Best Tools

Best Tools I Personally Use (and Recommend)

If you’ve ever felt like there are too many tools and not enough time to test them all — you’re not alone.

I built ToolFlowLab because I got tired of spending hours bouncing between reviews, Reddit threads, and “top tools” lists that are clearly written for affiliate commissions. This page is different.

Here’s a curated list of tools I actually use, the ones I recommend to friends, and the ones I trust enough to use in real work — whether you’re building a website, automating tasks, writing, editing, or running an online project.

I’ll keep this page updated as tools change (because they do).

Best AI Tools (That Save Real Time)

ChatGPT

This is still my go-to tool for brainstorming, writing drafts, rewriting content, organizing messy ideas, and building quick workflows. I use it for:

  • content planning
  • SEO outlines
  • summarizing research
  • turning notes into clean writing
  • automation ideas

If you’re starting with AI, this is the easiest place to begin.

✅ Best for: writing, planning, problem-solving, workflows

Perplexity

When I want fast research with sources, I use Perplexity. It’s like Google + summary, but actually useful. Great for:

  • checking facts quickly
  • comparing products
  • researching a topic without falling into a rabbit hole

✅ Best for: research, citations, faster learning

Notion AI

Notion is already great for organizing projects, but Notion AI makes it feel like a real productivity hub. I use it to:

  • turn messy notes into clean docs
  • structure outlines
  • manage content calendars
  • keep “systems” organized

✅ Best for: creators, teams, documentation, personal knowledge base

Best Tools for Blogging & Websites

WordPress

Still the best long-term platform if you care about:

  • ownership
  • SEO
  • speed
  • flexibility

It’s not the easiest at first, but it’s the best if you’re serious about building something that lasts.

✅ Best for: blogs, niche sites, business websites

GeneratePress (Theme)

I use GeneratePress because it’s:

  • fast
  • clean
  • stable
  • SEO-friendly
  • not bloated

If you’ve ever used a theme that slows everything down, GeneratePress feels like a reset.

✅ Best for: speed-focused WordPress sites

WP-Optimize

This is one of the simplest ways to improve performance without breaking things. I mainly use it for:

  • caching
  • database cleanup
  • basic optimization

✅ Best for: site speed and performance

Best Tools for SEO & Content

Google Search Console

If you care about SEO at all, this is non-negotiable. It shows:

  • what keywords you’re ranking for
  • what pages are getting clicks
  • what needs fixing
  • indexing issues

✅ Best for: SEO visibility and real data

Ahrefs (or Similar SEO Tool)

Paid SEO tools aren’t cheap, but they save you a ton of time when you need:

  • keyword ideas
  • competitor research
  • backlink checks
  • content gap analysis

✅ Best for: scaling SEO and content strategy

Best Productivity Tools

Google Drive

Docs, Sheets, and Drive are still the simplest way to manage content, share files, and keep things organized. I use it daily.

✅ Best for: writing, spreadsheets, collaboration

Trello

For lightweight task management, Trello is perfect. I like it because it stays simple and doesn’t turn into “project management hell.”

✅ Best for: content pipelines, simple planning

My Recommended Setup (If You’re Starting From Scratch)

If you want a setup that covers 90% of what creators and builders need, start with this:

  • WordPress + GeneratePress (site foundation)
  • ChatGPT (writing + planning + ideas)
  • Perplexity (research + fact-checking)
  • Google Search Console (SEO tracking)

That combo alone can take you surprisingly far.

Want My Full Tool Stack?

I also keep a deeper list of tools I use for:

  • automation
  • AI workflows
  • blogging + SEO
  • newsletter tools
  • site performance

👉 If you want that full list, check out my Start Here page — it’s the best place to begin.