How we review creator tools
The same criteria for every tool, facts from the source, and a clear line between our picks and our income.
The five criteria we use every time
- Real monthly cost at your size. Not the headline price, but what you'd pay at a realistic list size (for email tools) or sales level (for course platforms), on monthly billing.
- Transaction and platform fees. A plan that takes a percentage of every sale can cost more than a pricier plan with no fee. We do the math so you can see where the lines cross.
- Free plan or trial. How far you can get before paying, and what the limits are.
- Ease of use for a one-person business. Can you set it up without hiring help?
- Who it fits, and who should skip it. Every tool is a poor fit for someone. We say who.
Where our facts come from
Prices, plan limits and fees come from each company's official pricing pages, help centers and legal pages. When a company's own pages disagree with each other, we say so and show you where to check, rather than picking the friendlier number.
Plans change often. Each guide shows when prices were last checked, and we suggest confirming on the vendor's site before you buy.
What we don't do
- We don't publish ratings, testimonials or "we tested it for 6 months" claims we can't back up.
- We don't accept payment for placement or rankings.
- We don't use countdown timers or fake "limited offers".
How affiliate links work here
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions differ between companies, so we decide our picks on the criteria above before looking at what a link pays, and we include tools without an affiliate program when they're the better fit. Full details are in our affiliate disclosure.
Spotted something out of date?
Prices move fast. If you see a number that no longer matches the vendor's site, email hello@leancreatorguides.com and we'll check and correct it.