Start your tools through Perklyo and get verified perks — real offers only, checked before they go live. See how it works

Updated Jul 2026Reviewed by Perklyo
Curated stack · For content creators

Best Tools for Content Creators

Everything you need to plan, design, film, and grow — hand-picked and grouped by job. Start any of them through Perklyo to unlock longer trials and exclusive deals.

12 tools · 5 categories · Hand-tested · Updated Jul 2026

Canva software logoDesign
CapCut software logoVideo
Hostinger software logoHosting
MailerLite software logoEmail
Make software logoAutomation

The 5-tool starter stack

New to this? Start here. One pick per job — you can go deeper below.

  • Canva software logo

    Design

    CanvaTemplates for thumbnails, posts, and graphics.

    Perk coming soon
  • CapCut software logo

    Video

    CapCutFree, powerful editing for Reels and shorts.

    Perk coming soon
  • Hostinger software logo

    Hosting

    HostingerCheap, simple home for your site/blog.

    Perk coming soon
  • MailerLite software logo

    Email

    MailerLiteStart an email list with a real free tier.

    Perk coming soon
  • Make software logo

    Automation

    MakeAuto-post and connect your apps.

    Perk coming soon

Total to start: nothing — every pick has a free plan or trial

Claim the stack

We may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.

How we picked

We chose tools that are beginner-friendly, affordable to start (free plan or trial), and actually used by working creators — not the longest feature list. Each category below has one main pick plus a strong alternative, so you can build a stack that fits your budget and the kind of content you make.

The tools by category

Build your stack, one job at a time

Design

Thumbnails, posts, and graphics

Canva software logo

Canva

Design

4.5
Top pick

The fastest way to a finished graphic, with templates for every platform. The default for most creators.

Pick this if: You want speed and templates over deep control.

Trade-off: Limiting for advanced/print design.

Perk coming soon

VistaCreate software logo

VistaCreate

Design

4.6
Alternative

A Canva-style editor with a genuinely usable free plan.

Pick this if: You want a free, familiar editor.

Trade-off: Smaller template library.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon

Video

Editing for Reels, shorts, and YouTube

CapCut software logo

CapCut

Video

4.7
Top pick

Free, surprisingly powerful editing with captions, effects, and templates built for short-form.

Pick this if: You make Reels, TikToks, or shorts.

Trade-off: Less suited to long, complex edits.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon
InVideo software logo

InVideo

Video

4.0
Alternative

Template- and AI-driven video creation, good for turning scripts into videos fast.

Pick this if: You want AI help and templates.

Trade-off: Free plan is limited.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon

Hosting & site

A home base for your blog or links

Hostinger software logo

Hostinger

Hosting

4.5
Top pick

Cheap, beginner-friendly hosting to put up a site or blog without technical hassle.

Pick this if: You want a low-cost simple site.

Trade-off: Renewal prices rise; not for heavy traffic.

Perk coming soon

Framer software logo

Framer

Sites & landing pages

4.6
Alternative

Design and ship a modern landing or link page with no code.

Pick this if: You want a polished page fast.

Trade-off: Costs more than basic hosting.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon

Email

Build an audience you own

MailerLite software logo

MailerLite

Email marketing

4.7
Top pick

Clean, beginner-friendly email marketing with a real free tier to start a list.

Pick this if: You're starting an email list from zero.

Trade-off: Fewer advanced features than enterprise tools.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon
Brevo software logo

Brevo

Email & automation

4.4
Alternative

Email plus automation and SMS, with a generous free send tier.

Pick this if: You want email + automation together.

Trade-off: Templates and reporting are on the basic side.

Perk coming soon

Automation

Save hours on repetitive work

Make software logo

Make

Automation

4.6
Top pick

Visually connect your apps to auto-post, repurpose, and sync content.

Pick this if: You want flexible visual automations.

Trade-off: Slight learning curve.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon
Zapier software logo

Zapier

Automation

4.5
Alternative

The simplest way to connect apps with the widest integration list.

Pick this if: You want the easiest, most-supported option.

Trade-off: Gets pricey as you scale.

Perk coming soon

Review coming soon
Full stack at a glance

Your recommended stack

JobToolCost to startPerk via Perklyo
DesignCanvaFreePerk coming soon
VideoCapCutFreePerk coming soon
HostingHostingerPaid (budget)Perk coming soon
EmailMailerLiteFreePerk coming soon
AutomationMakeFree trialPerk coming soon
Exclusive via Perklyo

Build your whole stack for less

Start each tool through Perklyo and stack the perks — longer trials and exclusive bonuses across your toolkit.

Canva

Perk coming soon

Perk activating soon

CapCut

Perk coming soon

Perk activating soon

Hostinger

Perk coming soon

Perk activating soon

MailerLite

Perk coming soon

Perk activating soon

Make

Perk coming soon

Perk activating soon

Perks updated Jul 2026.

FAQ

Common questions

What tools do I need to start creating content?+

At minimum: something to design (Canva), something to edit video (CapCut), and a way to grow an audience (an email tool like MailerLite). Hosting and automation come next as you grow.

Can I start for free?+

Yes. Every tool in the starter stack has a free plan or a free trial, so you can launch without spending anything upfront.

Which tools are worth paying for first?+

Usually design and video, since you use them daily. Start free, then upgrade the one you hit limits on first — and use the Perklyo perk to get a longer trial before you pay.

Do I need all 12 tools?+

No. Start with the 5-tool starter stack. The alternatives and extra categories are there for when you want to go deeper or your needs change.

Get your creator stack — with perks on every tool.

Start through Perklyo to unlock longer trials and exclusive deals across your whole toolkit — same price, better terms.

Perks updated Jul 2026 · No extra cost