Free Automation ROI Calculator: How Much Money Are You Wasting?
Before you pay for an automation tool, check whether it earns its cost. Enter your own numbers. The calculator counts the time you save, subtracts the subscription and the time it takes to set up, and shows when it pays for itself. Use honest estimates: tasks rarely vanish completely.
How the maths works
- Hours saved per month = weekly hours x 52 / 12 x share removed.
- Monthly value = hours saved x your hourly value.
- Net per month = value minus tool cost minus maintenance time (valued at your hourly rate).
- Payback = setup time (valued at your hourly rate) divided by net per month.
Common mistakes when estimating
- Counting 100% of the time as saved. Reviewing and fixing automated output takes time too.
- Valuing free time as income. If saved hours will not turn into work or rest you value, the gain is smaller than shown.
- Ignoring maintenance. Automations break when apps change.
- Forgetting the free tier. Check whether a free plan covers your volume before paying.
Good first tasks to automate
Look for work that is repetitive, rule-based and frequent: sending invoices, moving form entries to a spreadsheet, scheduling posts, or saving email attachments. If you are not sure where to start, see our guide on common automation mistakes.
This calculator gives an estimate, not financial advice.