AppShelved
Discontinued Apps: News, Exports & Alternatives
AppShelved helps you survive app shutdowns: export your data before it disappears, understand what happens next, and find solid replacements — all in plain English.
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Every guide on the site, organized by question.
Shutdown Guides
What happens when an app shuts down, how to read a shutdown notice, and the full timeline from announcement to deletion.
Data Export
Export your data before it disappears: where the export button hides, which file formats last, and backing up photos, notes, and files.
Alternative Apps
How to find a good replacement when your favorite app shuts down, plus safe migration guides for notes and password managers.
Avoiding Lock-In
Vendor lock-in, open formats, and the 3-2-1 backup rule — the habits that make the next app shutdown painless.
App History
Why apps get shut down, the lifecycle from launch hype to sunset email, and lessons from a decade of discontinued apps.
Subscription Tips
Audit your subscriptions in under an hour, cancel safely, and compare annual vs. monthly plans with clear trade-offs.
Subscription Audit Calculator
Answer 3 questions and get an illustrative yearly estimate of what your paid subscriptions cost — and what the unused ones might be wasting. The math runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Illustrative estimate only — based on your own inputs. Cancel directly with each provider; check terms before cancelling annual plans.
New
Fresh this month
Our newest shutdown-preparedness guides: audit checklists, dependency mapping, subscription overload, and finding the paid apps you forgot about.
2026 Subscription Audit: Find the Paid Apps You Forgot About
Paid apps you forgot about are still charging you — and holding your data. The 2026 method for finding every f
Read →2026: Why Subscription Overload Makes Every Shutdown Worse
The average person pays for a dozen subscriptions they barely track. Learn why subscription overload turns eve
Read →Annual vs. Monthly Plans: The Real Trade-Offs
Annual plans cost less per month but lock you in. Monthly plans cost more but keep you free. The real trade-of
Read →2026 App Dependency Audit: Map Every App Your Life Depends On
Which apps would break your week if they vanished tomorrow? This 2026 dependency audit maps every app your lif
Read →Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
What is AppShelved about?
AppShelved covers discontinued apps: what happens when an app shuts down, how to export your data before it disappears, and how to find good alternatives. Everything is written in plain English for everyday app users.
How do I know if an app is shutting down?
The company usually sends an email or in-app notice weeks or months before the shutdown date. Watch for announcements in your inbox, check the app’s website or blog, and don’t ignore messages about important changes.
Can I get my data out before an app closes?
Often yes — most apps offer an export or download option in settings, usually as CSV, JSON, or PDF files. Export early, because the export tool is sometimes removed before the final shutdown date.
What happens to my data after an app shuts down?
It depends on the company’s policy: some delete everything after a grace period, others keep backups for a limited time. Assume your data will become unreachable and export anything you want to keep.
How do I find a replacement for a discontinued app?
List the features you actually used, export your data first, then test two or three alternatives with your real data before committing. Prefer apps with open export formats so the next shutdown hurts less.
Should I cancel my subscription when an app announces a shutdown?
Check the terms first: some companies stop billing automatically, others keep charging until you cancel. Cancel directly with the provider, and watch annual plans — refunds for unused months are not guaranteed.