Before you ask
- It might already be free. Check the alternatives and the free apps we recommend.
- Want to cancel? Our cancel guides have the official steps.
- PDFs? Deskshed signs, fills in, redacts and organizes them for $5 once.
Subscriptions we can't replace
These are services, not software. You're paying for something that has to keep running somewhere else, or for content or access only the company can give. No pay-once app can stand in for them, so please don't ask for a quote on these.
| Type | For example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming video and music | Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, YouTube Premium and the like | You're paying for the right to watch or hear licensed shows and songs. No tool can replace the catalog. Your public library may offer free streaming and audiobook apps such as Libby, Kanopy or Hoopla. |
| News and magazines | Newspaper and magazine subscriptions | You're paying the people who report and write it. Many libraries give free access to some papers and magazines. |
| Cloud storage and backup | iCloud+, Google One, Dropbox | Someone has to keep your files on their servers. We can sometimes help you need less space, but not make the storage free. |
| AI assistants | ChatGPT Plus and similar | Running large AI models costs money every time you use them. |
| VPNs | Any VPN service | You're paying for servers in other places to route your traffic through. |
| Phone, internet and TV service | Carriers, internet providers, live TV services | These are networks and licensed channels, not software. |
| Games and gaming networks | Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online | The company controls online play and the game library. |
| Memberships for physical services | Amazon Prime, Walmart+, delivery passes | Shipping, delivery and store perks aren't something software can do. |
| Upgrades inside someone else's service | LinkedIn Premium, dating app upgrades, social media checkmarks | Only the company running the service can switch those features on. |
Common questions
What does a quote cost?
Nothing. Tell me what you pay for and what you use it for, and I'll reply by email with what I'd suggest, and a price if it's something I'd build.
What kinds of subscriptions can you replace?
Mostly software that runs fine on your own computer but is sold by the month: PDF and document tools, photo and video tools, file converters, small business utilities, and single-purpose apps. Often there's already a free option, and if so I'll just point you to it.
Which subscriptions can't be replaced?
Anything that's really a service: streaming, news, cloud storage, AI assistants, VPNs, phone and internet service, gaming networks, memberships like Amazon Prime, and paid upgrades inside someone else's app. The table on this page explains why for each.
What happens to the details I send?
They come to me as an email and I use them only to reply. Nothing is added to a mailing list. See the privacy page for more.