The right tool for every job.

Thinking and writing 24

Where we start Claude for writing and long documents, with Perplexity alongside it for research that needs sources.

• Our pickClaudeAnthropic’s AI assistant, strong at writing, analysis and working through long documents.Best for drafting, editing and reasoning through complex material.
• Our pickPerplexityAn AI search engine that answers with links to its sources.Best for research where you need to check where each fact came from.
• ChatGPTOpenAI’s AI assistant, which now also takes on long tasks, writes code and runs always-on agents.Best for teams that want one assistant for a bit of everything.
• GeminiGoogle’s AI assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, Drive and Chrome.Best for teams that work in Google Workspace.
• GrokxAI’s AI assistant, with live search across X and the web.Best for real-time news and what people are saying right now.
• Meta AIMeta’s AI assistant, built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.Best for quick help inside Meta’s apps.
• Microsoft CopilotMicrosoft’s AI assistant, one app for home and work, built into Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.Best for businesses that run on Microsoft 365.
• Gemini NotebookGoogle’s research notebook, formerly NotebookLM, which answers only from the documents you give it and can turn them into audio and video overviews.Best for getting to grips with a stack of reports, policies or transcripts.
• Mistral VibeThe AI assistant and work agent from Mistral, a French AI company, formerly called Le Chat.Best for European organisations with strict rules on where data is kept.
• GranolaAn AI notepad that writes up meetings from your own device, with no bot joining the call, and shares notes across a team.Best for clear notes from calls without an extra attendee.
• FirefliesAn AI meeting recorder that transcribes and summarises calls.Best for a searchable record of every meeting.
• Open weightsDeepSeekA Chinese AI assistant with openly released models, strong at reasoning.Best for low-cost models, and teams that want to run a model themselves.
• Open weightsKimiMoonshot AI’s assistant with openly released models, plus a desktop agent that works with your own files.Best for long documents and automating work on your own computer.
• Open weightsQwenAlibaba’s AI assistant and family of openly released models.Best for open models a business can host itself.
• NewSiriApple’s assistant, rebuilt this year to understand what’s on screen and act across apps.Best for iPhone users who want a capable built-in assistant.
• Alexa+Amazon’s generative-AI Alexa, on Echo devices, phones and the web.Best for households and smart homes.
• GrammarlyA writing assistant that checks grammar, tone and clarity wherever you type.Best for polished writing across a whole team.
• Superhuman GoAn AI assistant from Superhuman, the company formerly called Grammarly, that works across your email, documents and apps.Best for writing- and email-heavy work.
• Wispr FlowVoice dictation that turns speech into clean, punctuated text in any app.Best for writing and prompting by voice.
• Otter.aiMeeting transcription and notes that build a searchable archive of a team’s conversations.Best for teams that want every meeting searchable.
• FathomAn AI notetaker that records, transcribes and summarises calls, with a generous free plan.Best for reliable call summaries at little or no cost.
• tl;dvA meeting recorder whose AI writes follow-ups and updates your CRM after calls.Best for sales and customer-facing teams.
• Read AIA meeting notetaker that sends recaps and can draft follow-up emails.Best for teams that spend their days in meetings.
• PlaudPocket and wearable recorders that transcribe and summarise conversations in person.Best for in-person meetings and interviews.

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Agents that do the work 13

Where we start Claude Cowork or ChatGPT Work for finished documents and research. For anything that touches money or customers, a person still approves the last step.

• Our pickChatGPT WorkA mode in ChatGPT that works for hours across your apps and files to produce finished documents, spreadsheets, decks or web apps.Best for handing off a whole deliverable.
• Our pickClaude CoworkClaude’s agent mode, which works through your files and connected tools to produce documents, spreadsheets, decks and scheduled reports.Best for knowledge work handed off from start to finish.
• NewDotsOpenAI’s always-on agents inside ChatGPT, each with its own cloud computer, that keep working on a goal across your connected apps.Best for ongoing background work such as inbox triage, research and admin.
• NewChatGPT SpaceA shared workspace where a team and ChatGPT agents build pages, slides and tasks together.Best for teams collaborating with AI in one place.
• NewMuseMeta’s personal AI agent, which runs long tasks on its own cloud computer: browsing, forms, email, bookings and payments.Best for everyday digital chores, with a version for small businesses.
• NewInstinctA personal assistant you text or call. It connects to your email, calendar and messages, then books, buys, cancels and replies for you.Best for hands-off personal admin.
• NewGemini SparkGoogle’s always-on personal agent, which handles Gmail, Calendar, Docs and recurring tasks in the cloud while your devices are off.Best for Google Workspace users who want a background assistant.
• NewGrok BotxAI’s always-on agents, each on its own cloud computer, which sign into your tools and finish multi-step jobs.Best for persistent background work.
• NewPerplexity ComputerPerplexity’s cloud agent, which splits a goal into subtasks across many AI models and returns finished research, documents or code.Best for long research and build jobs.
• ManusA general-purpose AI agent that researches, analyses data, builds and carries out tasks on the web.Best for open-ended research and build tasks.
• GensparkAn AI workspace with agents for slides, documents, spreadsheets and email.Best for all-in-one AI office work.
• PokeAn assistant you text over iMessage, SMS or email, which handles planning, your calendar and follow-ups.Best for an assistant with no new app to install.
• Open sourceOpenClawA self-hosted personal agent that connects any AI model to your files and to chat apps such as WhatsApp, and works around the clock.Best for technical teams that want a private agent they run themselves.

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Browsers that browse for you 6

Where we start Claude in Chrome or Gemini in Chrome when a team already lives in Chrome; Comet for people who want AI at the centre of their browsing.

• Our pickCometPerplexity’s browser, with an assistant built in that summarises pages and carries out tasks across tabs.Best for AI-first everyday browsing.
• Our pickClaude in ChromeA Chrome extension that lets Claude see the page and click, type, navigate and fill in forms with your existing logins.Best for browser tasks handed to Claude.
• Our pickGemini in ChromeGoogle’s assistant in the Chrome sidebar, which can read pages and carry out web tasks such as forms and bookings.Best for agent help without switching browsers.
• NewChatGPT for ChromeA Chrome extension that lets ChatGPT read the page you’re on, answer questions about it or start a longer task.Best for ChatGPT users who browse in Chrome.
• MacDiaA browser from The Browser Company, now part of Atlassian, with an AI assistant in the sidebar and reusable shortcuts.Best for AI-assisted browsing for work.
• Opera NeonOpera’s agent browser, which organises work into tasks, acts across tabs and can bring in outside agents.Best for people who want a browser built to act for them.

Design and brand 34

Where we start Figma for identity, interface and design-system work, and Canva for the templates a team edits day to day.

• Our pickFigmaThe shared design tool for interfaces, brands and prototypes.Best for designing in the open, with clients able to comment in place.
• Our pickCanvaAn online design tool built around templates, where you can now also design by describing what you want.Best for social posts, decks and documents a team updates without a designer.
• FigJamFigma’s online whiteboard.Best for workshops, user flows and early ideas.
• Figma SlidesA presentation editor built into Figma.Best for design-led decks that reuse a brand’s components.
• Figma BuzzA simple Figma editor where marketers make on-brand assets from designers’ templates.Best for producing brand assets without waiting on a designer.
• Figma SitesDesign and publish websites directly from Figma.Best for simple sites without a separate builder.
• Figma DrawIllustration and vector drawing tools inside Figma.Best for illustration without leaving the design file.
• Adobe IllustratorThe industry-standard vector drawing app.Best for logos, illustrations and print-ready artwork.
• Adobe PhotoshopThe industry-standard image editor.Best for retouching, compositing and preparing photography.
• Adobe InDesignPage layout software for print and long documents.Best for brand books, brochures and reports.
• FreeAffinityProfessional design, photo and layout software in one free app from Canva, part of its new ProSuite.Best for Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign work without a subscription.
• Free planAdobe ExpressAdobe’s quick design app for social graphics, flyers and short videos from templates.Best for fast, on-brand marketing assets for non-designers.
• KittlA browser design tool focused on typography, logos, merchandise and mock-ups.Best for type-heavy graphics and merchandise.
• SketchA Mac design app for interfaces and vectors, with a web workspace for sharing.Best for Mac-based product design teams.
• Open sourcePenpotAn open-source design tool in the spirit of Figma.Best for organisations that prefer open, self-hosted software.
• RelumeGenerates sitemaps and wireframes with AI, ready for Figma and Webflow.Best for agreeing a site’s structure before design starts.
• FreeGoogle StitchGoogle’s AI design canvas that turns a description into multi-screen app and web designs.Best for quick interface concepts and first drafts.
• FreePomelliA Google Labs tool that reads a website to capture its brand, then generates on-brand social posts and ads.Best for small-business marketing content.
• LovartAn AI design agent on an open canvas that turns one brief into posters, brand kits and campaign sets.Best for rapid concept exploration.
• LookaAn AI logo maker that also produces a starter brand kit.Best for a temporary identity before a proper brand project.
• ProtoPieA prototyping tool for realistic interactions, with sensors, logic and variables.Best for high-fidelity prototypes for user testing.
• RecraftAn AI image generator that can produce vector graphics in a set style.Best for icon sets and illustrations that stay on-brand.
• Tokens StudioA Figma plugin for design tokens: the named colours, sizes and spacing of a system.Best for keeping design and code in step.
• Open sourceStorybookA workshop for building and documenting interface components in code.Best for a living library of a product’s components.
• zeroheightPublishes design-system guidelines as an easy-to-browse website.Best for brand and component guidelines the whole team can find.
• FrontifyA brand portal for guidelines, assets and templates.Best for larger organisations with many people producing branded work.
• FreeGoogle FontsA large library of free, openly licensed typefaces.Best for good type with no licence fees.
• FreeFontshareA free library of professional typefaces licensed for commercial use.Best for quality type at no cost.
• Adobe FontsThe typeface library included with Adobe Creative Cloud.Best for licensed type for web and print.
• CoolorsA fast colour palette generator.Best for exploring and sharing colour options.
• KFreeKhromaAn AI colour tool that learns from the colours you like and suggests palettes.Best for exploring palette directions.
• Open sourceIconifyOne place to search and use hundreds of thousands of open-source icons.Best for icons in web builds and Figma.
• Noun ProjectA large library of consistent icons and photos.Best for icons for decks, signage and brand work.
• FlourishInteractive charts, maps and data stories for the web, now part of Canva.Best for data visualisation in sites and reports.

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Images, video and sound 41

Where we start Adobe Firefly where commercial safety matters most, Midjourney for art direction, and Descript for editing anything with speech in it.

• Our pickMidjourneyAn AI image generator known for its distinctive, polished look.Best for moodboards, concepts and art direction.
• Our pickAdobe FireflyAdobe’s AI image and video hub: its own models, trained on content Adobe has the rights to use, alongside other companies’ models.Best for commercial work where licensing matters.
• Our pickDescriptEdit video and audio by editing the transcript.Best for interviews, podcasts and case-study videos.
• Adobe LightroomAdobe’s photo organiser and raw editor, on desktop and mobile.Best for editing and grading photo shoots in batches.
• ProcreateAn iPad painting and illustration app, deliberately without generative AI.Best for hand-made illustration and lettering.
• IdeogramAn AI image generator that handles lettering well, now with openly released models.Best for posters and graphics with words in them.
• FLUXImage models from Black Forest Labs, some released openly, now expanding into video.Best for high-quality images and custom-trained styles.
• GPT ImageOpenAI’s image model, available in ChatGPT.Best for edits and compositions that follow detailed instructions.
• Nano BananaGoogle’s image model in Gemini.Best for quick edits that keep people and products consistent.
• SeedreamByteDance’s image model, which can generate, edit and split images into separate layers.Best for infographics and layered compositions.
• Figma WeaveA node-based canvas, formerly Weavy, that chains AI image, video and 3D models into reusable workflows.Best for repeatable AI production pipelines.
• LeonardoAn AI image and video platform with trainable styles, now part of Canva.Best for consistent AI imagery inside a Canva workflow.
• KreaAn AI image and video studio with real-time generation and agents that chain several models together.Best for sketching an idea and seeing it rendered as you draw.
• MagnificFreepik’s new name: a stock library with AI image and video generation, and the upscaler it is known for.Best for stock, generation and taking images up to print and hero sizes in one place.
• Topaz LabsAI tools for upscaling, sharpening and cleaning photos and video, now part of Adobe.Best for rescuing low-resolution or noisy material.
• PhotoroomAn AI photo editor built for product images.Best for clean product shots and consistent backgrounds for online stores.
• RunwayAn AI video suite with fine control over camera and motion, and an agent that turns a brief into multi-shot videos.Best for directed shots and transforming existing footage.
• Google VeoGoogle’s AI video model, which generates sound with the picture.Best for realistic clips with audio.
• Google FlowGoogle’s AI film studio, which uses Veo and Google’s image models to build shot-by-shot sequences.Best for storyboards and AI video shot by shot.
• KlingAn AI video model from Kuaishou, known for cinematic motion.Best for short cinematic sequences.
• Limited regionsSeedanceByteDance’s AI video model with sound, available in Dreamina and CapCut.Best for multi-reference, ad-style clips.
• Luma Dream MachineAn AI video generator with keyframe control.Best for controllable cinematic shots.
• Open weightsHailuoMiniMax’s AI video generator, with sound and openly released models.Best for quick clips with people in them.
• WanAlibaba’s AI video model for longer single-shot clips.Best for longer single shots.
• PikaA playful AI video app that also makes images, music and sound effects.Best for short social clips.
• HiggsfieldA subscription hub that runs many video, image and voice models, with camera-move presets.Best for social and ad video experiments.
• HeyGenAI presenter videos, with translation into other languages.Best for explainers and updates in several languages.
• SynthesiaAI presenter videos made for business.Best for training and onboarding videos at scale.
• DaVinci ResolveProfessional editing and colour grading, with a capable free version.Best for films and showreels that need finishing.
• Final Cut ProApple’s professional video editor, now also in the Creator Studio subscription.Best for Mac-based editing.
• Apple Creator StudioA subscription bundling Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro and Motion for Mac and iPad.Best for Mac studios that want an alternative to Adobe.
• Adobe Premiere ProAdobe’s video editor.Best for editing alongside the rest of Creative Cloud.
• CapCutA quick video editor with AI captions and effects.Best for fast edits for social media.
• Opus ClipTurns long videos into short clips automatically, and now makes complete short videos from a prompt or script.Best for getting social clips out of webinars and talks.
• Frame.ioVideo review with comments pinned to the exact frame.Best for collecting precise feedback on edits.
• ElevenLabsAI voices for narration, dubbing and voice agents, now with licensed music generation.Best for natural voiceovers in many languages.
• Paid plans for commercial useSunoAn AI song generator with a music workstation in the browser, now on label-licensed models.Best for demos, jingles and temporary tracks.
• Open weightsStable AudioStability AI’s music and sound-effect generator, trained on licensed audio.Best for royalty-safe music beds and self-hosting.
• Epidemic SoundA subscription library of licensed music and sound effects.Best for music that can be used safely in client videos.
• ArtlistA royalty-free library of music, sound effects and footage, with AI generation tools.Best for soundtracks and b-roll for video.
• Adobe PodcastAI audio clean-up that makes rough recordings sound clear.Best for voice recorded outside a studio.

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Motion and 3D 17

Where we start Rive for interactive animation, Spline for 3D, and GSAP when the motion lives in code.

• Our pickRiveInteractive vector animation with built-in logic.Best for animated interfaces, icons and logos that respond to the visitor.
• Our pickSplineA 3D design tool that publishes straight to the web.Best for interactive 3D scenes without heavy engineering.
• Our pickGSAPA JavaScript animation library, now free for everyone.Best for precise scroll and timeline animation.
• NewSpline HanaSpline’s 2D and 3D interactive design canvas for interfaces, sites and effects.Best for interactive web graphics.
• BetaFigma MotionTimeline animation inside Figma, exporting to CSS, React and video.Best for interface and product motion.
• LottieFilesLightweight animations saved as small files, with a large library to start from.Best for simple animated illustrations on sites and apps.
• JitterA simple motion design tool for interfaces.Best for product animations and animated social posts.
• Adobe After EffectsAdobe’s motion graphics app.Best for polished motion pieces and showreels.
• CavalryA procedural 2D animation app, now part of Canva, with its Pro features free for individuals.Best for data-driven and generative motion.
• Open sourceBlenderFree 3D modelling, animation and rendering.Best for product renders and 3D artwork.
• Cinema 4DProfessional 3D software popular in motion design.Best for high-end 3D motion.
• Procreate DreamsAn iPad app for frame-by-frame and timeline animation.Best for hand-drawn animation.
• MeshyTurns text or images into textured 3D models.Best for 3D mock-ups and props.
• TripoFast text- and image-to-3D with clean geometry and automatic rigging.Best for quick 3D drafts.
• Unicorn StudioA no-code tool for WebGL effects on websites.Best for shader-style effects without writing shaders.
• Open sourceThree.jsThe most widely used library for 3D in the browser.Best for custom 3D and WebGL experiences.
• Open sourceMotionAn animation library for React and JavaScript, formerly Framer Motion.Best for smooth interface transitions.

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Assets and inspiration 15

Where we start Unsplash and Envato for everyday assets, Getty Images when only premium editorial will do, and Cosmos for shared moodboards.

• Our pickUnsplashA library of free, high-quality photographs, with a paid tier.Best for hero imagery on a tight budget.
• Our pickEnvatoAn unlimited-download subscription for templates, stock, music and fonts.Best for the everyday asset needs of a studio.
• Our pickGetty ImagesPremium editorial and creative photography.Best for news, sport and high-end imagery.
• Our pickCosmosAn ad-free inspiration and moodboard app, with search by image and colour.Best for moodboards shared with clients.
• ShutterstockA large library of stock photos, video and music.Best for licensed commercial stock.
• Adobe StockStock photos, video and templates built into Creative Cloud.Best for assets that drop straight into Adobe apps.
• FreeLummiA curated library of free AI-generated photos and illustrations.Best for quick placeholder and hero images.
• MobbinA searchable library of real app and website screens.Best for seeing how others have solved a design problem.
• FreeDribbbleA showcase and hiring network for single design shots.Best for visual and interface inspiration.
• FreeBehanceAdobe’s portfolio network for full project case studies.Best for branding and case-study inspiration.
• FreeAwwwardsWebsite awards and a gallery of standout sites.Best for benchmarking high-end web craft.
• FreeGodlyA curated gallery of standout, animation-heavy websites.Best for web and motion inspiration.
• SaveeVisual bookmarking and moodboards for designers.Best for collecting references.
• Are.naCalm, ad-free boards for collecting links, images and text.Best for long-running research collections.
• PinterestA huge visual discovery network.Best for early, broad moodboards.

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Websites and content 32

Where we start Webflow or Framer for marketing sites a team edits visually, Shopify for stores, and a headless CMS such as Sanity when content has to feed more than one place.

• Our pickWebflowA visual website builder with a built-in CMS.Best for marketing sites that marketing teams edit themselves.
• Our pickFramerA design-led website builder with a CMS and AI agents that can build and update pages.Best for polished sites with rich interaction, built quickly.
• Our pickShopifyA hosted platform for online stores.Best for selling online without looking after servers.
• Our pickSanityA headless CMS with an editing screen shaped around your content.Best for custom sites, apps and content used in many places.
• SquarespaceA hosted website builder with templates, online selling, booking and an AI site generator.Best for small-business sites owners run themselves.
• Wix StudioWix’s builder for agencies, with client handover, custom code and AI tools.Best for client sites built on Wix.
• HostingerLow-cost web hosting and domains, with a simple AI website builder.Best for budget hosting and small sites.
• Open sourceWordPressThe world’s most widely used CMS, with plugins for nearly anything.Best for content-heavy sites and teams already familiar with it.
• ElementorA visual drag-and-drop page builder for WordPress.Best for designing WordPress pages without code.
• WP EngineManaged WordPress hosting with staging sites, backups and security.Best for WordPress sites that need reliable hosting.
• Open sourceGhostA publishing platform for blogs and paid newsletters, with memberships built in.Best for publications and creator newsletters.
• Open sourceWooCommerceAn online store plugin for WordPress.Best for shops that need to live inside a WordPress site.
• BigCommerceA hosted e-commerce platform for larger catalogues and business-to-business selling.Best for stores that have outgrown simpler builders.
• ACOpen standardAgentic Commerce ProtocolAn open standard from OpenAI and Stripe that lets people buy products directly inside ChatGPT.Best for stores that want to sell inside AI assistants.
• UCOpen standardUniversal Commerce ProtocolAn open standard from Google and Shopify that lets AI shopping agents browse and buy from stores.Best for making a store ready for AI shoppers.
• StoryblokA headless CMS with a visual, on-page editor.Best for editors who want to see the page as they change it.
• ContentfulA headless CMS for large organisations.Best for many sites, brands and languages from one place.
• PrismicA headless CMS where marketers build pages from sections developers have made.Best for marketing sites on Next.js or Nuxt.
• HygraphA headless CMS built around GraphQL that can pull in content from other systems.Best for structured content from many sources.
• Open sourceStrapiA self-hostable headless CMS with an admin panel and APIs.Best for developer-led sites that want an open-source CMS.
• Open sourcePayloadAn open-source CMS, now owned by Figma, that installs inside a Next.js app.Best for custom builds where the CMS and the site share one codebase.
• Open sourceAstroA framework for fast, content-led websites, now backed by Cloudflare and still open source.Best for marketing sites and blogs that need to load instantly.
• Open sourceNext.jsThe leading React framework for websites and web apps.Best for sites with logins, dashboards or dynamic content.
• Open sourceTailwind CSSA utility-first way of writing styles.Best for consistent design built quickly in code.
• CloudflareHosting, security and serverless code on Cloudflare’s global network, with a preview link for every change.Best for fast, secure sites with reviewable updates. This site runs on it.
• VercelHosting built around Next.js, with a preview for every change.Best for Next.js sites and apps.
• NetlifyHosting for modern websites, with forms built in.Best for simple, dependable hosting.
• RenderHosting for web services, background workers and Postgres databases.Best for full-stack apps beyond static sites.
• RailwayOne-click hosting for apps and databases straight from a code repository.Best for quick deploys of small back ends.
• Fly.ioRuns apps in containers close to users around the world.Best for globally distributed apps.
• Open sourceSupabaseA Postgres database with sign-in, file storage and APIs included.Best for the back end of web apps and client portals.
• AlgoliaHosted search that returns results as you type.Best for large catalogues and documentation.

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Building with AI and code 30

Where we start Claude Code and Cursor for production work, and v0 or Lovable when an idea needs trying before it is built properly.

• Our pickClaude CodeAnthropic’s coding agent, which works directly in a codebase.Best for substantial changes across a real project.
• Our pickCursorA code editor with AI built in.Best for day-to-day development with AI help.
• Our pickv0Vercel’s AI app builder, which turns a prompt into a working app with real code, a database and Git.Best for quick, real-code prototypes of screens and apps.
• Our pickLovableBuilds full web apps from a conversation, including the database and sign-in.Best for working prototypes and simple internal tools.
• GitHub CopilotGitHub’s AI coding assistant.Best for AI help inside existing editors and code reviews.
• Devin DesktopCognition’s AI code editor, formerly Windsurf, with a built-in manager for coding agents.Best for an editor and background agents in one place.
• DevinA cloud coding agent you hand tasks to, which opens pull requests when it’s done.Best for delegating well-scoped engineering work.
• Google AntigravityGoogle’s agent-first coding app and command-line tool, which replaced Gemini CLI for individuals.Best for building with Gemini coding agents.
• JulesGoogle’s coding agent that works in a cloud machine and opens pull requests.Best for handing off fixes and chores on GitHub.
• Free planKiroAmazon’s spec-driven AI code editor, which plans before it writes.Best for plan-first AI coding, especially on AWS.
• Open sourceClineAn open-source coding agent for VS Code that runs on your own model keys.Best for a transparent agent with any model.
• Open sourceZedA fast code editor with AI agents built in.Best for a lightweight, AI-ready editor.
• JetBrains AIThe AI assistant and Junie coding agent inside JetBrains editors.Best for teams already on JetBrains.
• WarpA terminal with built-in AI agents.Best for developers who live on the command line.
• OpenAI CodexOpenAI’s coding agent, now a mode in the ChatGPT desktop app.Best for handing off well-defined coding tasks.
• Bolt.newAn in-browser app builder that can also make mobile apps.Best for rapid prototypes, including on phones.
• ReplitAn online development environment whose agent builds and hosts apps.Best for small apps that need to be live quickly.
• Figma MakeTurns prompts and designs into working prototypes inside Figma.Best for testing an interaction before it is built.
• PreviewClaude DesignA Claude workspace for prototypes, slides and visual mock-ups made through conversation.Best for quick prototypes, pitch decks and one-pagers.
• FreeOpalA Google Labs tool that builds small, shareable AI apps from a plain description.Best for no-code AI micro-tools.
• BubbleA visual no-code builder for full web apps, with a database and logic.Best for non-developers building real apps.
• Base44An AI app builder from Wix that turns prompts into full apps with hosting and a database.Best for internal tools and first versions.
• GitHubWhere code is stored, reviewed and versioned.Best for keeping every change tracked and reversible.
• FirebaseGoogle’s back end for apps: sign-in, database and hosting, plus an AI app builder.Best for app back ends without running servers.
• NeonA serverless Postgres database with instant branching.Best for AI-built apps and preview environments.
• Open sourceConvexA real-time back end and database written in TypeScript.Best for apps that update live.
• ClerkDrop-in sign-up, sign-in and user management.Best for adding accounts to a web app quickly.
• Auth0Okta’s sign-in and identity platform, with enterprise single sign-on.Best for apps that need enterprise-grade logins.
• ResendA developer email-sending service built around React Email.Best for app and transactional email.
• PostmarkA transactional email service known for reliable delivery.Best for receipts, password resets and notifications.

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Automation 17

Where we start n8n for automations we host and monitor, and Zapier when a client’s team will look after it themselves.

• Our pickn8nA visual automation tool that can run on your own servers.Best for complex workflows with full control over data and logs.
• Our pickZapierThe largest no-code automation service, with thousands of app connections.Best for straightforward automations a team can manage itself.
• MakeA visual automation builder with branching and loops.Best for detailed workflows at a lower running cost.
• PipedreamA code-friendly automation platform with thousands of app connections, now owned by Workday.Best for developers automating across APIs.
• Open sourceActivepiecesAn open-source automation tool with AI steps built in.Best for a self-hosted alternative to Zapier.
• Power AutomateMicrosoft’s automation tool.Best for businesses that run on Microsoft 365.
• Microsoft Copilot StudioBuilds AI agents that work inside Microsoft 365 and Teams.Best for businesses that run on Microsoft 365.
• WorkatoAn enterprise integration and automation platform.Best for connecting the systems of larger organisations.
• Tray.aiAn enterprise automation and AI agent platform.Best for complex workflows across many systems.
• Relay.appAn automation tool designed around human approval steps.Best for workflows where someone needs to sign off.
• GumloopA no-code builder for workflows with AI at their centre.Best for automations that read, write or decide with AI.
• LindyBuilds AI assistants for email, scheduling and sales from plain-English instructions.Best for admin-style AI helpers.
• Relevance AIA no-code builder for teams of AI agents that do research and operations work.Best for sales and operations agent teams.
• RetoolA builder for internal tools and admin panels.Best for back-office screens on top of existing data.
• SoftrBuilds portals and internal apps on top of Airtable and other data.Best for client portals without custom development.
• ReductoTurns PDFs and scanned documents into structured data.Best for reading invoices, forms and orders accurately.
• MindeeA document-reading service for invoices, receipts and IDs.Best for extracting standard documents at volume.

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AI that knows your business 40

Where we start Claude or OpenAI models, documents searched with pgvector in Supabase, systems connected through MCP, and every answer logged in Langfuse.

• Our pickpgvectorAdds search by meaning to a Postgres database.Best for searching your documents without another service.
• Our pickLangfuseRecords and evaluates what an AI system did and why.Best for checking answers, costs and quality over time.
• Claude APIAnthropic’s models for developers, with tools for building agents.Best for assistants that need to read carefully and follow instructions.
• OpenAI APIOpenAI’s models for developers.Best for assistants that need voice, images or OpenAI’s wider ecosystem.
• Gemini APIGoogle’s models for developers, through AI Studio and Vertex AI.Best for organisations on Google Cloud.
• Amazon BedrockMany AI models, available inside Amazon Web Services.Best for businesses whose data must stay in AWS.
• Microsoft FoundryAI models inside Microsoft Azure, formerly Azure AI Foundry.Best for businesses whose data must stay in Azure.
• OpenRouterOne API that reaches hundreds of AI models, with routing and fallback.Best for comparing or switching models without new integrations.
• Hugging FaceThe main hub for open AI models, datasets and demo apps.Best for finding and hosting open models.
• Free planCloudflare AI GatewaySits between an app and its AI models to log, cache and route every request.Best for keeping AI costs and usage visible.
• Open standardModel Context ProtocolAn open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data, often called MCP.Best for letting an assistant work with your CRM, files and calendar safely.
• Open sourceClaude Agent SDKThe agent framework behind Claude Code, packaged for building your own agents.Best for custom agents on Claude.
• Open sourceOpenAI Agents SDKOpenAI’s framework for building agents in code.Best for coded agents on OpenAI models.
• Open sourceAgent Development KitGoogle’s framework for building and running agents.Best for agents on Gemini or Google Cloud.
• Open sourceVercel AI SDKA toolkit for adding AI features to web apps.Best for chat and streaming answers on websites.
• Open sourceLlamaIndexA framework for building AI on top of your own data.Best for document search pipelines.
• Open sourceLangGraphA framework for building multi-step AI agents.Best for agents whose logic needs to be controlled step by step.
• Open sourceMastraA TypeScript framework for agents, workflows and document search.Best for JavaScript teams building agents.
• Open sourceCrewAIA Python framework for teams of role-based AI agents.Best for multi-agent workflows in code.
• Open sourceDifyA visual builder for AI apps, agents and document search that can be self-hosted.Best for self-hosted AI apps without heavy code.
• Open sourceFlowiseA drag-and-drop builder for AI chains and agents.Best for quick visual agent prototypes.
• PineconeA hosted database for search by meaning.Best for very large document collections.
• Open sourceQdrantA vector database for search by meaning, in the cloud or self-hosted.Best for self-hosted document search.
• Open sourceWeaviateA vector database that combines keyword and meaning-based search.Best for document search that needs both kinds.
• TurbopufferLow-cost vector and full-text search built on cloud storage.Best for very large search indexes on a budget.
• Open sourceChromaA lightweight database for AI embeddings.Best for prototyping document search.
• FirecrawlTurns websites into clean text that AI can read.Best for feeding a website’s content into an assistant.
• ExaA web search API built for AI apps and agents.Best for giving an assistant live web research.
• BraintrustAn evaluation and logging platform for AI features.Best for testing prompt and model changes before release.
• LangSmithLangChain’s tracing, evaluation and monitoring for AI apps.Best for debugging how an agent behaves.
• Open sourceArize PhoenixAn open-source tool for tracing and evaluating AI apps.Best for self-hosted AI monitoring.
• VoiceflowA builder for chat and voice assistants.Best for customer-facing assistants with designed conversations.
• BotpressA platform for building AI chatbots and agents across channels.Best for custom support and website bots.
• ChatbaseTrains a website chatbot on your documents and pages.Best for simple “ask our website” assistants.
• FinAn AI agent for customer support, from the company formerly called Intercom, now owned by Salesforce.Best for answering support questions from your help centre.
• VapiA platform for AI phone agents.Best for answering calls and booking appointments.
• Retell AIA platform for AI phone agents.Best for inbound and outbound call automation.
• BlandA platform for AI agents that make and take phone calls.Best for high-volume calling.
• ElevenLabs AgentsA voice agent platform built on ElevenLabs voices.Best for natural-sounding voice assistants.
• SynthflowA no-code builder for AI voice agents.Best for non-technical teams putting agents on the phone.

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The systems you already run 39

Where we start No single pick here. The right system is the one your team already uses well; our job is to make it work with the others.

• HubSpotA CRM with marketing, sales and service tools.Best for growing teams that want leads and email in one place.
• SalesforceThe largest enterprise CRM.Best for large sales organisations with complex processes.
• PipedriveA CRM built around the sales pipeline.Best for small sales teams.
• AttioA flexible, modern CRM.Best for young companies that want to shape their own data.
• Zoho CRMAn affordable CRM inside a wide suite of business apps.Best for small businesses that want an all-in-one suite.
• XeroCloud accounting software.Best for invoicing, bills and bookkeeping for small businesses.
• QuickBooksCloud accounting software from Intuit.Best for small-business accounting, especially in the US and UK.
• FreshBooksInvoicing and accounting for small service businesses.Best for freelancers and studios.
• FreeWaveFree invoicing and basic accounting.Best for very small businesses.
• GustoPayroll, benefits and HR for small teams.Best for small-business payroll in the US.
• Wise BusinessMulti-currency accounts and low-fee international transfers.Best for paying and getting paid across borders.
• MercuryOnline business banking for startups.Best for startups and online businesses.
• StripeOnline payments, subscriptions and invoicing.Best for taking payment on websites and apps.
• SquarePayments for shops, restaurants and online sales.Best for businesses that sell in person and online.
• PayPalWidely used online payments and checkout.Best for taking payment with a brand customers already trust.
• PaddlePayments that handle sales tax worldwide as the seller of record.Best for selling software and digital products internationally.
• KlaviyoEmail and SMS marketing built for online stores.Best for Shopify stores.
• MailchimpEmail marketing and newsletters.Best for straightforward newsletters and campaigns.
• BrevoEmail, SMS and marketing automation, formerly Sendinblue.Best for budget-friendly marketing email.
• KitEmail marketing for creators, formerly ConvertKit.Best for creator newsletters and email sequences.
• beehiivA newsletter platform with growth and advertising tools.Best for newsletter-first businesses.
• ActiveCampaignEmail marketing with automation and a light CRM.Best for automated nurture sequences.
• LoopsProduct and marketing email for software companies.Best for onboarding emails for apps.
• AirtableA spreadsheet that works like a database.Best for operational data that has outgrown a spreadsheet.
• NotionDocs, wikis and databases in one workspace.Best for a team’s shared knowledge, project hubs and simple trackers.
• Google WorkspaceGmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Calendar.Best for everyday office work.
• Microsoft 365Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint.Best for everyday office work in Microsoft-based organisations.
• CalendlyBooking pages that sync with your calendar.Best for letting customers book time without the back-and-forth.
• Open sourceCal.comOpen-source scheduling.Best for booking that can be customised or self-hosted.
• Acuity SchedulingAppointment booking with intake forms and payments, from Squarespace.Best for client and service bookings.
• TypeformOnline forms that ask one question at a time.Best for forms people don’t mind filling in.
• TallyA simple form builder with a generous free plan.Best for quick forms without limits on responses.
• JotformA form builder with payments, approvals and e-signatures.Best for complex forms and intake.
• FilloutA form builder that writes straight into Airtable, Notion and other tools.Best for forms that feed an existing database.
• ZendeskCustomer support ticketing.Best for support teams handling a high volume of requests.
• Help ScoutA shared inbox and help centre for customer support.Best for small support teams.
• FrontA shared team inbox for email and messaging.Best for client-service teams working from one inbox.
• FreshdeskHelp desk ticketing with AI features.Best for growing support teams.
• GorgiasA help desk built for online stores.Best for support for Shopify stores.

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Research and planning 13

Where we start Miro for mapping, Dovetail for making sense of interviews, and Microsoft Clarity for seeing how a current site is really used.

• Our pickMiroAn online whiteboard for teams.Best for mapping processes and running workshops.
• Our pickDovetailA home for customer research and interview analysis.Best for turning conversations into findings.
• Our pickMicrosoft ClarityFree heatmaps and session recordings.Best for the same insight, at no cost.
• WhimsicalQuick flowcharts, wireframes and mind maps.Best for clear diagrams of how work flows.
• MazeRemote testing of designs and prototypes.Best for checking a design with real users before it is built.
• LyssnaQuick user tests and surveys.Best for first-click tests, preference tests and short surveys.
• HotjarHeatmaps, session recordings and on-site surveys, now part of Contentsquare.Best for understanding behaviour on a live site.
• ScribeRecords a process as a step-by-step guide while you do it.Best for documenting how work happens today.
• LoomQuick screen-recorded videos.Best for explaining a finding without a meeting.
• GammaBuilds decks and documents with AI.Best for turning notes into a presentable report quickly.
• PitchA collaborative presentation tool.Best for polished decks a team builds together.
• SparkToroAudience research that shows what a market reads, watches and follows.Best for positioning and choosing channels.
• ClayA spreadsheet that gathers company and contact data from many sources with AI.Best for prospect research and outreach lists.

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Measuring and maintaining 32

Where we start Search Console and Lighthouse on every site, axe for accessibility, and an uptime monitor on anything a business depends on.

• Our pickLighthouseGoogle’s built-in audit for speed, accessibility and good practice.Best for quick, repeatable quality checks.
• FreeGoogle Search ConsoleGoogle’s report on how a site appears in search.Best for indexing problems and the searches that bring people in.
• Google AnalyticsGoogle’s web analytics.Best for detailed traffic and conversion reporting.
• Open sourcePlausibleSimple, privacy-friendly analytics without cookies.Best for clear numbers without a cookie banner.
• Fathom AnalyticsPrivacy-first website analytics without cookies.Best for simple, compliant traffic numbers.
• Open sourceMatomoA self-hostable alternative to Google Analytics.Best for organisations that need to own their data.
• FreeCloudflare Web AnalyticsFree, privacy-first analytics for sites on Cloudflare.Best for lightweight traffic stats.
• Open sourcePostHogProduct analytics, session recordings and feature flags.Best for web apps and digital products.
• MixpanelProduct analytics for user events and funnels.Best for software products.
• AmplitudeProduct analytics and experimentation.Best for larger product teams.
• SemrushA search marketing and competitor research suite, now part of Adobe.Best for keyword research and competitive analysis.
• AhrefsA search marketing suite known for its backlink data.Best for understanding who links to you and to your competitors.
• Moz ProA search marketing suite for keywords, links and site audits.Best for classic SEO research.
• Screaming FrogA desktop crawler for technical SEO.Best for auditing a site’s structure, links and metadata.
• Free planYoast SEOA WordPress plugin for on-page SEO and structured data.Best for WordPress SEO basics.
• Free planRank MathA WordPress SEO plugin with structured data and AI features built in.Best for WordPress SEO with more included.
• ProfoundTracks how a brand appears and is cited in AI answer engines.Best for AI search visibility for larger brands.
• Peec AITracks brand mentions, ranking and sources in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews.Best for keeping an eye on AI search.
• Otterly.AILightweight monitoring of how a brand shows up in AI search.Best for small teams starting with AI search.
• Scrunch AIMonitors AI search presence and helps make content easy for AI to find.Best for improving visibility in AI answers.
• FreePageSpeed InsightsGoogle’s speed report, using data from real visitors.Best for seeing how fast a site is for the people who use it.
• ADaxe DevToolsAn automated accessibility checker.Best for catching accessibility issues during development.
• FreeWAVEA visual accessibility checker from WebAIM.Best for quick reviews that show issues in place on the page.
• StarkAn accessibility checker for designs and code.Best for catching contrast and accessibility issues in Figma.
• Open sourcePa11yAutomated accessibility testing from the command line.Best for accessibility checks on every deploy.
• SiteimproveSite-wide scanning for accessibility, SEO and content quality.Best for ongoing compliance on large sites.
• SentryError and performance tracking.Best for knowing about a bug before a customer reports it.
• Better StackUptime monitoring, logs and alerts.Best for an alert the moment a site or automation stops working.
• ChecklyMonitoring that runs scripted browser and API checks.Best for catching broken checkouts and logins.
• Free planUptimeRobotSimple uptime and SSL certificate monitoring.Best for basic up-or-down alerts.
• Free planWordfenceA firewall and malware scanner for WordPress.Best for keeping WordPress sites secure.
• FreeCloudflare TurnstileA privacy-friendly replacement for CAPTCHAs on forms.Best for stopping form spam without puzzles.

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How we run projects 22

Where we start Notion for shared project pages, Linear for tasks, and a password manager for every login.

• Our pickLinearA fast, focused issue tracker.Best for keeping build work moving.
• AsanaProject and task management with timelines.Best for cross-team projects.
• monday.comVisual work-management boards with automations.Best for client-facing project tracking.
• ClickUpTasks, documents and goals in one app, with AI agents.Best for teams consolidating their tools.
• BasecampA calm project hub with to-dos, message boards and client access.Best for straightforward client collaboration.
• TrelloSimple kanban boards.Best for lightweight task tracking.
• JiraIssue and sprint tracking for software teams.Best for engineering backlogs.
• Productive.ioAgency management for projects, budgets, time and profitability.Best for knowing the margin on every project.
• HarvestTime tracking with invoicing.Best for billing by the hour.
• Free planToggl TrackOne-click time tracking and reports.Best for understanding where time goes.
• FreeClockifyA free time tracker for teams.Best for time tracking on a budget.
• SlackTeam messaging.Best for shared channels with clients.
• 1PasswordA password manager with shared vaults.Best for sharing logins safely, never by email.
• Open sourceBitwardenAn open-source password manager.Best for the same, with open-source code.
• Proton PassA password manager with email aliases, from the makers of Proton Mail.Best for privacy-focused teams.
• Markup.ioComments pinned directly onto live websites.Best for precise feedback during a build.
• DocuSignElectronic signatures.Best for signing agreements without printing.
• Dropbox SignElectronic signatures, formerly HelloSign.Best for simple contract signing.
• PandaDocProposals, quotes and contracts with e-signature built in.Best for proposals that get signed.
• HoneyBookClient management for creative businesses: proposals, contracts, invoices and scheduling.Best for studios and freelancers.
• BonsaiProposals, contracts, time tracking and invoicing for freelancers and agencies.Best for the admin side of a small agency.
• DubsadoClient portals, forms, contracts and invoicing with workflows.Best for automating client onboarding.

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Updated October 2026. Tools change quickly, so we revise this guide as the landscape moves. Product names and logos are trademarks of their owners and appear here only to identify them.