Stop Paying for SaaS subscriptions.
You know the story.
You start your business. You sign up for a few SaaS tools to handle things—email marketing, invoicing, CRM, project management.
Next thing you know, your credit card is bleeding out.
Another $30 here, $20 there. Month after month. It adds up fast.
As a solopreneur, those recurring costs can sting. Sure, maybe you ignore them because you’re making money. But what if those bills aren’t even worth it? What if they’re just dead weight?
Back in the day, there was no SaaS.
If you needed software, you built it yourself. Even small businesses patched together their own systems. These Frankenstein creations—often hacked together by bored interns—became what we now call “legacy software.” It was clunky. It was ugly. It barely worked. And everyone hated it.
Then came SaaS.
Suddenly, for every problem, there was a slick, ready-made tool. You didn’t need to build anything anymore—just subscribe. Need payroll? There’s an app for that. CRM? App for that, too. And so began the golden age of SaaS: a web of subscriptions that startups clung to like life rafts.
And we got used to it.
SaaS Got Fat and Lazy
SaaS companies stopped innovating.
Take JIRA. It’s looked the same for over a decade. Sure, they might have rounded the corners on a few buttons, but that’s not progress—that’s cosmetic surgery. Most SaaS products just moved to the cloud and called it a day. They’re bloated with huge profit margins and little incentive to change.
And it’s gotten so ridiculous that there’s now SaaS to manage your SaaS subscriptions. We’re that deep into the irony.
AI is shaking things up
SaaS made sense when creating software was costly and difficult. It required a lot of money, time, and specialized knowledge that most people didn't have.
But that world is behind us.
This intern at a YC startup built an AI-powered invoice processing pipeline instead of paying $16K for a SaaS tool. It took him...two hours.
AI has slashed the cost of building, and the learning curve has dropped. Now, every solopreneur can break free from the SaaS jungle and take back control of their tools.
Let’s break down which SaaS tools you can ditch—and how to actually do it.
Why You’re Overpaying for SaaS
Don’t get me wrong. Some SaaS tools are amazing. I wouldn’t want to imagine life without Notion!!
But let’s be real—most of those tools stacking up hundreds of dollars a month? Not so useful.
Half of the features in those tools you probably don’t even use. You just need a few basic tasks done—sending invoices, managing client relationships, handling appointments. But SaaS tools don’t work like that.
They package everything together and make you pay for the whole buffet, even if you’re only eating the salad.
Now, with AI, you don’t have to settle for that.
You can learn to build lightweight, custom solutions tailored to what you actually need.
What SaaS Tools Can You Replace with AI?
Let’s get practical.
Which SaaS tools are worth cutting, and how can you replace them with AI workflows?
Keep in mind that these examples might work well in some cases, but they may not fit every situation. It depends on what you do and how you work.
Here’s a breakdown:
1. Invoicing and Expense Tracking
What to cut:
Tools like QuickBooks, FreshBooks, or Xero.
How to replace it with AI:
You can make invoicing and receipt tracking easier with AI and simple tools. Here's how it could work:
- When a client agrees to a project, AI creates an invoice for you.
- The AI then organizes the information and saves it in a spreadsheet or database.
- For your expenses, AI can scan your receipts, pull out important details, and file them automatically.
This process can save you time and reduce errors in managing your finances
Here’s how to do it:
- Use tools like Gumloop or Zapier to create automation workflows.
- AI models (like GPT-powered tools) can read and categorize receipts from emails, generate invoices, and log them in your system.
- You can set up automatic reminders for different tasks. For example, you can get notifications to:
- Remind clients to pay their bills
- Alert you if a payment is put in the wrong category
$30/month accounting software saved.
2. Client Relationship Management (CRM)
What to cut:
HubSpot, Pipedrive, or Salesforce if you’re feeling extra fancy.
How to replace it with AI:
Most solopreneurs don’t need a massive CRM. You’re not managing hundreds of clients; you’re managing a few key relationships. AI can help you manage your contacts and tasks. It can:
- Record meeting details
- Send follow-up messages
- Remind you when to contact people
This saves you time and helps you stay organized.
Here's how to do it:
• Use Notion or Airtable as your CRM. Integrate it with an AI workflow that reads client emails, pulls out key details, and logs them automatically.
• AI can also help send personalized follow-up emails or reminders to touch base, all without you lifting a finger.
3. Social Media Scheduling
What to cut:
Tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, or Later.
How to replace it with AI:
AI can make social media management easier and cheaper. It can help you create, schedule, and track posts automatically without needing to pay for expensive tools. This can save you time and money compared to traditional social media scheduling services.
Here’s how to do it:
• Use Zapier to automate the scheduling of your posts. Write content in a Google Doc or Notion page, and AI can automatically schedule it to your preferred platform.
• Need captions or hashtags? AI can generate those for you based on your content.
You can even set it up to analyze engagement trends over time, giving you insights without the premium fees.
4. Email Marketing
What to cut:
Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or ActiveCampaign.
How to replace it with AI:
You might think email marketing requires a dedicated SaaS tool, but AI is fully capable of handling your email campaigns. AI can draft, personalize, and schedule emails for your audience based on behavior and past interactions.
Here’s how to do it:
• Use tools like Flowrite to generate personalized emails at scale.
• Combine this with a workflow tool like Zapier to automate the sending process through Gmail or another email provider.
• Segment your audience based on their actions and behaviors without needing complex CRM integrations.
You’ll save on those email subscription costs while still maintaining a polished email marketing system.
How to Transition Away from SaaS (Step by Step)
So, how do you actually move from SaaS to AI-powered workflows? Here’s a roadmap:
1. List Your Subscriptions:
Start by listing every SaaS tool you’re paying for. Note the price and the main feature you use from each one. This will help you see where you’re overpaying for underused features.
2. Find the Core Features:
Break down each tool into the specific functions you actually use. Do you really need all the features in your CRM, or are you just logging client details and sending follow-up emails?
3. Map AI Alternatives:
For each core function, find an AI tool or workflow that can replace it. For example, use Notion or Airtable as a CRM replacement, and plug in AI for things like email follow-ups and data entry.
If you don't know what AI can do or where to start. Ask "ChatGPT": Guide me step by step to achieve [task]. If you don't understand a concept type, Explain [concept] to a 12-year-old.
4. Set Up Workflows:
Use a no-code automation tool like Zapier or Integromat to build workflows. This is where AI comes in: it can guide you, write code for you and teach you new skills.
5. Test & Iterate:
Start small. Test one workflow at a time. Does your AI invoicing system work smoothly? Are client details being logged correctly in your new CRM? Make adjustments as you go.
If you have errors, copy-paste them to ChatGPT and ask them to be fixed.
6. Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions:
Once you’ve replaced a SaaS tool with an AI alternative, cancel the subscription. Don’t forget to adjust your billing settings so you don’t get surprised by a renewal charge.
Will You Miss SaaS? Probably Not.
The reality is, most solopreneurs don’t need the full power of these bloated SaaS suites. What you need is a lean, efficient system that works for your specific needs. AI is giving you that power.
You don’t have to keep paying for features you never use. You can stop being another line item in the SaaS subscription economy.
— Charafeddine