Every software engineer requires a lean, mean, productivity machine in this hyper-connected world of today. However, with subscription fatigue becoming a real issue, it’s the exception of those services that actually save you time and add legitimate value to your workflow that you should be investing in. Having spent years trying dozens of products, I’ve distilled it down to five you need to pay for in order to thrive in 2025. In this post, I’m exploring each one of them in detail — how do they work, why am I using them, and even some screenshots to show they are not just hype!
1. ChatGPT Plus—$20/month
Your 24/7 AI Assistant, Collaborator and Co-Writer
What It Is:
ChatGPT Plus unlocks access to OpenAI’s latest and greatest language models (e.g. 5) with features the free tier can’t deliver. It’s not simply a chatbot — it’s a coding sidekick, a document writer, a brainstorming buddy, and a debug assistant all in one.
How I Use It:
- Coding & Debugging: If I am stuck on a bug or need help with a new library, ChatGPT Plus provides intelligent, context-aware suggestions that save me a LOT of coding time.
- Documentation & Brainstorming: Whether I’m working on technical documentation or planning a new feature, ChatGPT will help me refine rough thoughts into structured and readable text.
- Advanced Features: The Deep Research and Advanced Voice Mode features enable me to dive into entirely new industries, trigger voice-powered brainstorms, or generate multiple images in one pass when required.
Why It’s Essential:
ChatGPT Plus does not only help me maintain the pace of my daily job but also learns my coding style (which, in the long run, is saving me hundreds of hours).
2. GitHub Copilot—$10/month
Your Artificial Intelligence Powered Pair Programmer
What It Is:
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered tool that integrates directly into your IDE (like VS Code, JetBrains, or Neovim). Built on top of OpenAI models and now even with multi-model support (which includes models from Anthropic and Google), Copilot produces entire lines or blocks of code based on natural language input.
How I Use It:
- Fast Code Creation: From writing boilerplate code to suggesting ways to improve upon a framework I’m not familiar with, Copilot allows me to get creative instead of being stuck on repetitive tasks.
- Exploring New Languages: When I’m diving into a new language, Copilot’s intelligent completions and code explanations become an interactive tutor.
- Agent Mode & Code Review: Its recent updates — including the agent mode and inline code review — mean that it can even analyze errors at runtime and suggest fixes across multiple files, as though it were an extra set of pair-programming hands.
Why It’s Essential:
There’s Copilot, which helps me code faster and better. Its ability to complete functions from basic starting points, auto-detect errors, and suggest solutions saves me a ton of time on mundane work and gives me a chance to do a little creative problem-solving.
3. Raycast Pro—$8/month
The Best Productivity Launcher for Mac
What It Is:
Raycast Pro is a powerful launcher for macOS, delivering far more than the vanilla experience of Spotlight. It is built right into your workflow, with something akin to a command bar at your finger to access apps, files, scripts, and even AI comments that allow you to search, translate, or run your own commands on the spot.
How I Use It:
- Universal Launcher: I use Raycast to launch apps, find files and even run command-line scripts from a single polished interface.
- Custom Workflows: I have created custom hotkeys and scripts to instantly open my development environment, execute build tasks, and retrieve project details.
- Focus Sessions: The built-in Focus Session feature is like a supercharged Pomodoro timer to block distractions, and it can even automatically restart apps after a set time.
Why It’s Essential:
Raycast Pro is the secret weapon that turns my Mac into an efficiency powerhouse. Between clipboard history and AI enhancements to command running outward, it is the central hub that keeps my workflow fluid and non-fragmented.
4. Notion AI — $8/month
The All-in-One Workspace with Smart Help
What It Is:
Notion AI extends the capabilities of the popular Notion productivity platform, introducing intelligent features for content creation, note-taking, and project management. It employs advanced language models to draft rough versions, summarize lengthy materials, or even translate text — all embedded into the heart of your workspace.
How I Use It:
Documentation & Planning: Technical specs writing, sprint planning, and personal project management using Notion AI. It effortlessly converts raw bullet points into coherent documentation.
- Brainstorming: Coming up with ideas for new features or a blog post? Notion AI gives me creative prompts and a few options that I build off of.
- Integrated Workflows: As Notion connects with over 70 other SaaS companies (such as Slack, GitHub, and Zoom), its AI capabilities enable me to fetch data from various sources to generate consolidated reports and dashboards.
Why It’s Essential:
Notion AI is an assistant that organizes all my work. What Also Makes it Essential to Staying Ahead on Complex Projects: Its ability to intelligently transform notes and ideas into actionable content.
5. 1Password—$2.99/month
A Silent Watchman of Your Digital Existence
What It Is:
1Password is a comprehensive password manager that helps you to store not just your passwords securely but also manage SSH keys, API tokens, and other sensitive credentials across devices. It provides integration with all major browsers, IDEs, and even command-line tools, so your digital life is protected and accessible.
How I Use It:
- Credential Management: I set up 1Password for all development credentials — from GitHub tokens to SSH keys — so I never have to think about security breaches or passwords, really.
- Easy Sync: One of the best parts about 1Password being cross-platform is that I am able to keep everything synced across my Mac, iPhone, or a Linux machine by simply opening it, and it automatically updates.
- Advanced Protection Attributes: Features such as accessibility to passkeys and integrated two-factor verification mean 1Password safeguards critical data without compromising ease of use.
Why It’s Essential:
Especially in an age of constant data breaches, 1Password offers peace of mind. It’s the backbone of my security setup — operating in the background and allowing me to worry-free code.
Final Thoughts
All five of those subscriptions have earned their keep in my workflow because they directly address problems we encounter as modern software engineers: efficiently writing code, productivity, organization, and security.
- ChatGPT Plus boosts creativity and speeds up problem-solving.
- GitHub Copilot transforms coding into a more intuitive, faster process.
- Raycast Pro centralizes all essential tools on your Mac, reducing context-switching.
- Notion AI keeps your projects and ideas organized with smart automation.
- 1Password ensures your sensitive credentials are safe, secure, and easily accessible.
Investing in these subscriptions isn’t about chasing the latest trend — it’s about building a workflow that makes you faster, smarter, and more secure. If you’re ready to cut the clutter and upgrade your daily routine, these five tools are the ones that truly pay for themselves.
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