The real price of a companion is a twelve-month scenario, not a monthly badge

A companion advertised at a monthly equivalent may still require an annual payment, extra image credits, a headset or a second subscription for the feature a reader actually wants. The honest comparison is not one price. It is a set of documented scenarios with uncertainty left visible.

Start with the payment path

Record web, Apple and Google Play offers separately, in the user’s currency and including tax where shown. Note billing period, amount charged today, renewal amount, trial deadline and cancellation route. Google Play’s subscription policy requires clear cost, billing frequency, automatic-renewal terms and cancellation access. Apple describes auto-renewable subscriptions as continuing until cancellation. Store rules are baselines for developers, not proof that every listing is clear.

Build three usage scenarios

Calculate light, expected and heavy use over twelve months. Include subscription payments, consumable message or media credits, voice minutes, optional storage, required hardware and replacement accessories. Do not assign a made-up cash value to “time spent” or emotional attachment. Instead, list non-price dependencies in a separate column: daily limits, memory tier, export availability and what disappears after downgrade.

Normalize without hiding cash flow

Show both annual total and payment schedule. A $120 annual charge is not the same budgeting experience as twelve $10 charges, even though arithmetic matches. If an annual plan is promoted as $10 a month, label it “$120 billed annually.” If a price is unavailable until login, mark it unavailable rather than copying a search snippet. Date every observation because prices and entitlements move.

Work a hypothetical comparison

Service A costs $12 monthly with all expected voice use included. Service B costs $80 annually plus four hypothetical $8 credit packs. The twelve-month totals are $144 and $112, but B demands $80 upfront and carries uncertain credit use. A reader who rarely generates media may prefer B; someone needing predictable monthly cash flow may not. The worksheet makes the trade visible without naming a winner.

Add the leaving costs

Check whether cancellation preserves access through the paid term, whether account deletion is separate, and whether an export is available before downgrade. Save the offer screen and receipt. Set a calendar reminder several days before renewal; do not rely on the companion itself to remind you.

Make the worksheet decide something

Set a budget ceiling and must-have capability before viewing annual discounts. If the expected scenario exceeds the ceiling, remove optional credits or choose a different plan; do not move the ceiling because an affectionate paywall appears. If two services have similar totals, compare cancellation, export and downgrade behavior. The worksheet should end with buy, trial, wait or decline, plus a review date. It is not useful if it merely produces a precise total after the emotional decision is already fixed.

This method does not freeze a market price or recommend a service. Combine it with the dated pricing record for examples and the exit-pack guide so the cheapest plan is not assessed without its switching cost.