TOOLS PICK: Our Top 5 Mini Software

Software alternatives we actually use (+ for a fraction of the cost)

I’ll start doing more of these shorter posts in between longer reads. Just little drops from the day-to-day (like useful tools, cool finds, and things we actually use at CLASSIC FUTURE and WELTKERN®!)

This time, it’s a quick look at five mini-softwares we use for different sides of our work. I think these might be helpful for you too, whether you’re a solo designer, a creative studio, or even just running a service business of any kind.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes, sticking with the big, well-known legacy software makes total sense. Those tools are popular for a reason, they’re powerful, clean, reliable and well-supported.

But other times, you just need one function. One very specific, simple thing. And for that, paying a high subscription fee every month doesn’t make any sense. Especially when there are leaner, smarter alternatives out there!

Some of the tools I’m listing here were found on AppSumo, which if you’ve never tried, is honestly a really interesting platform. It’s built on a simple win-win logic: up-and-coming software companies offer lifetime deals to gain traction and get feedback, and users like us get access to powerful tools for a one-time payment, no subscription and you can always get a refund (after 60 days!!) if it’s not for you.

There’s a bit of everything on there. Some of it is hit or miss. But several of these tools? We’ve tested them, we use them daily, and they’ve made their way into our core workflows.

So, here’s a look at five of those tools, the ones we’re loving right now. Some are still available on AppSumo, others aren’t anymore, but I’ll include links and notes where it makes sense.

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Here’s what we’re loving (and using) right now

Real tools, real use cases! (Not only from AppSumo but mainly)

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1.

PushLab Growth
Launch Your Own Affiliate Program in Minutes

• What it does: Build and manage your own affiliate program super easily.

• Price: $59/lifetime

• Normal Price: Usually a monthly subscription model.

• Why it’s great: If you’re selling anything — services, products, subscriptions — you can get affiliates promoting you without paying monthly fees forever.

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2.

Orchestra
Manage Subscriptions and Client Requests

• What it does: Handles client requests, feedback, subscriptions, all in one place.

• Price: Varies based on tier but from $69-$789/lifetime (normally $300-$1824))

• Why it’s great: Perfect if you’re selling ongoing services. Your clients can submit their needs, and you can bill them monthly, easily.

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3.

Linke
Branded Short Links + Analytics, for Cheap

• What it does: Shorten links, track clicks, customize with your own domain.

• Price: $49/lifetime (normally $129).

• Why it’s great: Super clean dashboard, custom domains, real-time insights — great for social bios, newsletters, link tracking, etc.

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4.

Eniston
Build Your Internal Wiki Without the Headaches

• What it does: Create a knowledge base for your team — document workflows, SOPs, onboarding info.

• Price: $79/lifetime (compared to $299 normally!!).

• Why it’s great: Intuitive, customizable, and you can brand it with your domain. Makes onboarding and internal training a breeze.

Front-End

Back-End

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5.

Rork.app
Build Mobile Apps with AI — No Code, No Fuss

• What it does: Rork lets you build fully functional, cross-platform mobile apps using AI.

• Price: Free to start, then $20–$200/month depending on usage.

• Why it’s great: It’s perfect if you’ve got an app idea but don’t code. Write a solid prompt, drop it into Rork, and get a working mobile app you can test on your phone. Perfect for sketching and testing ideas fast, kind of like Loveable, but for apps.

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That’s the five for today. There are more I could share, some we use daily, others we’ve tested and loved. I’ll probably do deeper dives on a few of them later. Or share some that aren’t on AppSumo anymore but are still worth checking out!

Also, yes, for those waiting on the next longer post (the one on graphic READY MADE I teased earlier), it’s still coming! Just thought I’d drop this little detour in the meantime, something useful and instantly actionable.

Let me know if you end up trying any of these. Always curious to hear what works for others!
— Nizar

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