Why I Never Pay for Pro Versions of Free Productivity Apps

As someone who likes to stay organized, I’m always on the lookout for new tools or apps that can help me stay on top of my game. However, over the years, I’ve also come to realize that paying for the pro versions of free productivity apps just isn’t worth it.

1

The free versions are surprisingly good

When it comes to productivity apps and keeping organized, I’ve come to find that the free versions generally cover what I consider essential pretty well. Take, for example, free task managers such as Notion or app for taking notes such as Evernote Basic.

In fact, I’ve come to absolutely love Notion, especially when it comes to monthly tasks. It allows me to work on my productivity and planning without breaking the bank to do so.

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These apps have robust features such as creating to-do lists, organizing notes, and syncing across devices without the user needing to pay a dime. For many users like me, these core features are more than enough to increase productivity without paying for extra features you won’t use.

2

Alternatives can fill in the gaps

Instead of paying for premium versions, I’ve often found that combining different free tools can usually fill any gaps I might find. For example, using Google Calendar and a free app to do it it’s enough to provide seamless planning and task management without needing it premium integrations.

If you take advantage of free apps in this way, you can save a lot of money while maintaining a high level of productivity.

My advice? Actually take the time to sit down and look at what an app has to offer for free versus paid. If you can’t see using at least 2 to 3 of the app’s capabilities, then look for a free app that can do it instead and pair the two. You will save a lot of money in the long run.

3

Pro Features Often Target Niche Users

Many times, premium features on productivity apps are specifically designed for “power users” or businesses with larger, more specific needs. For the average user, these extra features aren’t really necessary or relevant to what they want to do.

Things like advanced analytics, custom branding, or Team collaboration tools they’re great options for those who need them (looking at you, Trello). However, casual users can usually accomplish their goals with free versions instead.

4

Free trials and Freemium models let you try it first

One advantage I’ve noticed in many productivity apps is that they usually offer free trials or adopt a freemium model. This allows users to try out premium features before jumping head first into a full membership.

Now, personally, there have been cases where I tried the free trial of a pro version and found that the additional features didn’t really affect or benefit my productivity and workflow. In fact, I often found more features I didn’t use or didn’t want to use than I did.

Something like Notion, which I absolutely love for productivity planning, has a free version that’s great for anyone looking to create a daily, monthly, or weekly schedule. I see absolutely no reason to buy a more robust version, although I can see where it could work for teams and businesses.

So, taking advantage of free trials, you can decide well if the pro version is worth the cost.

5

Subscriptions Add Up

Subscriptions to many different productivity apps can add up quickly, just like streaming services, and can become more expensive than expected. Spending $5-10 per app a month may seem like a small change at first, but when you calculate the annual cost, that number can add up to $100 or more.

While there may be some sense in being subscribed to 10 different streaming servicesespecially if they’re niche, which usually doesn’t translate into productivity apps. By sticking to free versions unless absolutely necessary, you can avoid the hidden cost of multiple subscriptions and allocate your resources wisely.

In the end, I found that the free versions of the productivity apps had enough good features to save me from having to subscribe to the paid version. By combining different free tools and strategizing how to use them, I have maintained a high level of productivity without having to pay more. So, before you reach for your pay card, try those free versions and see how much they bring you!