46 tools we have actually used. 14 of them we run every day.
Tested on our own sites and our clients’ since 2009. Everything here is marked with what it really is to us: the stack we run, the tools we install when a job calls for them, and the ones that are good but not ours. Some links pay us a commission. None of that decides what sits in the first group.
Gravity Forms
Every form we build. Chris works on the support side of it.
Gravity Flow
Routing, approvals and escalation. The backbone of our systems work.
Advanced Custom Fields
Custom fields and post types. The structure behind most of our builds.
GenerateBlocks
Block toolkit we build layouts with. Learn six blocks, build anything.
GeneratePress
The theme under almost every site we build.
Mantis SEO
Our own lightweight SEO plugin. Built because Yoast was too much.
xCloud
Where most client sites live now. Managed cloud servers with a clean panel.
BetterShield
Hardening, two-factor and login protection.
Our WP Simple Pay course
Eleven free lessons on taking payments on your own site.
WP Simple Pay
Payments without a cart. We teach this one free.
Ubersuggest
Keyword ideas and site audits we use when planning content.
Semrush
Keyword, competitor and backlink research for bigger SEO projects.
WPCodeBox
Snippet management, versioned, instead of a bloated functions file.
LifterLMS
Good alternative, friendlier pricing at the small end.
Download Monitor
Gated downloads with tracking for lead magnets, files and digital products.
Conversion Bridge
Sends form and checkout conversions to your analytics and ad platforms.
LearnDash
Courses with real structure, quizzes and progress.
MemberPress
Memberships and paywalls that hold up at scale.
BlogVault
Backups we actually test restores from.
GravityView
Turns entries into front end views, tables and portals.
Gravity Wiz
The perks that fill the gaps. We use several on most builds.
Gravity PDF
Entries to branded PDFs: quotes, agreements, receipts.
CosmicGiant
Formerly ForGravity. Advanced add ons, including entry automation and signatures.
GFChart
Charts and summaries built from form entries.
JetSloth
Image choices, collapsible sections and other field upgrades.
Simply Schedule Appointments
Booking that plays well with Gravity Forms.
Stripe
Where the money moves. Behind nearly every checkout we build.
MalCare
Malware scanning and one-click cleanup when something gets in.
Jetpack
Useful parts, bundled with parts you probably do not need.
Cloudways
For really large sites that need more server than usual.
Rocket.net
Fast managed hosting with a CDN built in. Worth it when one site’s speed is the product.
WP Engine
Only when a client asks for it. Solid, but not our default.
Easy Digital Downloads
Digital products without the weight of a full store.
Shopify
If the store is the business, this is often the honest answer.
FreshBooks
Invoicing and books for a small service business.
Upsell Plugin
Funnels and upsells without WooCommerce behind them.
WP Funnels
Full funnel builder inside WordPress, no Woo needed.
CartFlows
Ready made funnels for stores already on WooCommerce.
ClickFunnels
Hosted funnels. Fast to launch, you rent the whole thing.
Kartra
Funnels, CRM, email and memberships in one platform.
SamCart
Checkout first platform, strong for digital products.
ThriveCart
Hosted checkout on a lifetime licence instead of a subscription.
Mailchimp
Fine starting point for a list. Outgrown by most.
WP101
Short video training to hand a client after launch.
WooCommerce
When there is a real catalogue and stock to manage.
Our articles
What broke, what we fixed, and what we would do next time.
A good stack is not a strategy.
Every tool on this page is only worth what someone does with it. If you would rather not assemble and maintain this yourself, that is the whole point of a Growth Plan: we run the stack, and you get the site and the systems that come out of it.