Tools I actually use.
Not a top-50 list. This is the short stack I use in real work - what each one is for, and whether the free plan is enough.
ChatGPT
Free: good enoughDrafting, rewriting, research, and thinking out loud. The most-used tab in my browser.
Guides using it →Notion
Free: yesPlanning, content calendar, and client notes. My whole system lives here.
Guides using it →n8n
Free: yesConnects my apps and automates the boring steps. The engine behind my AI workflows.
Guides using it →Google Workspace
PaidEmail, docs, and calendar on my own domain. The boring backbone everything runs on.
Guides using it →Canva
Free: good enoughThumbnails, social posts, and simple design without hiring a designer.
Guides using it →Loom
Free: yesShort video explanations instead of long meetings and longer emails.
Guides using it →Slack
Free: good enoughWhere team and client conversations live, away from the inbox.
Guides using it →How this list works
I only list tools I use at least weekly in my own businesses. If something drops out of my routine, it drops off this page. Some links may become affiliate links later - that will never change what I recommend.
New tool finds go to the newsletter first
When something earns a spot in my stack, subscribers hear about it before this page does.
