The Subscription Audit Rule

Before adding any subscription, ask: “Would I pay double if I had to?” If the answer is no, cancel it.

Here are the tools that pass this test for most solo workers.

Essential Subscriptions

ToolPurposeMonthly CostVerdict
Google WorkspaceEmail, Docs, Storage$6Essential
ChatGPT PlusAI assistant$20Worth it
NotionKnowledge base & docs$10Worth it
Spotify/Apple MusicMusic for focus$11Personal call
1PasswordPassword manager$3Essential

Nice-to-Have Subscriptions

ToolPurposeMonthly CostVerdict
Perplexity ProAI research$20Worth it if you research a lot
Grammarly ProWriting assistance$12Worth it for non-native writers
Cursor ProAI code editor$20Worth it for developers
Canva ProDesign and graphics$13Worth it for non-designers

How to Manage Subscriptions

  1. Monthly review of credit card statement for subscriptions
  2. Annual payment saves 10-30%
  3. Share plans: Google Workspace, Spotify, and others have family plans
  4. Use virtual cards for easy cancellation

Total Cost for a Lean Stack

CategoryToolMonthly
Email & storageGoogle Workspace$6
AIChatGPT Plus$20
KnowledgeNotion$10
Security1Password$3
MusicSpotify$11
Total$50/mo

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. Tool features and pricing may change.