From an engineering studio that ships weekly

Software we
actually use.

No sponsored placements. No pay-to-rank lists. Every tool here is part of our production stack — vetted through real projects, real deadlines, and real budgets.

We've spent $47K+ on SaaS in the last two years. These are the tools that survived the culling. Updated quarterly.

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47
Tools Tested
16
Made the Cut
$0
Paid Placements
Q1
Last Review Cycle

Philosophy

Built different.

Most "tool recommendation" sites are SEO farms. They review products they've never installed, rank by commission rate, and change their #1 pick weekly.

We build software for a living. When we recommend something, it's because we depend on it — not because someone paid us to write about it. If a tool earns a spot here, it survived months of real use.

  • 01
    Real usage required We use every tool we recommend. No exceptions.
  • 02
    Honest shortcomings Every review includes what the tool gets wrong.
  • 03
    Free alternatives listed We always suggest the free option if it's good enough.
  • 04
    Updated quarterly Recommendations change when better options emerge.

Featured

What we're using now.

Email & Newsletters

Beehiiv

The newsletter platform that actually understands growth. Built-in referral programs, SEO-optimized web hosting, and an ad network that pays.

Full review →
Project Management

Monday.com

Replaced three tools at once. Pipeline tracking, sprint boards, and client dashboards in one platform. The automation engine alone saves hours weekly.

Full review →
Security

NordVPN

Non-negotiable for remote work. Fast enough for video calls, Meshnet for private networking between machines, and a no-logs audit that actually checks out.

Full review →
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