these are the tools I personally use and recommend for running an online business as a solopreneur. I have tested each one and only include tools that are worth your time and money.
disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
AI writing and content tools
- Claude by Anthropic. my primary AI assistant for writing, analysis, and coding. the best reasoning of any AI model I have tested
- ChatGPT by OpenAI. great for brainstorming, quick drafts, and image generation
- Jasper. purpose-built AI writing tool with marketing templates and brand voice
automation tools
- Zapier. connects 5,000+ apps with no-code automation. the easiest way to start automating
- Make (formerly Integromat). more powerful and cheaper than Zapier for complex workflows
- n8n. self-hosted automation. free if you run your own server
project management
- Notion. all-in-one workspace for notes, databases, wikis, and project tracking
- ClickUp. feature-rich PM tool with a generous free tier
- Asana. clean, focused task management. best for simple project tracking
hiring platforms
- Upwork. largest freelancer marketplace. best for finding specialized talent
- Fiverr. quick, affordable tasks. best for one-off projects
- OnlineJobs.ph. Filipino virtual assistants at competitive rates. great for long-term hires
- Toptal. pre-vetted top 3% freelancers. premium pricing, premium quality
growth and outreach tools
- Apollo.io. lead database and outreach automation. generous free tier
- Lemlist. cold email and LinkedIn outreach with personalization
- Hunter.io. find email addresses for any domain
analytics and SEO
- Google Search Console. free, essential for SEO monitoring
- Google Analytics 4. free website analytics
- RankMath. WordPress SEO plugin with on-page optimization
this page is updated regularly as I discover and test new tools.