Things that used to cost money but are now free

As the years go by and technology advances, many things we used to pay money for are now available for free. Remember when you had to consult physical encyclopedias before you could Google information? Or when you needed road maps and GPS before having it all for free on your phone? 

In this gallery, we cover popular things that used to cost money but are now free. Click on and see how many you remember. 

Phone calls

While most of us still pay for calls, the prices are considerably lower nowadays. And if you have an internet connection, you can actually call people for free through a number of apps.

Newspapers

Reading the headlines is part of many people's daily routines. Though back then, you'd only be able to do so if you bought a newspaper. Today, you have access to the news online, and in some places, free physical newspapers are even distributed.

Movies

While many of us still pay to go to the movies or a streaming service, there are plenty of free movies online on platforms like YouTube. 

Greeting cards

Whether you want a birthday or a card for a special occasion, you will find it online for free. Plus, they can be easily personalized with names and photos. 

Photography

Before digital photography, you would carefully consider each photo because printing it was costly. Nowadays, you can take unlimited photos and choose to print only those you want.

GPS

You no longer need to buy specific GPS tools for your car. All you need is your phone and free apps such as Google Maps or Waze.

Storage

Gone are the days when you'd have to back everything up on external hard drives or CD-ROMs. We now have access to gigabytes of free cloud storage, so you no longer need to spend money on physical storage solutions.

Ringtones

Remember when paying for ringtones was a thing? Nowadays, you can download numerous ones for free.

Education

While you probably won't be able to get a degree for free, you sure can learn a ton of new things without spending a dime.

Workout plans

Before the digital age, workout plans would be something only PTs and other exercise professionals would have access to. Now, you have free access to plenty of workout plans online.

Photo editing software

Anything more than just basic editing would be reserved for those who had software such as Photoshop. Today, there are a number of advanced photo (and video) editing software available for free online.

Airline booking fees

It is true that some airlines still charge for booking flights (though mostly if done on the phone or in person), but back then, you'd likely get a plane ticket from a travel agent, which meant paying an extra fee. 

Wi-fi

From public spaces to malls, coffee shops, and airports, free Wi-fi is more abundant than ever.

Phone books

In the past, if you needed to contact a business or person, you'd have to refer to the phone book. Companies used to pay to feature their numbers and ads, but nowadays, an online presence is all that's needed.