Tools and Resources I Use

Having created plenty of websites, I came across some really awesome tools. Here are the tools and resources I use most often. I usually avoid mentioning brands, but I'm doing so here without any affiliate links.

Tools and Resources I Use

CMSs and Frameworks

  • WordPress: I’ve been using WordPress since I was in school, when it had limited development resources.
  • Astro: It is one of the easier modern web frameworks to learn, especially if you already understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript at a basic level. Compared with frameworks like Next.js, Astro is faster, more SEO-friendly, and less complicated.

Web Hosting

The point is… web hosts come in a huge range of quality, from the best to the worst. Many popular hosts prioritize marketing/revenue over service quality. Some hosts (often shared ones) offer better discounts when you sign up for multiple years.

  • Vultr High-Frequency: A popular cloud host that is truly fine for all kinds of sites. Featuring faster NVMe and 3 GHz CPUs. Use it with the Vultr control panel or third-party control panels.
  • FlyingHost: Currently, the only premium managed hosting service I like is a newly launched host from FlyingPress.
  • Ploi: A powerful cloud server control panel with more options and works better than others. If you’ve never managed servers, you might not like it – ideal for developers who want to handle everything themselves.
  • xCloud: It allows you to manage WordPress on any cloud server at a low cost. The free version allows you to run up to ten websites on a single server. Also, they offer more affordable servers (from Vultr). The lack of support and the buggy UI can make it unstable for serious users. xCloud is the ideal way to manage VPS.

If you exceed your plan’s limits (CPU, RAM, disk space, inodes, and database size), your account could become stuck or suspended. Old and shared hosts typically use SATA rather than NVMe, and they often lack modern server stacks, relying instead on Apache. Some are less popular but have better specs and faster loading times.

WordPress Themes

  • GeneratePress: The free version has limited features, yet it’s one of my favorite themes. The paid version is impressive, but it’s not a drag-and-drop theme. Still, a great choice for developers and everyday users who enjoy having fun with layouts.
  • Blocksy: My current favorite theme is ideal for both beginners and developers. It’s got a powerful header and menu builder. Even the free version is superior to most paid themes, and the paid version offers robust hook features.

WordPress Plugins

  • FlyingPress: The best speed optimization plugin for WordPress right now.
  • LiteSpeed Cache: If you’re on LiteSpeed hosting, consider installing it. It’s fast, free, and has unique server-side caching. First-time users might feel a bit lost, but it actually works great for sites that get a lot of traffic.
  • Fluent/Everest Forms: Better than popular form plugins like Contact Form 7 and WPForms. The free version lets you store completed forms and upload images.
  • WPS Hide Login: Change your login URL to restrict access to wp-login.php and the admin directory.
  • My Server Info: And it displays all the important server and site info, such as the PHP and MySQL versions, memory limits, WordPress memory limit, PHP execution time, maximum post size, CPU and disk usage, and uptime. Plus, you can add some of these stats to the admin bar.
  • Unbloater: Not a popular plugin, but it’s useful for configuring settings to unbloat your site and reduce unwanted features. You can remove admin nags and notifications, unnecessary elements, and performance-draining code.
  • RankMath/SEOPress: If you’re using RankMath, just use the free version. It does everything required; no need for a paid version, especially at that price. SEOPress is less cluttered and has all the functions RankMath does.

CDN Providers

  • Cloudflare: No doubt, Cloudflare is fast, reliable, and good at website security. I’ve tried out all their plans, from free to enterprise, and honestly, the best results come when you use them with Argo Routing and APO.
  • FlyingCDN: Powered by Cloudflare Enterprise, the official CDN for FlyingPress users. It offers key edges over typical CDNs, caching content at over 330 POPs.
  • BunnyCDN: Still no EDGE caching, but it’s a cheap, fast, and effective CDN for static content. And you can use BunnyOptimizer for automatic optimization; it’s ideal for high-traffic and high-bandwidth needs.

Writing Tools

  • Grammarly: Grammarly does a lot more than check spelling. YES, it’s not always spot on, but it can definitely help make your writing easier to read. Especially useful if you do not speak/write English fluently.
  • ProWritingAid: This is a solid choice for grammar and style tips to boost your writing, instead of Grammarly. However, it is especially good for story writing rather than for technical subjects.
  • Wordtune: A writing assistant that fixes grammar and spelling problems and rewrites sentences. The free version limits rewrites to 10 per day. I like the unlimited version, but it’s pricey.
  • QuillBot: Known as a paraphrasing tool, but it can be used as a summarizer, an AI detector, a plagiarism checker, etc.

Other Tools

  • Claude/ChatGPT/Gemini – Usually, I don’t hang out with AI GPTs, but I use them specifically for coding.
  • Plausible Analytics – I prefer it to Google Analytics. Using GA means your site has become part of their data collection process. There is simply no other reason why Google Analytics is free. I also dislike the bloated, complex interface. For these reasons, I use Plausible Analytics, which is a user-friendly tool.