Are you fed up with recurring subscription charges on your credit card bill for apps you barely use? You are not alone. I decided to declutter my digital life and, more importantly, my monthly expenses. I opened the subscriptions page in the Google Play Store, noted every app, and explored free alternatives. I was determined to find equally, if not more, fantastic free alternatives that could seamlessly replace their paid counterparts.
Here are the amazing free apps I discovered, proving you don’t always need to pay for premium experiences on your Android device.
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Microsoft Designer: Replaced Canva
Microsoft Designer is a relatively new tool in the graphic design market. Unlike Canva and Adobe Express, the latest design tool from Microsoft relies on AI to stand out from the crowd. It lets me design social media posts, brochures, digital postcards, and more using text prompts. I can design what I envision, and the AI provides multiple options. This speeds up the initial design process and offers creative starting points I might not have considered.
Although the templates library isn’t as extensive as Canva’s, Designer offers a respectable library of professionally designed templates for various purposes. The default editor is basic, though. I can only add text, images, and visuals to the designs. The free version of Designer is good enough for my workflow. If you want to unlock more AI credits, you must subscribe to a Microsoft 365 plan.
Google productivity suite: Ditched Microsoft 365
Source: Google Play Store
Microsoft 365 has been my go-to productivity suite for years. However, the Windows maker hiked prices due to Copilot integration. I decided to switch to Google Workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, on the desktop and Android.
I realized that Google’s apps work better for me. I used to be all in on Microsoft, with their desktop apps and OneDrive. Since I started using my Android phone and collaborating more, I found it awkward to use Microsoft’s apps on the go, and the online versions weren’t as smooth as I wanted.
Google Docs easily replaced Word for me. Google Sheets was next. Excel is strong, but for what I need every day, like keeping track of money, making lists, and simple number stuff, Google Sheets feels simpler and easier to use. The best part is how everything in Google’s world works together. My files save automatically to Google Drive, are easy to find, and collaboration is smooth. I can access them from any device with internet access.
Bitwarden: 1Password, who?
I was a die-hard 1Password user for years. However, I came across Bitwarden, and it changed the game for me. It offers one of the best free plans for most users. I’m talking about secure storage for an unlimited number of passwords, syncing across all my devices, secure notes, and a built-in password generator, without paying a penny. It is more than good enough for my requirements.
Bitwarden’s open source nature is also a big plus. Knowing that the code is publicly available for anyone to review boosts my confidence. Other goodies include a beautiful Material You UI, Bitwarden Send to share text securely, and the ability to self-host personal data on the infrastructure I choose.
OneNote: A robust Evernote alternative
For a long time, Evernote was my trusted companion, the place where my thoughts, ideas, and random snippets of information lived. However, after Evernote’s recent price hike, I decided to switch to OneNote. OneNote is packed with features, supports drawing tools, a free-form canvas, math calculations, Sticky Notes integration, and a robust organization system with notebooks, sections, and pages.
Since I use Windows, OneNote seamlessly fits into my existing workflow. Its cross-platform availability is fantastic. Whether I use my Windows laptop, Android phone or tablet, or access it through a web browser on a different operating system, my notes are a click away.
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AppFlowy: Get rid of Trello and Asana
Trello’s Kanban boards were my go-to for organizing personal projects and collaborations. However, I wanted something flexible, feature-rich, and that adapted to my evolving needs. Then, I discovered AppFlowy.
AppFlowy uses a block-based editor. Unlike Trello’s rigid card system or Asana tasks, AppFlowy allows me to build my workflows using blocks of content. These blocks can be anything from simple text and headings to to-do lists, tables, images, and embedded documents. I can refer to project documents, notes, design files, and other details from my AppFlowy page. I don’t need to switch between apps to get the job done.
Like Bitwarden, AppFlowy is an open source solution, meaning anyone can review the source code and see how it works and behaves in the background.
Zoho Expenses: Ideal Money Manager replacement
Zoho Expenses has become my go-to for managing my financial outgoings from my Android phone. It allows me to ditch pricey expense tracking apps. For a while, I tried paid apps that promised to simplify expense management, but they often came with subscription fees to unlock advanced features.
Zoho Expenses has a generous free plan that suits my needs as an individual. The Android app is user-friendly and efficient. Capturing expenses on the go is a breeze. I can snap a photo of a receipt, and the app’s optical character recognition (OCR) extracts key information, such as the merchant name, date, and amount. This feature saves me a significant amount of time.
Other features include categorization, mileage tracking, reporting, a web app, and integration with existing Zoho apps.
Microsoft To Do: Cancel Todoist and TickTick
Replacing TickTick was the hardest thing in my cost-cutting journey. I appreciated its robust features and flexibility. Among the dozens of to-do apps, I settled on Microsoft To Do on Android.
A primary reason for the switch was the deep integration with other Microsoft apps. Since I rely on Outlook for email and Calendar for scheduling, Microsoft To Do felt like a natural companion. I love the ability to flag emails in Outlook and have them appear as tasks in my To Do list.
It offers a simple interface with multiple theming options, supports natural language where I can say “Buy milk tomorrow at 9 AM” to create a task, the ability to create lists, and a My Day view.
Dial down your credit card bills
My push into free alternatives on the Play Store was eye-opening. It shows that innovation and quality aren’t always locked behind a paywall. What are you waiting for? This list includes my recommendations. Explore and experiment with different solutions to find perfect free alternatives to paid apps. Meanwhile, check out my separate post if you are looking to boost productivity on Android.
