Starter stack · Updated October 2026
Lee Thompson
Digital Marketing Specialist
30 Years +
in Digital Marketing
Building Websites
I recommend Framer
Run Campaigns
Google Ads, Meta, SEO
No Paid Promos
Only my real opinions
Why start free
Most small businesses buy software too early. Free plans from Google, MailerLite, HubSpot and Framer cover the basics well, and they show you exactly what a paid upgrade would add.
Upgrade when you hit a real limit: more contacts, more seats, a feature you need every week. Not because a sales page told you to.
Lee Thompson
Digital Marketing Specialist
Starter stack · October 2026
Every tool here has a free plan or is free to start. For AI, the fifth job, start with ChatGPT's free plan for drafting and research.
Go
Google Search Console
Best free · SEO
Every site owner, from day one
Free
Run by Google
Soon
Set it up →
Ml
MailerLite
Best budget · Email
Small lists that want a clean, simple editor
Free up to 250 subscribers
Paid from $12/mo
Soon
Start free →
Hu
HubSpot CRM
Best free CRM · CRM
Small teams tracking leads and deals for free
Free forever plan
Upgrade when you grow
8.6
Get it free →
Fr
Framer
Best for design · Websites
Brands that want a premium site without developers
Free to start
Paid from $10/mo yearly
9.0
Build free →
Your first month
01
Connect Search Console
See which searches show your site and which pages Google can’t read. It takes ten minutes and costs nothing.
02
Claim your Business Profile
If customers find you locally, your Google Business Profile is often seen before your website. Fill in every field.
03
Start your email list
Add a sign-up form to your site and write a three-email welcome. Your list is the one audience you own.
04
Log every lead in one place
Website forms, emails and calls all go into your CRM, with a next step for each one.
05
Use AI for first drafts
Let AI draft posts, emails and replies, then edit them in your own voice before anything goes out.
My promise
Every verdict tells you who a tool is for, who should skip it, and what it really costs. If I earn a commission, I say so.
Ready for more?
My top picks
One clear recommendation in every category, with my score, the real price and who it suits.
See my top picks ↗
Agency picks
Running client work or a growing team? Tools built for more seats, more sites and more automation.
See my agency picks ↗
Head-to-head comparisons
Torn between two tools? Straight answers on Semrush vs Ahrefs, Kit vs Mailchimp and ChatGPT vs Jasper.
Compare the tools ↗
Latest reviews
Websites
Framer, Webflow or WordPress?
Choosing a website builder based on who will edit the site.
3 min read
Read article →
SEO
Semrush review: is it worth $139 a month for a small business?
The most complete SEO toolkit you can buy. Here's who should pay for it, and who shouldn't.
5 min read
Read article →
AI Tools
AI writing tools: where they help and where they don't
Using AI for first drafts without losing your own voice.
3 min read
Read article →
Affiliate disclosure
DigiStacker is free to use because some links are affiliate links. If you sign up through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes my scores, rankings or recommendations.
Independence
Every verdict is my own opinion, based on my research and experience. No company pays to be reviewed, ranked or featured, and I'll always tell you who should skip a tool as well as who should buy it.
Pricing
Prices are checked on each provider's own pricing page and shown in USD. Software pricing changes often, so always confirm the current price and terms before you buy.
General information only
The content on this site is here to help you compare marketing software. It isn't financial, legal or tax advice, so choose the tools that suit your own business.
DigiStacker is an independent review site run by Lee Thompson, Design and Digital Marketing Specialist with over 30 years experience.
Business tools, rated honestly by Lee Thompson, Digital Marketing Specialist with 30 years in design and marketing. Real prices, my own opinions, zero sponsored rankings.
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