The short answer
Using our calculator's starting example, $199 of current monthly costs becomes $62 including retained tools. With $399 in transition costs, the modeled first-year saving is $1,245 and payback is about 2.9 months. These are illustrative inputs, not a forecast.
Compare the current pricing snapshot and limits →Start from the decision date
Use a 12-month window starting now. The cost of staying is your current monthly equivalent multiplied by twelve. The cost of switching includes the replacement, retained tools, one-time work and the period during which both subscriptions remain active. If an old annual contract cannot be cancelled, include the remaining unavoidable cost explicitly instead of assuming an immediate saving.
A reproducible example
Assume current software costs $200 per month, replacement software $60, and retained tools $20. The ongoing difference is $120. With $240 of one-time work and one month of $200 overlap, transition cost is $440. First-year savings are $1,000: twelve times $120 minus $440. Simplified payback is about 3.7 months. These are example assumptions, not expected results.
Check the result against cash
Our payback model spreads subscriptions over months and charges transition costs at the start. An annual invoice may create a much earlier cash outflow. Keep a separate cash budget if liquidity matters. If the new operating cost is higher, the tool shows no payback; you may still switch for better functionality, but it is not a cost-saving decision.
Your decision checklist
- Include unavoidable old-contract charges
- Value internal time as a one-time cost if useful
- Check annual cash commitments separately
Common questions
Product prices and limits checked 25 September 2026. Our cost scenarios are illustrative. Live product terms: provider pricing, detailed limits table, migration eligibility and process. See our formulas and limitations.