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Tools and comparisons

The tools used every day in the studio, what they cost, who they suit and who should avoid them, compared side by side.

Start here A steaming mug next to a closed laptop and an open notebook, with the words SaaS stack Complete guide14 min read Small business marketing tools: the ones I actually use, and what they cost Small business marketing tools I use, job by job: design, social posts, bookings, SEO, analytics, prospecting and AI, with free plans and October 2026 prices.
A monthly calendar of scheduled social media posts, titled Metricool vs Postly Comparison10 min read Social media scheduling tools for a small business: Metricool, Postly or Buffer Social media scheduling tools compared for a small business: Metricool, Postly and Buffer prices (October 2026), free plans and the networks' own schedulers. A man working on a spreadsheet at a desktop computer, beside a file flow diagram titled SwissTransfer Comparison9 min read WeTransfer alternative: why I recommend SwissTransfer for large files The WeTransfer alternative I recommend: SwissTransfer sends up to 50 GB free, with no account, and keeps files in Switzerland. Limits and privacy compared. Microsoft Clarity heatmap of a web page in a browser window Tutorial11 min read How to use Microsoft Clarity: install it and see why visitors leave How to use Microsoft Clarity step by step: install the free tag, connect it to your cookie banner, then read heatmaps and recordings to see why people leave. The words Clarity vs Hotjar beside two compared panels, a mug of coffee and a hand writing in a notebook Comparison12 min read Microsoft Clarity vs Hotjar: is the free tool enough? Microsoft Clarity vs Hotjar in 2026: heatmaps, recordings, surveys, limits, consent and prices now that Hotjar is part of Contentsquare, plus my verdict. A man looking at a spreadsheet on a desktop computer, beside a search bar and a list of results, titled Semrush Guide10 min read Is Semrush worth it for a small business? How I use it, and cheaper options Is Semrush worth it for a small business? October 2026 prices, what the free account covers, how I use ad costs to pick SEO keywords, and cheaper options. A laptop on a desk behind a rising line chart, titled AppSumo Opinion8 min read Is AppSumo worth it? Lifetime deals, refunds and the casino effect Is AppSumo worth it? How lifetime deals and the 60-day refund work, the one tool I use every day, the deals I missed and 7 rules to buy without regret. A man at a desktop computer beside a weekly calendar grid of booked slots, titled YouCanBookMe Tutorial11 min read Free online booking system: set up YouCanBookMe step by step Set up a free online booking system with YouCanBookMe: connect your calendar, set hours and buffers, write the booking form, then add it to your website. A laptop showing an online calendar with booked slots, titled Calendly vs YCBM Comparison9 min read Calendly vs YouCanBookMe: why I use the smaller one Calendly vs YouCanBookMe compared: free plans, October 2026 prices, calendars, payments, reminders and team features, and why I prefer the smaller one. A laptop showing a content calendar beside a notebook and pen, with the words Canva Pro Guide8 min read Is Canva Pro worth it? What the free plan covers and when to upgrade Is Canva Pro worth it? What the free plan already covers, what Pro adds for about £100 ($120) a year, and a simple test to see if it will pay for itself. The words Canva vs Adobe beside two compared panels and a person working at a desktop computer Comparison10 min read Canva vs Adobe vs Affinity: which design software does a small business need? Canva vs Adobe vs Affinity for a small business: what each one does best, how each one charges, and why Affinity, now free, is the step up from Canva.

Every tool here has been used on real projects. The reviews say who it suits, who should avoid it, what it costs at the time of writing and what annoys after a few months. The comparisons put alternatives side by side, Calendly against YouCanBookMe, Metricool against Postly, Microsoft Clarity against Hotjar, so you can decide in ten minutes instead of a week of free trials.

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