The Tools Everyone Online Is Using to Make Money in 2026
Discover the exact tools online entrepreneurs, affiliate marketers, and creators are using in 2026 to grow audiences, automate content, generate leads, build email lists, and make money online — explained in beginner-friendly terms.
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Todd H
5/25/20266 min read
If you are new to trying to make money online, one thing can feel overwhelming very quickly:
Everybody keeps talking about tools, automation, funnels, AI, lead generation, newsletters, content distribution, and communities…
…and honestly, most beginners have no idea what half of that even means.
I get it.
That’s exactly why I wanted to write this guide in plain English.
This is not a guide for tech experts.
This is a guide for normal people trying to understand:
what these tools actually do
why everyone online talks about them
and why so many people say they “can’t live without them”
The truth is:
Most successful online businesses today are built using software that helps save time, automate repetitive tasks, grow audiences, and make selling easier.
These tools are basically the “equipment” modern online businesses run on.
Think of it this way:
A contractor needs tools.
A mechanic needs tools.
An online business owner needs tools too.
So let’s break down the biggest ones people are using right now.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the tools mentioned may offer affiliate programs. I only recommend tools I genuinely believe are useful or worth exploring.
1. Email & Newsletter Tools
Beehiiv
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make online is relying only on social media.
Why?
Because social media platforms can change overnight.
Your posts may stop getting views.
Your account could get restricted.
Algorithms constantly change.
That’s why experienced online marketers focus heavily on building an email list.
An email list is simply a list of people who gave you permission to contact them directly through email.
And Beehiiv is one of the hottest platforms right now for building that list.
What makes Beehiiv so popular is that it is designed specifically to help people:
grow subscribers
send newsletters
build audiences
and even make money from their emails
Some people are literally building entire businesses around newsletters now.
Why People Love It
Because it turns followers into something you actually own.
Simple Example
Instead of hoping Instagram shows your post to people…
you can send an email directly to thousands of subscribers anytime you want.
That is powerful.
Best For:
beginners
affiliate marketers
content creators
anyone trying to build an audience online
Scam or Success Verdict:
Huge success.
SparkLoop
SparkLoop works alongside newsletter platforms like Beehiiv.
Its job is helping you grow your email list faster.
One of the coolest things about it is that it can actually help you make money while growing your list.
That’s a big reason online marketers love it.
Why People Love It
Because growing an email list faster usually means growing income faster too.
Best For:
People serious about building a newsletter business.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very smart tool.
2. Business & Automation Platforms
GoHighLevel
This is one of those tools people constantly talk about online because it replaces a TON of separate software.
Instead of needing:
one tool for email
one for texting customers
one for scheduling
one for funnels
one for customer tracking
…GoHighLevel combines most of that into one system.
Now let’s explain a term beginners hear constantly:
What Is a Funnel?
A funnel is simply a step-by-step process that guides someone toward becoming a customer.
Example:
Someone sees your video
They click your link
They enter their email
They receive information
Eventually they buy something
That entire process is called a funnel.
GoHighLevel helps businesses automate that process.
Why People Love It
Because it keeps businesses organized and automates follow-up.
Why Automation Matters
Most businesses lose customers because they forget to follow up.
Automation fixes that.
Best For:
businesses
agencies
coaches
service providers
entrepreneurs
Scam or Success Verdict:
Massive success.
BuildWithOS
BuildWithOS is another “all-in-one” business platform.
The reason these platforms are exploding in popularity is simple:
People are tired of paying for 10 separate subscriptions.
These platforms try to combine everything into one dashboard.
Why People Love It
Because simpler systems are easier to manage.
Best For:
People wanting fewer moving parts.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very promising.
3. Checkout & Selling Tools
Purple Turret
Purple Turret focuses on helping people sell products online using fast and simple checkout pages.
What Is a Checkout Page?
It is simply the page where people enter payment information to buy something.
The reason speed matters is because slow websites lose sales.
Why People Love It
Because simple pages often convert better than complicated ones.
Best For:
digital products
coaching
affiliate products
online offers
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very interesting.
4. AI & Automation Tools
Lindy
Artificial Intelligence is changing online business rapidly.
Lindy allows people to create AI “agents.”
What Is an AI Agent?
Think of it like a digital assistant that helps perform tasks automatically.
It can:
organize information
send messages
automate tasks
connect apps together
The crazy part is you do not need to know coding.
Why People Love It
Because it saves time and reduces repetitive work.
Best For:
Businesses wanting more automation.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very exciting technology.
Viktor
Viktor is another AI-powered business tool.
It focuses on helping businesses automate operational tasks.
Simple Explanation
Instead of employees manually doing repetitive tasks all day…
AI can now help do some of it.
That is why tools like this are becoming so popular.
Why People Love It
Because automation creates leverage.
What Is Leverage?
Leverage means getting more done with less effort.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very interesting.
5. Content Creation Tools
OpusClip
Short-form videos are everywhere now:
TikTok
Instagram Reels
YouTube Shorts
Facebook Reels
OpusClip helps turn long videos into short clips automatically.
Example
One 20-minute video can become:
10 short clips
20 clips
or even more
That saves creators HUGE amounts of time.
Why People Love It
Because one video suddenly becomes content for every platform.
Best For:
People creating video content.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Huge success.
Syllaby
A lot of beginners are uncomfortable showing their face online.
That’s why “faceless content” has exploded.
What Is Faceless Content?
Videos where:
you do not appear on camera
AI voices may be used
stock footage is shown instead
Syllaby helps create that type of content.
Why People Love It
Because it lowers the fear of creating content.
Best For:
Beginners and faceless creators.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very useful.
Clipfy
Clipfy helps people create lots of short videos quickly.
And honestly, consistency matters online.
The more content people post…
the more chances they have to grow.
Why People Love It
Because it speeds up content production.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Promising.
MotionStocks
MotionStocks provides video clips creators can use in their content.
Why That Matters
Better visuals usually mean:
more attention
better engagement
more professional-looking content
Why People Love It
Because good visuals help content stand out.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Excellent support tool.
Threadmaster
Threadmaster helps create social media threads.
What Is a Thread?
A series of connected posts on platforms like X/Twitter designed to keep people reading.
Why People Love It
Because good threads can drive huge amounts of traffic.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Smart tool.
Loud AF
Loud AF focuses on helping creators remix and repurpose content.
What Does Repurpose Mean?
Using one piece of content multiple ways.
Example:
one video
becomes a Reel
a TikTok
a Facebook post
a quote graphic
and an email
Smart marketers do this constantly.
Why People Love It
Because it saves enormous amounts of time.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very interesting.
QuickDesign
QuickDesign helps create ads and marketing graphics quickly.
Why People Love It
Because professional-looking graphics usually perform better online.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Useful tool.
6. Content Distribution Tools
Repurpose.io
Repurpose.io is one of those tools that online creators absolutely love once they start using it.
Instead of manually posting videos everywhere…
it automatically distributes them across platforms.
Why That Matters
Posting manually every day gets exhausting.
This tool helps automate that process.
Why People Love It
Because consistency becomes much easier.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Absolutely worth it.
7. Community Platforms
Skool
Skool combines:
courses
memberships
communities
engagement
into one platform.
What Is an Online Community?
A group of people connected around a shared interest or goal.
Communities are becoming huge online because people want:
connection
support
networking
accountability
Why People Love It
Because recurring memberships create predictable income.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Huge success.
8. Lead Generation & Outreach Tools
LeadBomb.io
Lead generation simply means finding potential customers.
LeadBomb helps businesses find contact information faster.
Why People Love It
Because businesses need leads to grow.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Useful tool if used responsibly.
PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster automates tasks like:
scraping information
finding leads
outreach automation
What Does Scraping Mean?
Collecting public information online automatically instead of manually searching.
Why People Love It
Because it saves massive amounts of time.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Powerful platform.
Devi
Devi monitors conversations online to find people discussing topics related to your niche.
Why That Matters
Finding people already interested in your topic is much easier than convincing random strangers.
Why People Love It
Because warm audiences convert better.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very smart idea.
Reply.io
Reply.io automates follow-up messages and outreach campaigns.
Why Follow-Up Matters
Most sales happen after multiple follow-ups.
Most beginners quit too early.
Why People Love It
Because it keeps follow-up organized automatically.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Excellent outreach tool.
Squibb AI
Squibb AI uses artificial intelligence to automate outreach and prospecting.
Why People Love It
Because AI can now help handle repetitive sales tasks automatically.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Very promising.
9. Hosting & Website Tools
Hostinger
Every online business needs some kind of online home.
Hostinger is what I use personally
That usually means:
a website
a blog
landing pages
or funnels
Hostinger helps people build and host websites.
Why Beginners Love It
Because it is affordable, beginner-friendly, and easy to use.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Excellent beginner or expert platform. I have used many, and this is the best
10. PR, Traffic & Conversion Tools
BrandPush
BrandPush helps businesses distribute articles and press releases.
Why That Matters
People trust brands that appear established.
Why People Love It
Because credibility helps conversions.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Useful authority-building tool.
Hello Bar
Hello Bar helps websites capture more leads before visitors leave.
Simple Example
A popup asking for someone’s email before they exit a website.
Why People Love It
Because small increases in subscribers can create huge long-term growth.
Scam or Success Verdict:
Simple but effective.
Final Thoughts
The biggest thing beginners need to understand is this:
The people making money online are usually not doing everything manually anymore.
They use:
systems
automations
software
AI
funnels
email lists
content tools
These tools help save time, grow faster, and scale businesses.
You do NOT need all of them immediately.
Start simple.
Learn one thing at a time.
But understanding these tools helps you understand how modern online businesses actually work.
And honestly…
Once you start using some of them, it becomes easy to understand why so many people online say they “can’t live without them.”
— Todd Hester
Scam or Success