Free · 5 tools · 5 minutes to read

The 5 money tools we actually use

Not "best of" lists. The exact 5 we run our own business on, in priority order, with the specific use case for each.

Why 5 and not 50? We could list 50 tools. The point of this list is the opposite: the smallest set that actually works. Every one below is something we personally use and earn affiliate revenue from — we're not recommending anything we don't run ourselves. If a tool isn't on this list, it's because we tried it and dropped it (or never tried it).

The 5 tools, in order of priority

All 5 are affiliate-supported. If you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We never recommend a tool we don't believe in just because it pays us.

  1. 1

    ClickFunnels

    AFFILIATE

    The default funnel builder. 14-day free trial, no card. The most proven platform for building a funnel-based online business. We use it to host our lead magnet funnels and the full review explains why.

    Effort: 1 weekend to set up. Pays: enables building a real online business.

    Start 14-day free trial →
  2. 2

    I'm All In (FBS Bundle)

    AFFILIATE $1,970

    If ClickFunnels is your platform, this is the high-ticket upgrade. 12 months of CF Scale + Traffic Secrets course + community. $1,970 one-time vs $3,564 over 12 months. Full review.

    Effort: zero additional setup. Pays: 12mo highest CF tier + traffic training.

    See bundle →
  3. 3

    Systeme.io

    AFFILIATE FREE plan

    All-in-one (funnels + email + courses) with a free plan that's actually usable. 2,000 contacts free, no credit card. If you're starting from $0, this is the only tool on the list that lets you build a real business for free. Full review.

    Effort: 1 weekend to set up. Pays: real online business without paying for software.

    Start free (affiliate link) →
  4. 4

    Moosend

    AFFILIATE FREE up to 1,000

    The email tool we actually use. 40-60% cheaper than ConvertKit for the same features. Excellent deliverability, abandoned cart automation, landing pages included free. Full review.

    Effort: 2 hours to import your list. Pays: $20-200/mo saved vs. other email tools.

    Start free →
  5. 5

    Dealify

    AFFILIATE Lifetime deals

    Lifetime software deals. Buy once, own forever. Curated catalog (200+ active deals), 60-day refund window. The smart way to fill out your tool stack without recurring fees. Full review.

    Effort: browse & buy (10 min per tool). Pays: $300-1,000/yr saved on misc SaaS.

    See deals →

How to actually use this list

  1. Today: Sign up for Systeme.io's free plan + Moosend's free plan (5 min). That gets you email + 1 funnel + 1 course for $0.
  2. This weekend: Set up ClickFunnels on the 14-day trial. Build one real funnel. If it converts, you've validated the business.
  3. By end of month 1: You should have made at least one of these work for you — and know whether the paid upgrades are worth it.
  4. When you're ready to commit: If ClickFunnels is your platform, the IAI bundle is the cheapest way to lock in 12 months.
  5. For misc tools (design, video, SEO, etc.): Check Dealify before paying monthly. Lifetime deals save 80-95% vs. subscriptions.

Affiliate Disclosure: All 5 tools on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, ListingsAI may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The commissions help fund our research and writing. Read the full disclosure.

Last updated: June 2, 2026. We update this list when the tools change materially. The 5 above are the only ones we currently recommend.