The short answer
Using our calculator's starting example, $200 of current monthly costs becomes $80 including retained tools. With $420 in transition costs, the modeled first-year saving is $1,020 and payback is about 3.5 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 $180 overlap for the old tools being replaced, transition cost is $420. First-year savings are $1,020: twelve times $120 minus $420. Simplified payback is 3.5 months. The retained $20 is already included in ongoing costs and is not counted twice. 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 capacity limits checked against the official detailed limits table. Migration information last reviewed : eligibility and process. Our cost scenarios are illustrative. See our formulas and limitations.