The Un-SaaS

I Built a Subscription Auditor Without a Subscription

 Every project I start begins with a question that gets stuck in my head. For the past few weeks, the question has been this: "Is it possible to build a modern web app that doesn't feel needy?" It seems most software today is designed to constantly ask for something like your email, a password, your attention. I wondered if I could build something quiet, something that simply does its job and then gets out of the way.

Finding a Problem to Solve

 An idea for a project needs a problem to attach itself to. I found one while watching interviews with developers and online creators. When asked about their monthly software costs, they often paused, trying to recall their full list of subscriptions from memory. It was clear that while a bank statement shows the cost, it doesn't capture the whole picture. There's a gap between what is paid for and what is remembered.

 This seemed like the perfect small, well-defined problem for my experiment. The first part of the solution was obvious: a "Memory Jogger" to help users recall their subscriptions across dozens of categories. But just listing them wasn't enough. The real question isn't "what do you pay for?" but "is it worth it?" This led to the simple decision-making system: "Keep, Review, or Cut". This transforms a passive list into an active decision-making tool.

The Deeper Answer: Building with Principles

 The features were only half of the solution. The other half was answering my original question about building a "quiet" app. This meant setting hard rules for myself. The tool had to be completely private, with no database to store user information. It also had to have zero friction, which meant no sign-up or login. These principles were the real core of the experiment.

The Result: StackCheck

 The final result of this experiment is a single-page web app I'm calling StackCheck. It's a clean dashboard that implements all of these ideas. It helps you remember your stack, decide on its value, and see the potential savings, all while respecting your privacy and time. It was a fulfilling weekend project that answered my question: yes, it is possible to build something quiet.

 The experiment is ongoing, and I'm curious to hear what others think. The tool is live and free to use.

 → You can try StackCheck here.

Behind the title: "The Un-SaaS"

 "SaaS" stands for "Software as a Service". It's any software you pay for with a recurring subscription, like Netflix or Spotify. I called this tool "The Un-SaaS" because it's the opposite. It's a free tool, not a service. It doesn't ask for your money or your data. It just does one job and gets out of the way.