This is the toolbox. Below is a curated directory of well-known platforms and tools for building an info business, grouped by job. Each one has a one-line reason it earns a spot. You do not need all of them. Most beginners need one place to sell, one way to get paid, one email tool and one AI assistant. Start there.
Disclosure: Some links on this site may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools we think are genuinely useful. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Course Platforms
Where your lessons live, where students log in and where progress is tracked. Compare them in depth on Platforms and Tech.
Teachable
Straightforward hosted course platform that is easy for first-time creators.
Thinkific ⭐ Box Favorite
Flexible hosted course builder with solid learning features and room to grow.
Kajabi
All-in-one suite combining courses, email, pages and community under one login.
Podia
Simple storefront for courses, downloads and webinars with a gentle learning curve.
LearnDash
WordPress LMS plugin for creators who want full control on their own site.
Circle
Community-first platform that also hosts courses alongside discussions and events.
Digital Product Sales
For templates, ebooks, guides and small products you want to sell quickly. See Digital Product Creation.
Gumroad ⭐ Box Favorite
Fast way to sell your first digital product with almost no setup.
Lemon Squeezy
Checkout and digital product sales with tax handling built in.
Stan
Link-in-bio storefront popular with creators selling from social profiles.
Payhip
Simple store for downloads, courses and memberships with a clean checkout.
Payments
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Stripe ⭐ Box Favorite | The payment backbone behind many creator platforms; reliable for one-time and recurring billing. |
| PayPal | Familiar option that some buyers prefer; good to offer alongside cards. |
Newsletters and Email
Your list is the one audience you control. Always collect consent and follow anti-spam rules like CAN-SPAM and GDPR where they apply. Learn more on Email Marketing and Newsletters.
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Kit ⭐ Box Favorite | Creator-focused email with tagging, automations and product sales built in. |
| beehiiv | Newsletter platform with growth features like referrals and a web archive. |
| Substack | Easy paid newsletter setup with a built-in reader network. |
| MailerLite | Clean, budget-friendly email tool with landing pages and automations. |
| Ghost | Open-source publishing and membership platform for newsletters you own. |
Community
Circle ⭐ Box Favorite
Polished branded community spaces with events, courses and paid access.
Skool
Simple community plus classroom with light gamification to encourage participation.
Discord
Chat-based community that works well for real-time, highly engaged groups.
Planning a paid community? Start with Memberships and Communities.
Scheduling and Calls
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Calendly | Removes the back-and-forth of booking discovery and coaching calls. |
| Zoom | Reliable video calls, webinars and recordings for coaching and live sessions. |
| Loom | Quick screen recordings for feedback, onboarding and async support. |
Design and Docs
Canva ⭐ Box Favorite
Workbooks, slides, social graphics and covers without a design background.
Notion
Flexible workspace for planning, templates and even sellable digital products.
Google Docs
Free, shareable writing space for drafts, worksheets and collaboration.
Video
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Descript ⭐ Box Favorite | Edit video by editing the transcript; great for lessons and talking-head content. |
| CapCut | Fast editing for short-form clips that promote your offers. |
Building a bigger video presence? Our sister site Video Business in a Box goes deep.
AI Assistants
ChatGPT
Versatile assistant for brainstorming, drafting and quick analysis.
Claude ⭐ Box Favorite
Strong at long-form writing, editing and working through large documents.
Gemini
Google’s assistant, handy if you already live in Google Workspace.
Perplexity
Answer engine with cited sources for faster research.
Automation
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Zapier | Huge library of app connections; easiest place to start automating. |
| Make | Visual scenario builder for more complex, multi-step workflows. |
| n8n | Workflow automation you can self-host, with strong AI building blocks. |
Forms and Surveys
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Tally | Generous free tier and a fast, doc-like form builder for surveys and intakes. |
| Typeform | Conversational forms that feel friendly for quizzes and applications. |
| Google Forms | Free and simple for validation surveys and feedback. |
Analytics
| Tool | Why we like it |
|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Free traffic and conversion tracking; pair it with tagged links from our UTM Builder. |
Starter Stacks by Business Model
Not sure which combination fits? Here are simple starting stacks for each of the four info business models. They are examples, not requirements. Plenty of creators run a whole business on fewer tools.
| Model | Sell and deliver | Extras worth adding later | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course or digital product | A course platform or Gumroad | Kit or MailerLite | Descript for lessons, Canva for workbooks |
| Newsletter | beehiiv, Substack or Ghost | Built into the platform | Tally for reader surveys, GA4 for traffic |
| Coaching or consulting | Stripe payment links or an invoice tool | Kit or MailerLite | Calendly, Zoom, Loom for async feedback |
| Membership or community | Circle, Skool or Discord with paid access | Kit or MailerLite | Zapier or Make to connect sign-ups and onboarding |
Not sure which model is right yet? Compare them on Business Models first, then come back here.
How We Choose What Goes on This List
- Well known and established. We list tools with a track record, not last week’s launch.
- Beginner friendly. You should be able to get started without hiring a developer.
- You own your audience. We favor tools that let you export your list and your content.
- Fair to buyers. Clear checkout, honest billing and support for refunds.
- Plays well with others. Integrations or automation options so your stack can grow.
We revisit this page regularly. If a tool changes direction, raises prices sharply or stops serving creators well, we update the list. Have a tool you think belongs here? Tell us through the membership community.
Start Here If You Are Overwhelmed
- Pick where you sell. One course platform or one digital product store.
- Connect payments. Usually handled through the platform, often with Stripe behind it.
- Pick one email tool. Start collecting subscribers with consent from day one.
- Pick one AI assistant. Learn it well before adding more.
- Add the rest only when a real bottleneck shows up. Tools should solve problems you actually have.