Let’s talk about something most freelancers don’t want to think about: what happens to our stack if the US economy tanks?
If you’ve read my main piece, When the Empire Falls: How a US Economic Collapse Could Reshape the Internet and Threaten Web Freelancers Globally, you’ll know this isn’t about fear-mongering. It’s about preparation. And one of the biggest risks isn’t just clients vanishing. It’s our tools.
Hosting. Premium plugins. Themes. Email platforms. Payment gateways. All of them are priced in USD. All of them are built on assumptions of stability.
So what happens when that stability disappears?
The Calm Before the Spike
I’ve checked: over 80 per cent of my essential dev stack bills me in USD. Stripe, hosting, plugins, email services, you name it.
And with inflationary pressure and market panic looming if the US economy falters, these prices won’t stay put.
Some companies will:
- Raise pricing tiers quietly
- Remove lifetime deals or grandfathered plans
- Add surcharge fees for international billing
Others may disappear altogether.
Why Dev Tool Prices Could Skyrocket
Let’s break it down:
- USD Inflation: If the US dollar weakens, international prices balloon even if base prices don’t change.
- Hosting Infrastructure: Hosting companies rely on data centre contracts, labour, and energy. All US-based and subject to cost shocks.
- Venture-backed SaaS: Many popular WordPress tools are VC-funded. If funding dries up, expect layoffs, feature cuts, and maybe abandonment.
- Plugin Developers Pivot: Solo plugin creators may stop updating their plugins, sell off their intellectual property, or pivot to serving enterprise clients.
Even minor disruptions in the US ecosystem ripple globally. And freelancers feel it first.
What Happens If a Plugin or Host Goes Bust?
Imagine your go-to performance plugin stops updating. Or your form plugin vanishes from the repo. Or your host’s support team is gutted.
Without notice, you’re now:
- Vulnerable to security issues
- Scrambling to find alternatives
- Losing client trust if something breaks
How to Lock In Affordable Access Now
This isn’t about panic. It’s about strategic moves:
- Switch to annual billing on tools you rely on. Avoid monthly price shocks.
- Keep a folder of plugin zips and licenses. Don’t rely on the vendor’s cloud.
- Use lifetime deals if they’re credible. But vet them carefully.
- Document plugin usage in client sites so you can replace them if needed.
Host Smart: Don’t Bet Everything on US Infrastructure
Many top-tier hosts (you know who they are) are US-centric. If outages, DDoS attacks, or policy changes hit, your and your clients’ sites go dark.
Time to diversify:
- Look for geo-distributed hosting or those with EU/AU data centres
- Backups should live outside your primary host
- CDN should be globally redundant
My pick? Wordify – an Aussie host with a super affordable $2/month developer tier. It’s fast, simple, and not tied to US infrastructure. I use it for all my test projects.
Your Resilient Tech Stack Checklist
Here’s what I recommend every freelancer do before the wheels come off:
- ✅ Inventory your stack: List all your paid tools, including their billing cycles and renewal prices.
- ✅ Backup plugin zips and license keys: Store them in a secure cloud folder with version numbers.
- ✅ Switch to annual billing: Lock in current pricing and avoid monthly fluctuation.
- ✅ Have open-source alternatives listed: Know your fallback in case a tool vanishes or becomes too expensive.
- ✅ Host redundantly: Add a secondary host for backups or overflow, preferably outside the US.
- ✅ Use global CDNs: Ensure your CDN provider has edge locations outside of North America.
- ✅ Export all critical client data: In case a service goes offline or access is revoked.
- ✅ Monitor for price hikes or new terms: Read every email from your vendors.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Broken
A global internet built on US infrastructure is a fragile thing. The plugin or host you rely on could vanish overnight. Others may double in price.
Being prepared isn’t being paranoid. It’s being professional.
You don’t need to switch everything. But you do need a plan B.