What we know
Tools we've used properly, not just watched a demo of.
Anyone can list logos. Here's the same list with an honest opinion attached to each one, because knowing when not to use something is the useful part.
HubSpot
CRMBuilt in it, broken it, fixed it again.
Salesforce
CRMKnow where the sharp edges are.
Dynamics
CRMBig, opinionated, workable.
Pipedrive
CRMGreat until someone adds 31 stages.
Close
CRMFast for teams who live on the phone.
HighLevel
CRMHandy for anything client-facing.
Zapier
AutomationFine, until it isn't. We know when.
Make
AutomationOur go-to for anything with branches.
n8n
AutomationWhen you want to own the whole thing.
Webhooks
AutomationThe glue behind most of this.
APIs
AutomationReading docs so you don't have to.
Mailchimp
Email & SMSStill everywhere, still fine.
Klaviyo
Email & SMSEcommerce journeys that pay for themselves.
Instiller
Email & SMSHigh volume sending, done properly.
Brevo
Email & SMSCheerful, capable, underrated.
ActiveCampaign
Email & SMSAutomations with real teeth.
Twilio
Email & SMSTexts that arrive when they should.
OpenAI
AIUsed carefully, not sprinkled on top.
Claude
AIOur pick for long, messy documents.
Cursor
AIWhere a lot of the building happens.
Lovable
AIPrototypes on the same day you think of them.
Postgres
DataBoring in the best possible way.
Supabase
DataAuth, storage and a database in an afternoon.
GA4
DataWe'll tell you which numbers to ignore.
Google Workspace
DataSheets as an interface, when it makes sense.
Microsoft 365
DataGraph API, permissions, all of it.
Cloudflare
BuildFast, cheap, close to your users.
TypeScript
BuildFewer 3am surprises.
Tailwind
BuildHow this site got built.
React
BuildInterfaces people don't have to think about.
Stripe
Money & OpsPayments, subscriptions, awkward refunds.
TidyCal
Money & OpsBooking without the back and forth.
