Every year I audit my subscriptions, asking myself if I’m still using / finding value in this product or service. I just combed through everything and have my justified 2024 list below.
iOS/iPadOS/macOS
Bear (Software) - $29.99/year
A late-breaker to my subscription list for 2024, I bought in when I started my holiday break from work and was looking for a simple Markdown editor. Bear is elegantly designed, syncs securely via iCloud to my iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and offers OCR search for when I bring in images.
I’m writing this in Bear now, having started on my iPad on the couch and moved seamlessly to my kitchen counter on my MacBook Pro. Doesn’t get any easier than this.
Carrot Weather (Software), Premium Family - $49.99/year
My kids all have iPhones now and loved the free version of Carrot. I wanted more weather sources and the ability to bring in my Netamo weather sensors to the App for hyper-local weather, so it made sense to pop for the family subscription. My kids love the snark, they love the geography games, and enjoy tripping the nuclear reactor.
Narwhal (Software) - $3.99/month
I browse Reddit a lot and mourned the loss of Apollo, the single most-used app in my App Library. Narwhal 2 for Reddit comes awfully close to the premium features from Apollo, and spending $4/month seems worth it for an app that I use to avoid the garbage fire layout of the web version of Reddit.
Infuse Pro (Software) - $9.99/year
I have an Unraid server that maintains a lot of videos — I have the Star Wars 4K77, 4K80, and 4K82 Projects on an Emby server running in a docker container, and with Infuse Pro, I can access these movies on every Apple TV and iOS/iPadOS/macOS device in the house. It also plays content seamlessly from a friend’s Emby server, but I won’t say much about that for obvious reasons.
Parcel (Software) - $4.99/year
I like to keep track of when packages are being delivered, and Parcel will not only track, but also integrate them into my Calendar app. It has Amazon integration, so it’s very much a set it and forget it app.
1Password (Software), Family - $60.00/year
I’ve been using 1Password for at least a decade, possibly more. I have just about everything in my digital world as an entry, from the family Social Security Numbers to Credit Cards - not to mention all of the passwords I’ve accumulated over the years. This is the biggest no-brainer retention on my list. I can’t live without 1Password.
Bitwarden (Software) - $9.99/year
My work doesn’t let 1Password through the filter, so I had to find an app that worked. The corporate overlords have blessed Bitwarden as an approved solution for everyone to use to keep their passwords secure, but I’ve been loyal to 1Password for too long.
Discord Nitro (Software) - $9.99/month
If Apollo / Narwhal 2 was my most used app on my phone, Discord is easily second on the list. I play a weekly D&D game with high school friends every Monday evening using a voice channel on a server I set up. I have bots integrated. It’s deep.
Apple One (Services), Family Premier - $37.95/month
2TB of combined storage, Fitness+, News+, AppleTV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade (with BALTARO+ JESUS CHRIST THAT GAME). It’s 100% worth it. Now all I need to do is more rower workouts with Josh in Fitness+, but that’s a 2025 thing that you don’t need to concern yourself with now.
Media
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads), and ESPN+ (With Ads) (Entertainment) - $91.98/month
We love streaming TV in this house, even though we haven't tuned in to MSNBC or CNN (or hell, local news) since November 7, 2024. At least there's always a Bob's Burgers or Star Wars movie on. This is the only subscription that gives me pause for thought – do I need to be paying this fucking much for 'live' TV when we never really watch it?
2025 will have me re-evaluate this, especially since history indicates another price hike over the summer. Bastards.
iTunes Match (Services) - $24.99/year
I have entirely too much music that isn't on Apple Music, so I happily pay to have them store that in the cloud for me so I can stream it from anywhere. I've been a paid subscriber since I realized I could listen to the entirety of the Death Grips discography.
Libro.fm (Entertainment) - $14.99/month
I don't like that I'm still subscribing to Amazon Prime, so the last thing I want to do is feather the nest of another Bezos company (my wife canceled our Washington Post subscription after the "no endorsement" order from 'ole Jeff during the election with about 300,000 others). Libro fills that void AND I can support Left Bank Books here in St. Louis with my subscription credits.
Nerd Poker Podcast (Entertainment), Hey Boss Level - $10/month
I play a ton of Dungeons and Dragons with friends. I loved Mr. Show with Bob & David. So of course I'll subscribe to a Patreon to support the live-play with Brian Posehn and other comedy writers/comedians.
Miscellaneous
D&D Beyond (Gaming), Master Tier - $54.99/year
I am using D&D Beyond so much. I'm running family games, playing in multiple friend games, and we're using D&D Beyond to power all of it. The Master Tier gives me access to Maps, alpha access to their unreal engine tabletop app, and unlimited character sheets. I can also share digital content with players (family, friends). It rules.
Barrel King (Bourbon), Gold Membership - $100/month
Barrel King is putting out the best releases, month after month. I'd much rather pay a local producer (only about 60 miles from my house in Bourbon, Missouri!) to finish great juice in rare barrels and blend up some incredible magic than to hunt for bottles of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and pay way over retail.
Parker’s Table (Groceries), Wine & Cheese Club - $37.99/month
I get my wife a subscription to the Wine & Cheese Club at Parker's table every year for Christmas and it's honestly one of my favorite things that we can both enjoy. Two hand-picked bottles that pair with three selections of cheeses. And every time we make our way to the store to pick up the bottles, there's a wine tasting. Can't lose!
Amazon Prime (Shopping) - $139/year
Look, I hate that I spend this much on a Bezos company, but when you have kids, getting something sent "FREE PRIME 2-DAY DELIVERY" isn't terrible. Again, I hate to give Bezos money and try to shop local as much as possible, but it is what it is.
Costco (Shopping), Executive Membership - $130/year
I will go to war for that $1.50 hotdog + soda combo. I'll never surrender my Costco membership. What's not to love about that 2% rebate that effectively covers the cost of the membership upgrade? And a company with ethics that treats their employees well? Can't beat it.
