My Productivity and Web Stack: Essential Tools for Creatives and Entrepreneurs
This is my digital workbench—a tightly curated collection of the software and services I use daily to run my business and manage my creative projects. Every tool here has been rigorously tested and earns its place by delivering real value for creatives and entrepreneurs. From streamlining productivity to powering your website, this stack is built for results. I personally use and recommend each one, and I update this list regularly to keep it current.
I hope you find your next essential tool here.
Table of Contents
Books
For books, see Book Notes: In-depth book notes and favorite quotes
Education
getAbstract
getAbstract delivers high-quality, 10-minute summaries of top business books and articles, helping me quickly grasp key concepts from a massive library of 18,000+ titles. After years of trying various services, I consistently return for the superior writing quality and insightful analysis their expert team provides. Read What is getAbstract? to learn more.
Get 10% off your subscription when you use my link.
Every Day Carry
For the every day items, and all physical products I’ve reviewed, check out kit.co/tracya_.
Planning
Franklin Planner
The Franklin Planner is a time-tested paper-based system that helps me align my daily tasks with core personal values through its structured ring-bound notebooks and priority-focused planning pages. I’ve used these reliable planners for over 15 years, appreciating their consistent paper quality, timeless (if classic) design, and the profound foundational system that resonates across generations of productivity enthusiasts. Read What is Franklin Planner? to learn more.
Invest in a planning system built to last.
Productivity
PhraseExpress
PhraseExpress is my essential text-expansion tool that instantly converts abbreviations into full phrases and corrects spelling across every application on my computer. After years of use, it has saved me countless hours by handling everything from simple email templates to generating complex file names and formatted documents, making it faster than creating templates within individual programs. Read What is PhraseExpress? to learn more.
Save hours of typing with powerful text expansion.
ProtonPass
ProtonPass is my go-to password manager for its clean design, robust security, and versatile features that store everything from logins and secure notes to credit card information. Its development team constantly refines the tool, and its standalone design—separate from my email credentials—prevents lockouts while keeping all my sensitive data protected and easily accessible. Read What is ProtonPass? to learn more.
Limited-time sale: Manage and secure your digital life effortlessly.
Web and WordPress
Pressable
Pressable, a managed WordPress hosting platform built by Automattic, provides the rock-solid foundation I trust for my most important sites, handling all the technical complexities so I can focus purely on creating content. It delivers the perfect blend of enterprise-grade performance and hassle-free management, making it an ideal choice for serious bloggers and business owners. Read What is Pressable? to learn more.
namecheap
Namecheap is my go-to for securing high-quality, recognizable domain names at consistently great prices, providing reliable service and support throughout the entire registration process since I first started using them in 2014. Read What is Namecheap? to learn more.
New customers can get a .com domain for just $5.98 for the first year.
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is the secure, encrypted email service I’ve trusted for years, providing automatic end-to-end protection for all communications without any complex setup on my part. Its commitment to privacy and continuous improvement, along with perks like increasing storage for long-term users, offers unparalleled peace of mind for sensitive correspondence. Read What is ProtonMail? to learn more.
Limited-time sale: Secure your email with trusted, automatic encryption.
Writing
Scrivener
Scrivener is the powerful, project-focused writing studio I use daily to organize complex manuscripts, keeping all my research, notes, and drafts seamlessly integrated in one place. While it has a learning curve, its deep feature set—like the invaluable scratchpad for capturing ideas—ultimately saves me immense time and mental energy on long-form writing projects. Read What is Scrivener? to learn more.
Download a free trial to experience its powerful features.
ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is my powerhouse editing suite for deep, comprehensive analysis, going far beyond basic grammar to refine sentence structure, eliminate passive voice, and enforce a consistent style guide across all my writing. I use it daily for its unparalleled customization and powerful rephrasing tools, which are essential for giving my work a final, professional polish. Read What is ProWritingAid? to learn more.
Elevate your writing with in-depth editing insights.
GRAMMARLY
Grammarly is my essential writing assistant, acting as a reliable second set of eyes that catches embarrassing typos and helps me control my comma addiction. I keep it installed on my work browser and it’s the first tool I install on any new device, making it my go-to for clean, professional communication wherever I am. Read What is Grammarly? to learn more.
Install your free writing assistant today.
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