At the start of 2026, several key app replacements bring improved functionality and pricing for users.
Task and Money Management
Mitja Rutnik chooses TickTick over Todoist for task management. The switch is prompted by Todoist's price hikes: monthly fees rose from $5 to $7, a 40% increase, and yearly costs went up by 25%. TickTick replicates Rutnik's workflow better than other free tools.
For money management, Wallet replaces YNAB. Though YNAB offers value, it’s costly at $15/month or $109/year and lacks support for European banks, compelling manual entry. Wallet supports Rutnik's banks and offers a lifetime pass for about $20.
Password and Music Streaming
Proton Pass takes over from Bitwarden for password management. Bitwarden’s issues on Android, like inconsistent autofill and save prompts, led to the switch. Proton Pass offers privacy with unlimited devices and logins, appealing as a free option.
Deezer replaces YouTube Music due to its cleaner interface, better-synced lyrics, and superior discovery via Deezer Flow. Though Deezer can be pricier, its deals and enhanced experience make it attractive.
Photo Management Enhancements
In photo management, Rutnik continues with Google Photos backed by a Google One AI Pro 2TB subscription for general backup. However, privacy needs shift sensitive images to Proton Drive, which offers end-to-end encryption. Proton’s free account provides 5GB, with a premium plan costing around $10/month for additional Proton services.
