Money tight? You're not alone, and you don't have to pay for software on day one. Every list on App Orca starts with apps that have a real free plan, and says so on the card. Here's how to tell when it's time to upgrade.
1. Are you hitting the limit, or just worried you will?
Free plans usually cap something: users, records, or how many automated tasks run each month. Upgrade when you actually hit the cap, not before.
2. Is the free plan costing you time?
If you're spending hours working around a missing feature, that time has a price. Compare it honestly against the monthly fee.
3. Do you need it to talk to another app?
Connections between apps are often where paid plans start. If your apps don't need to talk yet, you may not need to pay yet.
4. Would a customer notice?
If the free version shows the vendor's branding on something your customer sees, that may be worth paying to remove. If it's behind the scenes, it probably isn't.
Where to look
On App Orca, every card shows Free plan: yes or no and Needs a developer: yes or no, so you can compare at a glance. Browse the software.