Every website I build runs on the same carefully chosen set of tools. Not because I’m locked in, but because over the years I’ve tested a lot of options and these are the ones I trust enough to bet client work on.
I’m sharing the full list because I think transparency matters. You should know what’s running on your website, why it’s there, and what you’re paying for when you hire me. None of these are sponsored, none are affiliate links, and I’m not getting a kickback for naming them. They’re just what I use, every day, on real client sites.
If you’re a fellow agency owner, take what’s useful. If you’re a client or prospective client, this is a window into how I build.
Hosting & Infrastructure
Rocket.net — Managed WordPress hosting built on Cloudflare’s enterprise network. Fast, reliable, and exactly the kind of “boring works” infrastructure I want under a client site. Their support is genuinely excellent, which matters more than people realize.
Cloudflare — DNS management, with all the security and performance benefits that come along for the ride. Free for what most sites need, and rock-solid.
Postmark — Transactional email service. When your contact form submits, when a password reset goes out, when an order confirmation needs to land — Postmark is what makes sure those emails actually arrive. Reliable, focused, and laser-clear about doing one thing well.
Theme & Page Building
GeneratePress — The WordPress theme I build on for almost every project. Lightweight, fast, accessible, and endlessly flexible. I’ve used a lot of themes; this is the one I haven’t been able to find a reason to leave.
GenerateBlocks — The block library that pairs with GeneratePress. Lets me build complex layouts using the native WordPress block editor instead of a heavy page builder. Faster sites, cleaner code, and easier maintenance for the client down the road.
Performance
Perfmatters — Performance optimization plugin for WordPress. Disables what your site doesn’t need, defers what it can, and gives me precise control over the hundreds of small things that add up to fast page loads.
ShortPixel — Image optimization. Compresses and converts images automatically so they load faster without you having to think about it. Performance gains that you get for free, forever, after a one-time setup.
Forms
WS Form Pro — The most powerful and flexible WordPress form builder I’ve used. Handles everything from a simple contact form to multi-step conditional logic without breaking a sweat, and the developer cares deeply about doing it right.
Custom Fields
ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) — When a site needs to go beyond basic page editing — custom layouts, structured content, dynamic data — ACF is what makes it possible without writing custom code from scratch. An industry standard for good reason.
SEO
SEOPress — A clean, no-nonsense SEO plugin. Does everything Yoast or RankMath do, without the constant upselling, bloated interfaces, or manipulative dashboard design. Independent and refreshingly focused.
Analytics
Fathom Analytics — Privacy-first website analytics. No cookies, no tracking, no Google. Tells you what you actually need to know about your traffic without compromising your visitors’ privacy or burdening your site with tracking scripts.
Backups & Monitoring
WP Umbrella — Site monitoring and management for the agency side of things. Backups, uptime monitoring, performance checks, and update tracking across every site I manage. The unsexy infrastructure that keeps client sites running smoothly.
Security
Patchstack — Vulnerability monitoring and protection for WordPress. Patchstack focuses specifically on plugin and theme vulnerabilities, which is where the vast majority of WordPress sites get compromised. Smart, focused security from people who actually understand the threat landscape.
Legal
Termageddon — Privacy policy and legal page generator. Generates the policies your site is legally required to have, and keeps them updated automatically as privacy laws change. The only legal solution I send clients to. (More on why in Why Your Website Needs Legal Policies.)
Stock Assets
Envato Elements — Stock photos, illustrations, video, audio, and more under a single subscription with clear, professionally curated licensing. As a subscriber I’m able to sublicense assets for use on client projects, which means clients don’t have to start their own subscription. (More on why this matters in Why You Can’t Just Grab Something from Google.)
Design
Figma — Where every site I build starts its life. Design happens in Figma before a single line of code gets written. It’s the industry standard for a reason.
A note on this list
This isn’t a list of every tool I’ve ever used or every option I’d recommend in every situation. It’s the specific stack I’ve settled on after years of trial, error, and refinement — the tools I’ve earned confidence in by using them on real projects with real stakes.
If you’re building a similar stack for yourself, take what’s useful. If you’re hiring me to build your site, this is what’s coming with the project. Either way, you now know exactly what’s under the hood.
