New Year, New Me: Swapping Apps for a Fresh Start in 2026
Joe Maring
As the new year begins, I find myself eager to embrace change and start fresh. This extends to the apps and services I use daily. While I've been loyal to several of them for years, it's time for a refresh for two compelling reasons. Firstly, some apps have become redundant or too expensive, no longer serving my needs. Secondly, switching to new apps is an exciting process, providing the energy boost I need to kick off the year right.
In this article, I'll share the apps I'm replacing and why, offering a glimpse into my digital transformation. Whether you're a frequent app switcher or a long-term user, I hope this inspires you to consider a change.
Task Management: Bidding Farewell to Todoist, Welcoming TickTick
Mitja Rutnik
Todoist has been my trusted companion for years, helping me stay organized and on top of my projects. Its simplicity, flexibility, and user-friendly interface made it a favorite. However, recent price hikes have made me reconsider. The monthly subscription increased by 40%, while the yearly price hike was 25%. As a long-term user, I'm on an old legacy plan, which means I lose access to new features unless I upgrade to a more expensive plan.
After exploring alternatives, I'm moving to TickTick. It offers a similar experience but without the price hike. While I could set up a to-do template in Notion, it doesn't replicate my workflow as seamlessly as TickTick. I'm excited to see if I can find a better fit before my Todoist subscription expires.
Money Management: Saying Goodbye to YNAB, Embracing Wallet
Edgar Cervantes
YNAB has been a valuable tool for managing my finances, but its high price tag ($15 per month or $109 annually) has become a burden. The bigger issue is connectivity; the service doesn't support my European banks, forcing me to manually enter transactions. This makes money management a chore rather than a fun activity.
I'm considering switching to Wallet by BudgetBakers, which supports my banks and is significantly cheaper. While I haven't decided yet, Wallet's affordability and compatibility make it an attractive option. I'm open to exploring other alternatives as well.
Password Management: Moving Beyond Bitwarden, Embracing Proton Pass
Calvin Wankhede
Bitwarden has been a reliable password manager, but I've encountered some friction. The autofill feature doesn't always work reliably on Android, and the prompt to save new passwords isn't always visible. I need a free option that works seamlessly across all my devices.
Proton Pass is my new choice. I appreciate Proton's privacy-first approach, and I've had positive experiences with other Proton apps. While Proton Pass has a premium plan with extra features, the free version offers unlimited devices, logins, and even 'hide-my-email' aliases, which is more than sufficient for my needs.
Music Streaming: Parting Ways with YouTube Music, Welcoming Deezer
Dhruv Bhutani
I've been a loyal YouTube Music user, but I've decided to switch to Deezer. This decision is based on functionality and user experience rather than finances. Deezer's UI is less cluttered and feels more intentional, making it a more enjoyable experience.
Deezer's music discovery feature, Flow, has been a game-changer. It offers a perfect blend of my favorite songs and new tracks I might like. I've discovered great songs through it, whereas YouTube Music's discovery experience has been inconsistent.
While Deezer is generally more expensive, I'm willing to pay for a better experience. I hope to take advantage of their deals and enjoy the premium features.
Photo Management: Combining Google Photos and Proton Drive
Megan Ellis
I'm not completely ditching Google Photos, as I have a Google One AI Pro subscription for 2TB of storage, which I use to back up my main library. However, I want to keep sensitive photos and videos private, so I'm moving them to Proton Drive.
Proton Drive offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that even Proton can't access them. A free Proton account provides 5GB of storage, which is sufficient for my needs. If I need more, I can upgrade to the Proton Unlimited plan, which also unlocks premium features for Proton Pass and other services.
Are you considering any app changes this year? Whether for financial reasons or to explore new options, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
