Paid vs Free EOS Software: What You Really Get (And What It Actually Costs)

You’re reading Traction, nodding along to every page, thinking “this is exactly what we need.” The EOS framework makes so much sense. Vision/Traction Organizer, Level 10 Meetings, Rocks, Scorecards—it’s all clicking.

Then comes the question: How do we actually run this thing?

You’ve got three options staring at you: free spreadsheets, “free tier” EOS software, or paid platforms. The spreadsheets are obviously free. The “free tier” software sounds pretty good — you get the core EOS tools without spending anything. And paid software? Well, that’s another monthly subscription you’re not sure you need.

Here’s what nobody tells you upfront: “free” EOS software — whether it’s spreadsheets or limited software tiers — often costs more than paying for a complete platform. Not just in hidden time costs (though those add up fast), but in actual dollars you’re spending on other tools anyway.

We know because we’ve been there. We built and sold our previous company using EOS, and we experienced every version of “free” before building Strety. The business productivity software market is projected to grow by $119.4 billion from 2024-2029 with a 17.6% compound annual growth rate — businesses everywhere are realizing that the right software investment pays for itself.

So let’s break down what you’re actually getting with each approach — and what it really costs.

Understanding the Three Types of “Free” EOS Tools

Before we dive into costs, let’s clarify what “free” actually means in the EOS world.

Manual Tools: When “Classic” Means “Chaos”

Some teams stick with pen, paper, and whiteboards. If you’re all in the same office and you’re a small team (under 10 people), this can work. You’ve got a shared whiteboard with your Rocks and Issues visible.

But the moment you add remote team members, grow past 10 people, or try to track historical data, this approach falls apart. There’s no record of decisions. No way to see trends in your Scorecards. No accountability when someone’s out of the office.

It might be interesting for your team to print manual tools and use them once or twice just to dip your toes in EOS tools, but don’t expect to be able to manage a true implementation this way.

Completely Free: Spreadsheets and Templates

A step up from manual and the purest form of free. EOS Worldwide offers a free toolbox with downloadable templates. We offer a comprehensive Google Sheets template with all the core EOS tools organized in one place. You can build your own in Excel if you want.

These tools include everything: V/TO, Accountability Chart, Scorecards, Issues List, Meeting Agendas, Rock tracking. It’s all there. No credit card required. No trial period that expires. Just free.

The catch? You’re 100% manual. Every update is typing into a cell. Every meeting prep is opening spreadsheets and copying data. Every Rock status update requires someone to remember to edit the sheet.

Jeromy, Caleb, and Michael from Heritage Advises ran this way for 18 months after merging their three insurance agencies. Here’s what they found: “We had the spreadsheets ready to go in each channel, but between meetings, no one was looking at them.”

That’s the spreadsheet problem in one sentence. They work during meetings. They don’t work between meetings when you actually need the accountability and visibility.

When spreadsheets make sense: You’re exploring EOS with a 5-10 person leadership team. You’re in your first 1-2 quarters. You’re committed to manual processes. You literally cannot spend any money on software right now.

“Free Tier” Software: What You’re Really Getting

Here’s where things get interesting. Several EOS software platforms offer “free” versions. EOS One has a “first user free” model. Other platforms have free tiers with limited features.

Sounds perfect, right? You get software to run EOS without paying for it.

But here’s what “free tier” typically means in practice:

What you get:

• Limited Vision/Traction Organizer access
• View-only features for most tools
• Basic Accountability Chart

What you don’t get:

• Level 10 Meetings (our favorite EOS tool)
• Project management for executing Rocks
• Performance management and quarterly conversations
• Surveys (Culture Checkup, Organizational Checkup, eNPS)
• Documentation and playbook management
• Integrations with your other tools
• Support for proper implementation

According to Ninety.io’s own documentation: “Companies on the free plan cannot create items (such as Rocks, To-Dos, and Issues).”

Read that again. You can’t create Rocks. In EOS software. The whole point of EOS is setting and tracking quarterly priorities (Rocks), and the free tier doesn’t let you do it.

So what are you actually running? You’re running Level 10 Meetings. That’s it. You’re not running EOS—you’re running a meeting structure with none of the connective tissue that makes EOS work.

The Hidden Costs of Spreadsheets and Manual Tools

Let’s start with the approach that’s truly free—spreadsheets. What does it actually cost?

Time Investment: Every Level 10 Meeting requires someone (usually you) to:

• Open and organize multiple spreadsheet tabs
• Copy last week’s Scorecard numbers into this week
• Manually compile Issues from various sources
• Update Rock completion percentages
• Track To-Dos across different sheets
• Take meeting notes and distribute afterward

That’s 30-60 minutes of prep time per meeting. For a weekly leadership meeting, that’s 26-52 hours annually. At $100/hour for your time, that’s $2,600-5,200 in prep costs alone.

The Adoption Problem: Heritage Advises wasn’t unique in their experience. This is the universal spreadsheet problem: between meetings, no one looks at them.

Why? Because spreadsheets require behavior change AND discipline. Every Rock update, every Issue added, every To-Do tracked requires someone to:

1. Remember the spreadsheet exists
2. Find the right file
3. Navigate to the correct tab
4. Make the edit
5. Save and notify others

That’s five steps for every update. Compare that to getting a notification on your phone, clicking it, and updating in-app.

Most teams stop updating between meetings. Then you show up to your L10 and spend the first 15 minutes getting everyone’s actual status. The framework is working—barely—but the tools are fighting you.

The Integration Problem: Georg from Valiant Technology put it perfectly: “Every tool that doesn’t integrate becomes another place we have to go do double entry.”

With spreadsheets, NOTHING integrates. You’re:

• Manually entering Scorecard data from other systems
• Copying project status from your project management tool
• Transcribing Issues from Slack or email
• Duplicating To-Dos into your task manager

Georg calls this “the game of inches” — every time you avoid manual entry, you get back seconds and minutes. “MSPs, like most businesses, especially service businesses, are games of inches. You’re not hitting home runs every day. But the best businesses really focus on the little things, too, like 10 minutes back here and 7 minutes back there.”

Those 10 minutes here and 7 minutes there compound over a year into massive productivity drains. Research shows that employees lose nearly 60% of their workday switching between tools and searching for information — exactly the problem that disconnected systems create.

When Spreadsheets Work: Despite all these limitations, spreadsheets DO have a role: exploring EOS with your leadership team for the first 1-2 quarters. You’re learning the framework. You’re figuring out if EOS is right for you. You’re getting comfortable with the concepts before investing in tools.

That’s a perfectly valid use case. Start with our free template, run a few quarters, and see if EOS fits your business. But once you’re committed to EOS and ready to scale beyond your leadership team, the spreadsheet approach starts costing more than it saves. And be honey with yourself: if you think “EOS doesn’t work” while you’re operating out of spreadsheets, it may be the way you’re implementing the framework that’s the problem, not the EOS framework itself.

The Hidden Costs of “Free Tier” EOS Software

Now let’s talk about the approach that seems like the best of both worlds: free tier EOS software. You get actual software features without paying for them. Perfect, right?

Not quite. Here’s where the real costs hide.

Problem #1: Incomplete EOS Implementation

Free tier software might give you a place to store your V/TO. But EOS is more than a V/TO.

The framework works because everything connects:

• Your Vision drives your Rocks
• Your Rocks connect to projects and To-Dos
• Your Accountability Chart connects to performance management
• Your Core Values connect to your Culture Checkup
• Your processes connect to documentation

Free tier software typically gives you a V/TO. Everything else? You’re on your own. So if you want to stick with free while using all the OES tools (including the all-important Level 10 Meeting Agenda tool), you’ll end up using the free EOS software PLUS spreadsheets. At that point, you’re better off just using spreadsheets — at least that way you’d have your whole implementation in one place!

What’s missing in free EOS software:

• Level 10 meetings, Rocks, and Scorecards so you can put EOS into action (you’ll still need spreadsheets or some other way to track)
• Project management for executing Rocks (you still need Monday, Asana, or ClickUp)
• Performance management for quarterly conversations, 360 reviews, 1:1s, and HR visibility (you still need Lattice or 15Five)
• Surveys for Culture Checkup and Organizational Checkup (you still need SurveyMonkey or Typeform)
• Documentation for process management (you still need Notion or Confluence)

So you think you’re running EOS. You have a pretty V/TO and Accountability Chart. And if you’re really committed, you’re using spreadsheets to run your L10s, create and track Rocks and Scorecards. But you’re missing half the framework if you’re just using this free tier software.

Worse, you’re creating what looks like an EOS implementation. When it doesn’t work — when Rocks don’t get completed, when accountability falls through cracks, when performance conversations don’t happen — you might blame EOS. But you weren’t actually running EOS. You were running a couple of tools plus chaos.

Problem #2: The Tool Sprawl You’ll Pay For Anyway

Here’s the math nobody mentions when they talk about “free” EOS software.

Let’s say you’re using a free tier EOS platform. You get a V/TO and Accountability Chart. Great. Now let’s add up what you’re paying for everything else:

Project Management (because free tier doesn’t include it):

• Monday.com: $9-16 per user/month
• Asana: $10.99-24.99 per user/month
• ClickUp: $7-19 per user/month

Survey Tools (because free tier doesn’t include surveys):

• SurveyMonkey: $25-75/month for team plans (amortized: ~$3-7/user)
• Typeform: $25-70/month for team plans (amortized: ~$3-7/user)

Performance Management (because free tier doesn’t include it):

• Lattice: $11 per user/month
• 15Five: $10 per user/month
• Culture Amp: $3,600/year for small teams (amortized: ~$15/user)

Documentation (because free tier doesn’t include it):

• Notion: $10-18 per user/month
• Confluence: $6-12 per user/month
• Slab: $8-15 per user/month

The Real Cost of “Free”: Free EOS software (tier) + Project management ($12) + Surveys ($5) + Performance management ($11) + Documentation ($10) = $38-45 per user per month

And you still have all the problems Georg described: “Every tool that doesn’t integrate becomes another place we have to go do double entry.”

Problem #3: No Guardrails for True EOS Implementation

Free tiers don’t guide you through proper EOS adoption. They give you tools and assume you know what to do with them.

Without structure, it’s easy to:

• Skip crucial EOS components (performance management, organizational surveys)
• Use meetings without the supporting tools
• Think you’re “doing EOS” when you’re really just doing a small portion of it
• Blame the methodology when incomplete tools fail you

This is especially dangerous when you try to scale beyond your leadership team. EOS works beautifully at scale—but only if you have the complete framework in place. Free tier software makes it nearly impossible to scale properly because you’re asking department heads to manage three different tools: the EOS platform for the V/TO and accountability chart, a project tool for Rocks, and spreadsheets for everything else.

Problem #4: Spreadsheet Workarounds for Missing Features

Here’s the irony: You chose software to get away from spreadsheets. But with free tier EOS software, you’re right back to spreadsheets for everything the software doesn’t include.

You’re maintaining:

• Google Sheets for Rock and Scorecard tracking
• Excel for survey compilation
• Manual performance review documents
• Separate process documentation

You’ve traded one set of spreadsheets (for everything) for another set of spreadsheets (for everything except your V/TO and Accountability Chart). The adoption problems haven’t gone away. They’ve just shifted to different tools.

Stellar Senior Living experienced this evolution. They used a free EOS software for nearly three years at their corporate level. “Since we were only using it at the corporate level, we could tolerate the occasional glitches—it was free, after all.”

But when they prepared to roll EOS out to the 36 senior living communities they support, they realized they needed something more dependable. “If we were going to pay a substantial amount, we needed more reliability, more features, and better support.”

Here’s what they discovered: free tier software isn’t actually free when you’re paying for all the other tools you need to make EOS work properly.

What Complete Paid EOS Software Actually Gives You

Now let’s talk about what you get when you invest in a complete EOS platform like Strety. Not a free tier. Not V/TO-only software. A platform built to run the full EOS framework, plus other critical business functions.

True EOS Implementation (Not Just Meetings)

Complete platforms connect everything:

Level 10 Meetings connect to Rock execution through integrated project management. When you create a Rock, you can connect it to a collaborative Project with To-Dos, deadlines, and accountability.

Rocks and Scorecards living in clear, organized Spaces — easy for you to update, and easy for an Integrator to keep track of through integrated reporting.

Accountability Chart connects to performance management. Quarterly conversations aren’t separate HR processes—they’re integrated with the roles, responsibilities, and Rocks people own.

Core Values connect to surveys. Your Culture Checkup measures how well you’re living your values. Results feed directly into your quarterly planning.

Processes connect to documentation. Your documented playbooks aren’t stuck in Google Drive—they’re linked to the specific roles and responsibilities in your Accountability Chart.

This is what EOS is supposed to look like. Everything working together. No gaps. No disconnected tools.

The Integration Advantage

Integration isn’t just convenience. It’s about making EOS part of your daily workflow instead of something you “do” in meetings.

Real-time visibility means everyone sees current status without opening five different tools. Rock updates happen in the same place people are already working. Issues get captured the moment they arise, not days later when someone remembers to add them to the spreadsheet.

Mobile access means you capture thoughts wherever you are. Walking to your car after a customer meeting and realize there’s an Issue to solve? Add it immediately. Don’t wait until you’re back at your desk, hoping you remember.

Automated notifications mean nothing falls through cracks. To-Do reminders. Scorecard data requests. Upcoming Rock deadlines. The system handles the logistics so you can focus on the work.

Integration with existing tools eliminates double-entry. Your PSA feeds Scorecards automatically. Microsoft Teams hosts L10 Meetings without context-switching. Tasks sync with Planner or To Do.

Mark from Parachute Technology experienced this firsthand: 

“One of the biggest things about Strety for us is the Microsoft Teams integration, since we are a Microsoft shop. We do use the web app a lot as well, but it’s just nice that it’s in Teams.”

Georg’s “game of inches” becomes a game you’re winning. Those 10 minutes here and 7 minutes there? You get them all back.

The Real Cost Comparison

Let’s put this all in one place with actual numbers. Here’s what you’re really paying for each approach:

Spreadsheets vs Free Tier vs Complete Platform: The Full Picture

Look at that last row. The actual monthly cost for “free” approaches is roughly $38 per user once you add all the tools you need for complete EOS implementation. Plus, with the “free” tools, you’re still reliant on spreadsheets. Better to stick to spreadsheets so you at least know everything is one place. 

Compare “fee EOS software” to the complete EOS platform which is $13 per user and includes everything.

You’re paying less and getting more.

When “Free” Actually Makes Sense

We’re not saying free tools never work. They absolutely have a place.

Completely Free (Spreadsheets) Makes Sense When:

• You’re exploring EOS with your leadership team (5-10 people)
• You’re in your first 1-2 quarters of testing the framework
• You’re committed to manual processes and accept the time investment
• Budget prevents ANY software spending right now
• Everyone works in the same office

Start with our free EOS Implementation Template. Run a couple quarters. See if EOS fits. If it does, you’ll know when it’s time to invest in proper tools because the manual process will become obviously painful.

Free Tier Software Makes Sense: Almost Never

This is the honest truth. Free tier EOS software creates the illusion of running EOS without the substance.

You’re paying for other tools anyway. You’re getting incomplete implementation. You’re missing the integration that makes EOS sustainable.

The only exception: You’re a single user testing the software before recommending it to your team. Even then, most platforms (including Strety) offer 30-day free trials where you can test everything, not just the limited free tier.

Better Approach: Either use a complete free template for exploration OR invest in a complete platform for proper implementation. The middle ground of “free tier software” is where people get stuck running incomplete EOS and wondering why it doesn’t work.

When You Need to Invest in Complete EOS Software

Here are the clear signals that it’s time to invest:

1. You’re scaling beyond your leadership team (8+ people)

Free tools work (barely) for small leadership teams who meet weekly. They break down completely when you try to cascade EOS to department teams.

Mark from Parachute Technology saw this clearly: 

“The ease of use of Strety has allowed us to push it across not only the executive level, but also into the department and individual levels. So we have now taken our EOS implementation from a team of six executives to an organization of over seventy people.”

You can’t scale to 70 people on spreadsheets or free tier software. It’s just not feasible.

2. You have remote or distributed teams

Spreadsheets require everyone opening the same file. Free tier software has limited mobile access and notifications. Complete platforms work wherever your team works.

3. Your current free tools have poor adoption

If you’re experiencing the Heritage Advises problem (“between meetings, no one was looking at them”), you don’t need more discipline. You need better tools.

Adoption problems are tool problems, not people problems. When Mark switched to a complete platform, he immediately noticed: “There’s been much more engagement and people are actually putting in more numbers.”

Same people. Different tools. Better results.

4. You’re currently paying for 3+ disconnected tools

Look at your SaaS subscriptions. If you’re paying for:

• A project management platform
• A survey tool
• A performance management system
• A documentation platform

You’re paying $35-50 per user monthly for disconnected tools that don’t talk to each other and aren’t built to run EOS. Consolidating to a complete EOS platform cuts your costs AND improves functionality.

5. You want to run true EOS, not just structured meetings

This is the philosophical point that matters most. EOS works when all the components connect. Meetings inform Rocks. Rocks inform projects. Performance drives accountability. Surveys inform culture. Processes enable delegation.

Free tier software gives you the vision. Complete platforms give you the full framework plus the critical execution.

If you’re serious about EOS—if you want the clarity, accountability, and traction the methodology promises—you need tools that support the complete system.

How to Calculate Your Real ROI

Let’s get specific about what you’re actually saving by investing in complete EOS software.

Time Savings:

Meeting prep time:

• Spreadsheets/spreadsheets + free software: 45 min/week × 52 weeks = 39 hours annually
• Complete platform: 7 min/week × 52 weeks = 6 hours annually
• Savings: 33 hours per year

At $100/hour for leadership time, that’s $3,300 in annual savings just for the person running meetings — not even including all of the manual work from each member of the team to update their piece.

Data entry and updates from everyone else:

• Free approach: ~2 hours/week across team (Rock updates, Scorecard entry, Issue tracking)
• Complete platform: ~15 minutes/week (automated, integrated)
• Savings: 1.75 hours weekly per team

For a 10-person team at $75/hour average, that’s $68,250 in annual productivity gains.

Tool Consolidation Savings:

Current state (free tier + supplements):

• Project management: $12/user/month
• Performance management: $11/user/month
• Survey tools: $5/user/month (amortized)
• Documentation: $10/user/month
• Total: $38/user/month = $456/user/year

Complete platform:

• Everything integrated: $13/user/month = $156/user/year
• Savings: $300/user/year

For a 25-person team: $7,500 in annual subscription savings

Improved Outcomes:

This is harder to quantify but equally important:

• Higher Rock completion rates (better execution)
• Fewer Issues falling through cracks (less firefighting)
• Better performance conversations (stronger team)
• More consistent culture (surveys actually happen)

What the Research Shows:

According to a 2021 meta-analysis by Cloud Ratings examining 234 software ROI studies, business software spending delivers a remarkable 41% annualized ROI — significantly above the 18% corporate hurdle rate required by most S&P 500 companies. Their research found that $1.00 invested in business software yields $2.78 in value over three years. 

McKinsey research from November 2024 shows organizations can expect at least 24% reduction in total IT spend through increased technology maturity — and that’s just the cost side. The productivity gains compound over time. 

A 2024 study from ITonDemand found that 40% of businesses cite operational efficiency as the top benefit of digital transformation, with proper IT management playing a critical role in mitigating risks that can lead to financial losses and brand damage. 

These aren’t just abstract percentages. They represent real businesses seeing measurable returns from consolidating their software stack and investing in integrated platforms.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

Switching from free tools to a complete platform is less painful than you think.

Team Adoption Strategies:

Start with your leadership team. Get comfortable with all the features. Run a few meetings successfully. Then cascade to department teams.

The key is showing people how it makes their lives easier:

• “Rock updates take 15 seconds now instead of updating spreadsheets”
• “Your To-Dos sync with Microsoft Planner automatically”
• “Quarterly conversations are already in the system — no separate HR process”

People adopt tools that reduce their work, not add to it. Complete platforms reduce work. That’s the pitch.

The Bottom Line: Free Software Keeps You Stuck in Partial EOS

Here’s what we’ve learned building and scaling companies on EOS:

Spreadsheets are perfect for exploration. If you’re testing EOS with your leadership team, start there. Our free EOS implementation template gives you everything you need for 1-2 quarters of running the framework manually.

“Free tier” software is a trap. You think you’re running EOS, but you’re running meetings plus tool sprawl. You’re paying for project management, surveys, performance tools, and documentation anyway. You’re spending $38 per user monthly for disconnected systems instead of $13 per user for an integrated platform.

Complete paid platforms cost less than free tier approaches and deliver actual EOS implementation. Not just the V/TO. Not just the Accountability Chart. The complete framework with all the components connected.

The companies that succeed with EOS are the ones with tools that support the full methodology. Tools that make daily EOS practice easier, not harder. Tools that scale as they grow.

Think about it this way: You’re committed enough to EOS that you’re reading articles about software. You’re past the exploration phase. You know EOS works. The question isn’t whether to invest — it’s whether to keep paying $38/user for scattered tools or pay $13/user for everything you need in one place.

The math isn’t close. The consolidation alone pays for complete software. The time savings are bonus. The improved outcomes — better Rock completion, stronger accountability, more consistent culture — that’s what EOS is supposed to deliver.

Free approaches keep you stuck running partial EOS. Complete platforms let you run the real thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really run EOS on completely free tools?

Yes, for a limited time with a small team. Spreadsheets work for 5-10 people in the exploration phase. You’ll know when you’ve outgrown them because adoption between meetings becomes a constant problem or you want to roll out EOS beyond the leadership team. At that point, you need actual software.

What’s wrong with using a free tier of EOS software?

Free tiers typically give you the V/TO and Accountability Chart only. These are static tools that don’t change weekly and don’t connect to your daily execution without the rest in place. In free EOS software, you can’t create Rocks, track projects, run performance reviews, or conduct surveys. You end up paying for 3-5 other tools to fill the gaps, spending $38/user monthly for disconnected systems. It’s more expensive than complete paid platforms and gives you incomplete EOS implementation.

What tools will I need to pay for if I use free tier EOS software?

Typically: Project management ($12/user), performance management ($11/user), survey tools ($5/user), and documentation ($10/user). Total: ~$38/user monthly, and none of these tools integrate with each other or your EOS platform. Plus, you’ll still need spreadsheets for meeting tracking.

How do I know if I’m running “real” EOS or just meetings?

Real EOS connects everything: Vision drives Rocks. Rocks connect to projects. Performance drives accountability. Surveys inform culture. Processes enable delegation. If you’re just running Level 10 Meetings without these connections, you’re running structured meetings, not EOS. The framework works when all components support each other.

What’s the average cost of complete paid EOS software?

Most platforms range from $10-16 per user monthly. Strety is $13/user/month and includes everything you need for EOS, plus additional tools that made sense for us as operators: meetings, Rock tracking, project management, performance management, surveys, and documentation. No additional tools required.

How long does it take to see ROI from EOS software?

You’re cash-flow positive from month one if you’re currently paying for project management, survey, or performance tools. The consolidation alone pays for it. Time savings and improved Rock completion compound over quarters. Most teams see clear ROI within 30-60 days.

Is paying for one complete platform really cheaper than free tier + other tools?

If you choose a platform like Strety that does EOS plus offers additional functionality, yes, significantly. Free tier EOS software ($0) + project management ($12) + performance management ($11) + surveys ($5) + documentation ($10) = $38/user monthly for disconnected tools. Complete integrated platform = $13/user monthly for everything working together. You save $25/user monthly and get better functionality.

Do I need an EOS Implementer if I use paid software?

Not required, but many companies work with Implementers and find it accelerates success. Complete platforms support both self-implementation and Implementer-led approaches. The software makes the process more organized either way. We work closely with EOS Implementers and never compete with them—we’re here to build software, not provide coaching.

Ready to Stop Paying for Scattered Tools?

See what running complete EOS actually looks like. Try Strety free for 30 days—no credit card required. Get everything you’re currently paying for separately in one integrated platform: meetings, projects, performance, surveys, and documentation.

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