Trying out different software and alternatives to major services comes with many benefits — from getting more well-rounded features, better security, or even just breaking the monopoly on your personal data. That said, I rarely actually move to a different service, even if it has better features than the one I'm currently using.

This applies to all types of apps I use, from note-taking apps and spreadsheets to internet browsers and image editors. And as I write about more alternative products, I realize that I'm missing out as a result.

Why I stick to what I know

It gives me comfort and makes me more productive

There was a time when I was more willing to get out of my comfort zone and try something new, especially when the service addressed a need that wasn't covered by something else. But once I'm locked in, it becomes difficult for me to permanently move to a new service.

Don't get me wrong, I try out new apps all the time because of my work. In my time at XDA, I've dipped my toe into self-hosting apps, which has proven to be fun and rewarding. I've also done a range of product comparisons that directly weigh up different apps against each other.

I've also written about why I still use Paint 3D even though it's no longer supported. While I know there are reasons to use ShareX over the Windows Snipping tool, I end up using the built-in Windows feature more often.

So why do I do this? The simple answer is executive dysfunction and the comfort I find in routine. Changing up my workflow takes up a lot of mental bandwidth while I learn to use new features and different functions — and it's often time I don't have.

While my neurodivergence is a big factor in this, I think everyone can relate to the stress of changing up their workflow when they're under pressure to be productive.

How I know I'm missing out

I'm spending more time researching apps

I've been writing about consumer technology since around 2016, but when I started at XDA, my work became more focused on productivity tools, useful Windows apps, and features. Diving into these different apps means I'm much more aware of their benefits. This became most apparent when I wrote about Opera features I wish Chrome would introduce.

Chrome will likely never introduce most of these features and I should really just switch browsers if my needs are better fulfilled by another app. But I still haven't made the transition despite the potential benefits.

Exploring the automations you can create between different apps has also showed me just how many cool features you can unlock with the right tools. Meanwhile, self-hosted apps offer more ways for you to keep control over your data — something I'd really like to have.

Many services have also gotten worse

Great free services have degraded over time

Even without trying out other competitors, some of the apps and services I've used for over a decade have gotten tangibly worse. This is because companies will often first launch a product with really useful features, only to monetize the user base through intrusive ads, paid features, and subscriptions.

While YouTube is one of the biggest examples of this, another Google product that yanked the rug from under users is Google Photos. The service used to offer free unlimited storage, but as it grew in popularity, Google switched it to 15GB of free storage that is shared across your whole Google Account (including Gmail and your Google Drive). You can still use Google Photos without ads or a subscription, but many people who had already exceeded 15GB of storage (including me) had to fork out for a Google One subscription.

The trend is worse for companies and services that have created monopolies. This applies to software and internet platforms.

How I plan to get out of my comfort zone

It's time to switch things up

I've decided to approach switching out to alternative apps and services the same way I make Notion less overwhelming: starting off slowly with small projects and doing them when I'm not on a deadline.

While I'm likely going to stay with Gmail as my main email client, I definitely want to explore more self-hosted cloud storage options for my photos and documents. I've already started doing some browser compartmentalization between Chrome and Firefox. I hope to greatly reduce my reliance on Chrome in favor of a better browser within the next few months.

Hopefully, the slow-and-steady approach will mitigate my knee-jerk reaction to having my routines disrupted.

We should all try out new software every now and then

There's no reason to fix what isn't broken, so if an app is working for you, then it's worth sticking with it. But if, like me, you are increasingly frustrated about missing out on better software or by services that are actively getting worse, then it's worth getting out of your comfort zone and seeing what else is out there.