I canceled ChatGPT Plus and 2 other AI subscriptions — here’s what I replaced them with

In recent months, I took a hard look at my AI subscriptions and asked myself a simple yet crucial question: “Am I actually using this?” The answer was a resounding no for three out of four subscriptions I held. I was paying for Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT Plus, and Perplexity Pro, each of which claimed to serve unique purposes. However, in practice, they often overlapped, leading to unnecessary expenses. After canceling all three, I switched to free alternatives and saved approximately $50 per month.

My Subscription Audit: What I Cut and Why

Let me walk you through the subscriptions I canceled, what I replaced them with, and my honest assessment of the trade-offs involved.

Adobe Firefly → Ideogram

I initially subscribed to Adobe Firefly due to its promise of being trained on licensed content, which theoretically makes it safer for commercial use. This aspect is particularly important for professionals creating content. However, the reality was that I was only generating AI images occasionally, and while Firefly produced clean outputs, they rarely impressed me.

In my case, I decided to switch to Ideogram for creating header images, social graphics, and occasional illustrations for my travel site. Ideogram’s free tier offers ample image generations, and I found the quality of both photorealistic and stylized prompts to be quite impressive. Not once have I regretted leaving Firefly behind.

• What I miss about Firefly: The peace of mind that comes with commercial licensing. If you are producing work where intellectual property ownership is a significant concern, Firefly’s training data argument still holds value. However, for most casual users, the cost is hard to justify.
• Verdict: I canceled Firefly because I didn’t need its specific advantages, and free alternatives sufficiently met my needs. I have no regrets.

ChatGPT Plus → Free ChatGPT (with a caveat)

This cancellation was a bit more complex. I didn’t just switch to the free version of ChatGPT; I already had a subscription to Claude Pro, which costs about the same as ChatGPT Plus. Therefore, I didn’t save the $20; I merely redirected it. However, the cancellation was still worthwhile.

I kept ChatGPT Plus mostly out of habit. The majority of my use involved quick queries that the free version could handle just as well. The real issue wasn’t its capabilities, but rather my automatic reliance on it.

As a freelance tech writer, the audit was about identifying which tools genuinely added professional value. For casual users, the free version of ChatGPT covers most everyday tasks such as summarizing, drafting, answering questions, and helping to think through problems. While access to GPT-4o on the free tier is rate-limited, unless you frequently hit those limits, you likely won’t notice the difference.

• What I miss about ChatGPT Plus: Unlimited access to GPT-4o. On days with heavy usage, the rate limits on the free tier can be frustrating. If you are a power user who relies on ChatGPT throughout the day, Plus may still be worth the investment.
• Verdict: I canceled ChatGPT Plus because it overlapped with Claude Pro, and the free version met my daily needs. This made the decision easier.

Perplexity Pro → Free Perplexity

This cancellation was perhaps the simplest of the three. I had subscribed to Perplexity Pro for its AI-powered search capabilities and additional features. However, I found that I rarely utilized those features.

I primarily used Perplexity for quick research, seeking synthesized answers with verifiable links. The free version performed just as well, and I seldom hit any limits. The Pro version makes more sense for those engaged in extensive research requiring access to an expanded model. For regular use, the free version stands out as one of the best free tools available in the AI landscape.

• What I miss about Perplexity Pro: Nothing at all. This was the cleanest cancellation of the three.
• Verdict: I canceled Perplexity Pro because the free tier provided everything I needed. There were no drawbacks or missed features.

The One AI Subscription I Kept

Despite canceling three subscriptions, I still pay for one AI service: Claude Pro. This isn’t a critique of the tools I canceled; they each have their merits. However, Claude Pro was the only subscription that consistently performed specific tasks that I couldn’t find in free alternatives. Like my colleague Andrew Grush recently discovered, transitioning from ChatGPT to Claude Pro has proven beneficial for me.

I utilize Claude Pro for various tasks, including journalism, B2B client work, coding for my website, and writing a novel, which demands managing complexity over extended sessions. For journalism, client work, and my ongoing novel, Claude Pro has been indispensable in ways that the other services were not.

Insights from My Subscription Audit

The primary lesson I gleaned from this experience was not just about the AI tools themselves but rather the gap between my perception and reality. I subscribed to Firefly for its commercial licensing, held onto ChatGPT Plus out of habit, and tried Perplexity Pro for its appealing features. None of these reasons justified the ongoing costs.

If you haven’t reviewed your AI subscriptions lately, I encourage you to examine your credit card statement and ask yourself the same question I did: “Am I actually using this?” Focus on actual usage rather than potential utility or personal preference. You might be surprised by the answer.

Note: Regularly auditing your subscriptions can lead to significant savings and ensure that you are only paying for services that genuinely enhance your productivity and creativity.