The tools we actually use.
When we help a business clean up or build its tech stack, these are the tools we reach for. We only list software we genuinely use and recommend — and where a tool has a referral program, we say so, and you usually get a discount too.
Cursor
An AI-powered code editor that writes, edits, and explains code right alongside you.
Why we like it: It's how a lot of modern software actually gets built now — fast, genuinely useful AI pair-programming. It's part of our own toolkit.
New users get 50% off their first month.
Get CursorClaude Cowork
Anthropic's AI agent that reads your files, builds documents and spreadsheets, and completes multi-step office work.
Why we like it: We run on Claude every day, and Cowork is its agent mode — hand it a job and it does the steps, with solid controls for keeping it to safe folders. We broke it down in our contractor's guide.
Try Claude CoworkChatGPT Work
OpenAI's agent that gathers info across your apps and produces finished docs, spreadsheets, slides, and reports.
Why we like it: The other major work agent, with a limited free tier to try. Read our honest Claude Cowork vs. ChatGPT Work comparison before you pick one.
Try ChatGPT WorkOtter.ai
Automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes your meetings and calls.
Why we like it: We use it to turn Zoom and Teams meetings into searchable notes and summaries instead of scribbling — great for anyone who lives in meetings.
New users get 1 month of Otter Pro Lite free.
Get Otter.aiDigitalOcean
Simple, affordable cloud servers and hosting for apps, sites, and automations.
Why we like it: It's where we run our own servers and agents — straightforward and fairly priced for a small business that needs real infrastructure without enterprise complexity.
New users get $200 in credit for their first 60 days.
Get DigitalOceanGitHub
The standard place to store code, track changes, and collaborate on software projects.
Why we like it: It's where we keep our own code — the default home for version control, and it plays nicely with tools like Cursor.
Try GitHubGitLab
A GitHub alternative with built-in CI/CD pipelines and self-hosting options.
Why we like it: The leading alternative to GitHub — worth a look if you want code, pipelines, and security in one platform, or the option to self-host.
Try GitLabA note on links: some links above are referral links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a small credit or discount — and you often get one too (for example, Cursor gives new users 50% off their first month). It never changes the price you pay, and we only list tools we actually use and recommend, referral or not.
Not sure which tools you actually need?
That's exactly what our tech consulting is for — we help you go from paper to digital, cut the tools you don't need, and set up the ones you do, so AI has a clean foundation to build on.