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Industry News7 min read

Price Hike Alert: Streaming Services Quietly Raised Prices by 34% in 2024

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

Financial Wellness Expert

Published on: January 2, 2026

Sarah has over 10 years of experience helping families optimize their spending and build financial security. She specializes in subscription auditing and behavioral finance.

Not all subscriptions are created equal. While we spend a lot of time talking about cutting costs, some services genuinely deliver value that far exceeds their price tag. In a world where the average person wastes $42/month on unused subscriptions, these five services represent the opposite: subscriptions that actually save you more money than they cost.

The key difference? These aren't "nice to have" luxuries—they're strategic investments that either replace more expensive alternatives, prevent costly problems, or directly increase your productivity and income. Let's break down exactly why each one justifies its cost.

Smartphone displaying various productive apps and subscription services
The difference between a wasteful subscription and a valuable one? Return on investment. These five apps don't just cost money—they make or save you significantly more.

1. Notion - $10/month

What it does: All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, tasks, and wikis.

Why it's worth it: If you're paying for separate subscriptions to a note-taking app, task manager, database tool, and wiki, Notion replaces all of them. Power users report saving 5-10 hours per week in organization time.

ROI calculation: Replaces $30-50/month in other tools, plus time savings worth hundreds per month for professionals.

2. YouTube Premium - $13.99/month

What it does: Ad-free YouTube, background play, and includes YouTube Music.

Why it's worth it: If you watch 30+ minutes of YouTube daily, you're saving hours per month of watching ads. Plus, you get a full music streaming service included.

ROI calculation: Replaces Spotify ($10.99) + saves 2-3 hours/month of ad time = easily worth the extra $3.

3. 1Password or Bitwarden Premium - $3-5/month

What it does: Password manager with secure storage and breach monitoring.

Why it's worth it: A single data breach can cost you thousands in stolen identity/fraud. Strong, unique passwords prevent this. Also saves 5-10 minutes daily on password resets.

ROI calculation: Preventing even one fraud incident pays for decades of subscription.

4. Spotify or Apple Music - $10.99/month

What it does: Unlimited music streaming.

Why it's worth it: Remember when albums cost $10-15? Two albums per month already exceeds the subscription cost, and you get access to 100+ million songs.

ROI calculation: If you listen to music 30+ minutes daily, you're getting pennies-per-hour entertainment.

5. Grammarly Premium - $12/month

What it does: Advanced writing assistance with style, clarity, and tone suggestions.

Why it's worth it: For professionals who write emails, reports, or content, clear communication directly impacts income. One prevented miscommunication or improved pitch can pay for years of the service.

ROI calculation: If better writing wins you even one extra client or project per year, ROI is 10x+.

Honorable Mentions

  • Cloud Backup (Backblaze, etc.): $7/month to never lose precious photos/files
  • VPN (for frequent travelers): $5-10/month for security on public WiFi
  • Professional Development Platforms: LinkedIn Learning, Coursera Plus if you actively use them
Person working productively with multiple apps on laptop and phone
Value-driven subscriptions integrate seamlessly into your workflow, becoming invisible tools you use daily without thinking—yet would immediately miss if they disappeared.

What Makes These Worth It?

These subscriptions share common traits:

  1. They replace multiple expenses: Consolidation saves money
  2. They save time: Time is money, especially for professionals
  3. They prevent costly problems: Security and backups have asymmetric value
  4. They directly impact income: Tools that make you better at your job pay for themselves
  5. They're actually used daily: High usage = high value per dollar

The "Worth It" Test

Before committing to any subscription, ask:

  • Do I use this at least weekly?
  • Does it replace something I'd pay for anyway?
  • Does it save me more time/money than it costs?
  • Would I genuinely miss it if it disappeared tomorrow?

If you answered "yes" to 3+, it's probably worth keeping.

Remember: Just because a service is valuable doesn't mean you need to pay full price. Look for family plans, student discounts, annual billing savings, or alternatives that offer similar value for less.

External Resources & Tools

Research subscriptions and find alternatives with these trusted resources:

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5 Apps That Actually Justify Their Subscription Cost