I watched a video by a guy who presented 5 reasons why he switched to a new app, replacing two others he’d been using. He did so, he said, “because subscription fatigue is a real thing.”
His first reason was cost. One app is cheaper than two and a free app (which he now uses) is cheaper still.
An app might only be $5 per month but $5 here and $5 there and before you know it, you might spend $1000 per year.
Of course the bigger cost of using too many apps, or the wrong apps, is the cost of our time.
Time to learn how to use the app, update it, hack it and customize it to our liking, watching videos about how others use the apps–is time better spent doing work.
Or is it?
The time we spend in app-land might be well spent if it allows us to get more out of those apps. If they help us save more time than we spend tweaking them, or help us earn more money, that’s a win.
There’s also the fun factor. I enjoy using some apps more than others. I’m sure you do, too. We probably use those apps more than others, and probably get more out of them.
Clearly, using one app instead of two, or simpler apps instead of more complex ones, provides less drag on our day. Some apps may do a better job at some things than others apps do, but we have to consider the extra overhead of using multiple apps.
When we look at other apps and compare them to the ones we use, we have to consider other factors:
- Future proofing. Some apps are locked into propriety data formats, some aren’t. Some make it easy to export (and use) your data, some don’t.
- Platforms: Can you use the app on all your devices? Mobile, tablet, desktop, cloud?
- Security/redundancy: How safe is your data? What are your options if the site goes down or you can’t log in?
- Features/development: Does it have what you need and want? Are new features being regularly added?
- Speed: How quickly can you enter new information; how fast is search?
- Support: Can you get help if and when you need it?
- Training: Do the developers and/or user base show you how to use the app and how to incorporate it into your work?
I’ve tried a lot of apps and do my best to use as few as possible. When I find something I like, I stick with it, but continue to take new apps out for a spin.
Which means I spend way more time than I should, in pursuit of the perfect app.
It’s a blessing, and a curse.
