The $0 Marketing Stack: 11 Free Tools You Might Be Sleeping On

Written By Aušra Prasauskaitė

Let's talk about something that makes everyone’s heart sing: free marketing tools that actually work. Not the "free trial then steal your credit card" kind, but genuinely free tools that can power your business growth.

Because here's the truth: You don't need a massive budget to look professional and get results. You just need to know where to look.

I've tested dozens of tools (so you don't have to), and these are the gems that deserve a spot in your marketing stack. Got anything else to recommend? Please share with me by replying to this email.

1. Canva

Okay, you probably know Canva, but are you using it to its full potential? The free version lets you:

  • Create carousel posts that look like they cost hundreds

  • Design lead magnets that convert . I

  • Make professional presentations for client pitches Pro tip: Use their social media template sizes, but create your own style with 2-3 consistent fonts and colors. Instant brand kit!

2. MailerLite (Free up to 1,000 subscribers)

While everyone's raving about fancy email platforms, MailerLite's free plan is sitting here with features that would make expensive tools blush. For any brand which is new to email marketing, I usually recommend to start with Mailerlite because it is also very easy to use:

  • Clean, modern email templates

  • Landing page builder

  • Automation workflows

  • Solid deliverability

3. Google Search Console

This is literally Google telling you what your audience is searching for. FOR FREE. Use it to:

  • Find keywords you're already ranking for

  • Spot content opportunities

  • Fix technical issues before they hurt your visibility

4. Loom

Loom is a screenrecorder for Mac and PC and is useful for things like product walkthroughs for clients last week or answering their FAQ in a simple video format. Game-changer for:

  • Client communications

  • Quick tutorials

  • Social media content creation

  • Personal touchpoints in sales

5. Notion

For project organisation geeks. Use it for:

  • Content calendar

  • Client workflow templates

  • Project management

  • Lead magnets

  • Document storage The best part? It makes you look super organized (even if you're not 😉)

6. ManyChat 

While everyone's stressed about DM management and lead generation, ManyChat's free plan lets you:

  • Build automated conversation flows

  • Create interactive Instagram story mentions

  • Set up keyword triggers for automated responses

  • Generate leads on autopilot Pro tip: Use it to qualify leads while you sleep! You can set up flows that handle basic questions and book calls automatically.

7. Google Forms

Forget expensive survey tools. Google Forms can:

  • Collect customer feedback

  • Create intake questionnaires

  • Build email lists

  • Handle event registrations

8. Riverside.fm

Perfect for:

  • Podcast recording

  • Client interviews

  • Content creation The audio quality beats Zoom hands down, and the free plan is generous enough for most solopreneurs.

9. Wave

Free accounting software that doesn't feel free:

  • Professional invoicing

  • Income/expense tracking

  • Receipt scanning

  • Basic financial reports

10. Trello

A project management tool perfect for:

  • Managing content calendars

  • Organizing launch plans

  • Tracking client projects together with your team Pro tip: Use their "Butler" automation to save hours on repetitive tasks.

11. Claude

I am starting to fall out of love with ChatGPT lately due to it’s million and one bugs, so I am working with Claude more. While everyone's talking about other AI tools, Claude is quietly crushing it with:

  • Long-form content writing that actually sounds human

  • Data analysis and spreadsheet help

  • Smart brainstorming for product ideas and marketing angles

  • Research summaries that save you hours Pro tip: I use Claude to analyze my newsletter metrics and suggest improvements. It's like having a marketing strategist in your pocket! 😉

Your Next Steps

  1. Don't try to implement all 12 at once (even though we know you want to 😅)

  2. Pick the top 3 that align with your biggest current needs

  3. Master those before adding more to your stack

P.S. If you found this helpful, would you forward it to another person with big goals for his business this year? Growing this community helps us all! 🚀

Aušra Prasauskaitė
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