The 5 Paid Subscriptions I Actually Use in 2025 as a Staff Software Engineer
No fluff, no hype — just five tools I gladly pay for because they actually help me think, build, and grow.
Most subscriptions are distractions. These five? They actually make me better at what I do.
The 5 Paid Subscriptions I Actually Use in 2025 as a Staff Software Engineer
Because not every shiny SaaS product is worth your credit card.
I’ve seen it all — productivity tools that promise to 10x your workflow, AI copilots that feel more like co-distractions, and a growing stack of monthly charges for services I used once. As a Staff Software Engineer, I’m extremely picky about where I spend my money and even more so about what earns a permanent slot in my digital toolkit.
So, in a world overflowing with subscriptions, here are the five I actually use — and would renew without thinking twice.
1. Raycast Pro — My Command Center
💰 $8/month
Raycast is my Alfred replacement on steroids. It’s more than a launcher — it’s my daily command center.
With the Pro plan, I get access to AI-powered search, scriptable workflows, and real-time team sharing.
Whether I’m toggling between GitHub repos, spinning up AWS instances, or quickly calculating time zone overlaps, Raycast has shaved minutes off mundane tasks — every single day.
Why I pay: Because in my world, every keystroke counts.
2. ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4o) — My Thinking Partner
💰 $20/month
I know, I know — an AI assistant recommending an AI assistant.
But seriously, GPT-4o has become my go-to for code reviews, brainstorming, and rubber-ducking complex architecture decisions.
From writing Python scripts to summarizing RFCs, the conversational context and multimodal support (images, code, diagrams) make it feel like I’m talking to the smartest colleague who never sleeps.
Why I pay: Because context-aware help at 2AM is priceless.
3. Readwise Reader — My Knowledge Hub
💰 $8.99/month
As someone who constantly consumes technical articles, research papers, and docs, Readwise Reader has transformed how I retain knowledge.
It lets me save articles, highlight key ideas, and surface them later through spaced repetition.
I treat it like a second brain for engineering knowledge — from ML techniques to distributed systems patterns.
Why I pay: Because knowledge compounds, but only if you remember it.
4. 1Password Teams — My Fort Knox
💰 $19.95/month (family plan shared with my team)
Security hygiene isn’t optional — especially when you’re working with multiple clients, repositories, and cloud environments.
1Password helps me manage SSH keys, API secrets, and login credentials without storing them in risky places (read: notes.txt on the desktop).
Team vaults make collaboration seamless without compromising security.
Why I pay: Because I don’t want my career ruined by a reused password.
5. Spotify Premium — My Focus Mode
💰 $1.39/month
Yes, it’s not a dev tool, but hear me out: deep work demands deep focus, and Spotify’s instrumental playlists are my secret weapon.
From lo-fi beats to epic orchestral soundtracks, I use music to slip into flow and block distractions.
Pair it with a Pomodoro timer, and I can get through 4 hours of coding like it’s nothing.
Why I pay: Because silence isn’t always golden — sometimes it’s distracting.
Final Thoughts
Every year, I prune my subscriptions like a minimalist cleans their closet. But these five have earned their place through consistent value, time saved, and mental clarity gained.
If you’re overwhelmed by options, start small. Pick one tool that solves a real pain point, and build your stack from there.
Because in this age of digital overload, the tools you don’t use matter just as much as the ones you do.
What about you?
What subscriptions are you actually getting value from in 2025? Drop a comment or shoot me a DM — I’m always on the hunt for tools that earn their keep.
