Tools & stack

The tools I use

An overview of all my tools with short reasoning behind each choice. The list is kept up to date with real experience.

Kept up to date

This list evolves with my experience. Every tool change is documented in the journal with the reasoning behind the decision.

Platform & theme

Ghost

using
$9/month

A blogging platform focused on content and performance

Pros:

  • Speed
  • Simple editor
  • Built-in newsletter

Cons:

  • Smaller ecosystem
  • Limited customization

My verdict: I chose Ghost for its simplicity and content focus

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WordPress

tested
From $4/month + hosting

The most popular CMS with enormous flexibility

Pros:

  • Flexibility
  • Huge ecosystem
  • Tons of plugins

Cons:

  • More maintenance
  • Can be slow
  • Complexity

My verdict: Too many options for a start, but good for growth

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Analytics

Google Analytics 4

using
Free

Core traffic and user-behavior analytics

Pros:

  • Free
  • Complete
  • Integrations

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Overwhelming for beginners

My verdict: A must-have despite the complexity

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Search Console

using
Free

Google's tool for monitoring search positions

Pros:

  • Free
  • Official Google data
  • SEO hints

Cons:

  • Data delays
  • Limited filters

My verdict: Essential for SEO

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Plausible

considering
$9/month

A simple, privacy-friendly alternative to GA

Pros:

  • Simple
  • Fast
  • Privacy-friendly

Cons:

  • Paid
  • Fewer features
  • Fewer integrations

My verdict: A good option for the future

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Newsletter

ConvertKit

using
From $29/month

An email marketing platform for content creators

Pros:

  • Automations
  • Segmentation
  • Creator-focused

Cons:

  • Pricier
  • Subscriber limits

My verdict: Great for serious email marketing

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Mailchimp

tested
Free up to 500 subs

A popular platform with a free plan

Pros:

  • Free plan
  • Easy start
  • Templates

Cons:

  • Free-tier limitations
  • Less advanced

My verdict: Good to start with, but you'll outgrow it quickly

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Content creation

Notion

using
The free plan is enough

An all-in-one workspace for planning and writing

Pros:

  • Flexibility
  • Templates
  • Collaboration

Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming
  • Sometimes slow

My verdict: Perfect for content planning

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Grammarly

using
$12/month Premium

A writing assistant and language checker

Pros:

  • Real-time corrections
  • Style suggestions
  • Integrations

Cons:

  • Mostly English
  • Sometimes overzealous suggestions

My verdict: A must-have for anyone writing in English

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SEO & optimization

Ubersuggest

using
$29/month

A keyword research tool

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Competitor research
  • Content ideas

Cons:

  • Less precise than Ahrefs
  • Limited data

My verdict: A good alternative to expensive SEO tools

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TinyPNG

using
Free + $25/year Pro

Image compression without quality loss

Pros:

  • Effective compression
  • Simple
  • API

Cons:

  • Free-tier limit

My verdict: Essential for site speed

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Have a question about a specific tool?

If you'd like to know more about my experience with any of these tools, or need a recommendation for a specific task — write to me!

Ask a question See the decision process in the journal