Zero Subscription Living: How I Simplified My Life with Only Free (or Cancel-Anytime) Tools
I'll be honest, there was a time when I was drowning in $4.99s.
$4.99 for note-taking. $6.99 for music. $12.99 for design. $9.99 for cloud storage.
Not outrageous on their own, but they add up... fast. One day I checked my bank app and realized I was paying over $150/month in subscriptions, for tools I didn’t even use consistently.
So I challenged myself: Could I live and work entirely with free or cancel-anytime tools?
Spoiler: I could. And now, I do. Here's exactly how I pulled it off.
Tools I Switched (and What I Use Now)
Note-Taking & Docs
Was paying for: Notion Pro Now using: Free version of Notion + Google Docs No real difference for my daily use. Plus, Google is ultra-portable across devices.
Music & Focus
Was paying for: Spotify Premium Now using: YouTube Lo-fi playlists + Free Spotify (with ad blocker for desktop) Still get the vibes. Saved $120/year.
Design Work
Was paying for: Canva Pro Now using: Free Canva + Adobe Express (also free!) Most features I used were free anyway. Bonus: Adobe’s templates are underrated.
Cloud Storage
Was paying for: iCloud & Dropbox Now using: Google Drive free tier (15GB) + occasional USB backup I got intentional about what I actually needed to keep.
Scheduling & To-Dos
Was paying for: Todoist Premium Now using: Google Calendar + Apple Reminders Simple, synced, free. Zero stress.
The Mindset Shift
Living with fewer subscriptions made me:
Question convenience fees (do I need this or just lazy?)
Use tools more intentionally
Feel less digital clutter (fewer logins, fewer apps screaming for updates)
And honestly... I trust free tools more. No surprise billing. No “trial expired.” No guilt.
When I Do Subscribe
I’ll only subscribe now if it checks all 3 boxes:
Cancel-anytime (no annual lock-ins)
I use it at least 3x/week
It earns me back more time or money than it costs
If not? Bye.