New Year, New Apps: 5 Popular Apps I'm Swapping in 2026 and Why
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The start of every year is a blank canvas, a chance to begin anew. And that's exactly what I'll be doing with the apps and services I use. While I regularly rely on several of them, it's time for a change, driven by two key factors. Firstly, some apps have become redundant, either due to a lack of functionality or escalating costs. Secondly, switching to new apps is an exciting process, providing the energy boost I need to start the year right.
I'll walk you through the changes I'm making and why, offering some inspiration if you're considering a similar approach.
Do you frequently switch apps or stick with the same ones for years?
Task Management: Bidding Farewell to Todoist, Embracing TickTick
Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority
Todoist has been my trusted companion for years, helping me stay on top of my projects, both professional and personal. Its simplicity, flexibility, and user-friendly interface have made it a joy to use. However, I've encountered some issues that have led to a decision to switch.
The primary concern is pricing. Todoist recently announced a significant price hike, increasing the monthly subscription from $5 to $7 (a 40% jump) and the yearly subscription from $50 to $60 (25% increase). As a long-time user, I'm technically on an older plan, which means I'll miss out on future app updates unless I upgrade to the more expensive plan.
I've found TickTick to be a suitable alternative. While I could set up a to-do template in Notion, it doesn't replicate my workflow effectively. TickTick, on the other hand, offers dedicated task management features that I find more useful.
Money Management: Saying Goodbye to YNAB, Welcoming Wallet
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
YNAB has been a valuable tool for managing my finances, but it has become quite expensive at $15 per month (or $109 annually). The main issue, however, is connectivity. The service YNAB uses to connect financial institutions doesn't support the European banks I use, forcing me to manually enter transactions, which is time-consuming and frustrating.
I'm considering Wallet by BudgetBakers as a replacement. It supports all my bank accounts and is significantly cheaper, with a lifetime pass available for around $20. While switching apps will require adjusting my financial management approach, it's a change I need to make.
Password Management: Farewell to Bitwarden, Hello Proton Pass
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
Bitwarden has been a reliable password manager, but I've encountered some issues. The autofill feature isn't always reliable on Android, and the prompt to save new passwords doesn't always appear, causing inconvenience. LastPass is not an option for personal use due to its limitations.
Proton Pass is my next best choice. I appreciate Proton's privacy-first approach and have had positive experiences with other Proton apps. While Proton Pass offers a premium plan with additional features, the free version provides unlimited devices, logins, and 'hide-my-email' aliases, which are sufficient for my needs.
Music Streaming: Bidding Farewell to YouTube Music, Embracing Deezer
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
I've had a love-hate relationship with YouTube Music, but this year, I've decided to part ways. The decision isn't based on cost but on functionality and user experience.
I prefer Deezer's user interface, which is less cluttered and more intuitive. The music discovery feature, Flow, offers a perfect blend of my favorite songs and new tracks, making it a delightful experience. YouTube Music's discovery feature, on the other hand, has been hit-or-miss.
While Deezer is generally more expensive, the occasional deals make it a worthwhile investment for a better user experience.
Photo Management: Combining Google Photos and Proton Drive
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
I'm not completely ditching Google Photos, as I have a Google One AI Pro subscription, providing 2TB of storage for my main library. However, I want to keep sensitive photos and videos private, like unflattering selfies and fitness progress photos, away from prying eyes.
I plan to move these sensitive photos to Proton Drive, which offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring even Proton can't access them. A free Proton account provides 5GB of storage, which should suffice for now. If needed, I can upgrade to the Proton Unlimited plan for more storage and additional features.
