5 App Subscriptions I’m Keeping in 2025
We live at a time when everything around us seems to be going towards a subscription-based business model. While some subscriptions are in my view completely pointless, there are others that actually make sense.
The way I look at it is that if a product is genuinely providing you with value or is improving something for you, it’s a good subscription. But if it isn’t, you really need to consider whether it’s right for you.
Having money come out of your bank account on a monthly or yearly basis can be a stressful experience for some, especially when you’re paying for something you’ve completely forgotten about.
That is why I keep a spreadsheet of all my monthly and yearly subscriptions. But the truth of the matter is that since I discovered Setapp, I don’t have many subscriptions. We’ll get to why that is later in this article.
Anyway, without any further ado, here are the 5 App subscriptions I’m keeping in 2025…
1. Setapp
If you are a Mac user, you need to check out Setapp! It’s like Netflix, but for apps. I pay a set fee of $12.49 per month, and that provides me with access to over 250 apps, many of which I can also use on iOS.
Apps include Ulysses, Craft, CleanMyMac, BusyCal, Spark Mail, and more. These are the types of apps that I would have paid for separately before discovering Setapp, and they do tend to add up. But now that I have Setapp, I don’t have to worry about all these separate subscriptions.
Best of all, whenever I need to find a new app for a project or for something I’m working on, I can see if Setapp has an alternative. For example, I recently got back into tracking habits, and I’ve tried many apps, but many of them included a subscription. So I decided to check out Setapp, and I discovered Awesome Habits.
The funny thing is, that Awesome Habits seems to be the only app that works for me and that I don’t give up using after a while. I guess it’s all down to the clean interface and the fact that I can link it to Apple Health to automatically track fitness goals.
When you need to search for an app, Setapp makes it incredibly easy for you with the help of AI Assistant; simply explain what you’re looking for, and it will match it to an app on the platform. I think this is a perfect way to utilise AI!
I started using Setapp after discovering the 7-day free trial, and after finding it useful to me, I decided to keep it. As it goes with this type of service, you’re either going to find it useful or you’re not.
I not only found it useful, but I also became more productive when using it. Speaking of which, I’ve been using Setapp for the entire year, and I’m a massive fan, I really can’t stop singing its praises. That is why I decided to join their affiliate program. If you want to try it out for yourself, I am leaving my affiliate link, which will help support my work.
2. Endel
My next app is Endel, which I honestly can’t live without. Endel is an audio app that creates personalised soundscapes that match your activities. With the help of artificial intelligence, the app helps you to enhance focus, sleep, relax, and power you through activities.
I primarily use Endel when I’m trying to focus and get on with work. But it’s also great when you’re trying to relax. As someone who often commutes to the office with public transportation, I use it to switch off from the hustle and bustle of a train carriage. It allows me to get into the office feeling relaxed and refreshed.
I also like using it after a busy morning at work. During my break, I typically like going on walks. Endel proves to be great for this, as I find that it really sets me up for the afternoon.
Endel also proves to be great for times when you are struggling to fall asleep.
One of my favourite features of the app is the Pomodoro timer. Whenever I use the Pomodoro technique, I tend to use an app called KanbanFlow. But there are times when I prefer to use Endel, especially when I’m not working on projects or tasks with an output, such as reading.
3. Bublup
I’ve been using Bublup for a while, and I think that it’s an excellent way to share and organise your digital stuff. From links to guides, recipes, and content you may wish to come back to in the future.
Bublup is also excellent for collaboration, as you can react and comment on things inside of folders, you can create to-do lists, add notes, scan documents, and more.
Speaking about collaboration, Bublup now features a forum feature, which I am planning to use in the future. I think that it’s an excellent feature for project teams and companies, especially when working on products.
Where Bublup really shows its power is a feature called Rolls. Within seconds, you can create a webpage showcasing everything you have inside that folder. I use this feature a lot for the Tech With Dom blog. For example, I have an area on my website where I share the things I recommend; I call it Tech Picks By Dom. I also use the feature to share my everyday tech carry and what’s in my tech backpack.
Outside my blog, I primarily use Bublup to organise links to content I may wish to come back to in the future. For example, whenever I read a guide or watch an educational video that I may wish to come back to, I have folders for those.
I’ve been using Bublup for over a year, and not only has it helped me stay organised, it has also helped me with collaborative tasks, my side hustle, and my knowledge management system. As a paying customer, I can’t stop speaking highly enough of it. That is why I decided to join their affiliate program. If you are interested in trying out Bublup yourself, I am leaving my affiliate link.
4. Apple Music
This year, I decided to switch from Spotify to Apple Music. The primary reason for the switch was the that the Family plan was cheaper on Apple Music than Spotify. At the time of writing this article, Spotify charges £19.99 per month for the family plan, whereas Apple Music charges only £16.99.
I know it’s not a major price difference, but we decided to give it a go, and we haven’t moved back to Spotify yet, especially as it can take a very long time to organise all the music and playlists.
The app itself is pretty classic, and I think it’s fair to say that Spotify has a slightly more modern interface, but I like simplicity, and Apple has nailed it with the Apple Music app on iOS.
Furthermore, I like that Apple hasn’t made any major changes to the interface on the Mac app. It reminds me of the days of iTunes; I’m not sure why, but I prefer this type of uniform interface.
The only issue I have is that Spotify works better with the Amazon Echo, as I can play music on it and easily control it using my phone. I can play Apple Music through Alexa without any issues; it’s just that sometimes it’s nice to be able to use my phone to control the music that is playing.
This isn’t a big issue for me, but I think I would appreciate it if this compatibility could be improved in the future.
5. Apple Fitness+
Staying on with Apple, next year I want to work on my fitness. That’s why I decided to trial Apple Fitness+. It’s now been over a week since I started using the service, and I’m pretty much sold.
Apple Fitness+ provides video workouts, which don’t require much equipment, and if they do, they are the basics, such as a gym mat and dumbbells for strength training.
Since I started using the app daily, I improved my mental wellbeing, I’m sleeping better, and I somehow managed to reduce stress.
Apple Fitness+ provides twelve different workout types and meditation. You can also pick your workout preferences, with time ranging from 5 to 45 minutes and with or without equipment.
One of my favourite features of the app is that you get real-time in-session metrics on your phone or TV (on compatible devices), which makes the entire experience more interactive. I have a Roku Stick that is compatible with AirPlay, and I easily cast the workouts from my iPhone to it.
While I haven’t been using Apple Fitness+ for long, I can see that it’s making a difference in my everyday life. That is why I will be renewing my subscription once my trial ends next year.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear that subscriptions can either be a drain on your finances or a source of immense value. That, of course, depends on how well they fit into your life. To me, these five app subscriptions not only enhance my productivity, organisation, and wellbeing but also help me save money. I know that there is a small price difference between the Apple Music and Spotify family plans, but it does add up if we consider how much money I can save annually. The same can be said for Setapp, as I use a number of the premium apps offered in the subscription.
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to review your subscriptions regularly and ask yourself whether they are still adding value to your life. If the answer is yes, it’s worth keeping. If not, it might be time to let go.
I keep track of all subscriptions on a subscription spreadsheet that automatically calculates the total that I’m spending, which helps me with budgeting.
Remember, the key is not how many subscriptions you have, but how effectively they serve your needs.
What subscriptions are you keeping in 2024? Let us know in the comments!
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