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For freelancers and small agencies

The software stack behind a profitable agency

Host client sites, win and keep clients, get found on Google and pay your team. We shortlist the tools agencies rely on, with the public ratings behind each one.

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which tools we list.

All tools

Top pick

Kinsta

Hosting
4.7 / 5 on Trustpilot · 1,100+ reviews

Managed WordPress hosting with a dashboard built for running many client sites.

Good for: agencies that want speed and hands-off maintenance Visit Kinsta

WP Engine

Hosting
4.2 / 5 on Trustpilot · 1,700+ reviews

Managed WordPress hosting with staging environments and tools for client handoff.

Good for: WordPress agencies with larger client sites Visit WP Engine

Cloudways

Hosting
4.6 / 5 on Trustpilot · 3,700+ reviews

Managed cloud hosting where you pick the server size and pay as you grow.

Good for: freelancers who want more control at a lower entry price Visit Cloudways

HighLevel

Client CRM & funnels
4.1 / 5 on Capterra · 90+ reviews

All-in-one CRM, funnel builder and marketing automation that agencies can rebrand and resell to clients.

Good for: marketing agencies selling a monthly service Visit HighLevel
Top pick

Systeme.io

Client CRM & funnels
4.8 / 5 on Capterra · 2,100+ reviews

Funnels, email marketing and online courses in one tool, with a free plan to start.

Good for: solo freelancers who want one simple tool Visit Systeme.io

Shopify

Online stores
4.5 / 5 on Capterra · 6,700+ reviews

Ecommerce platform for building and running online stores, with a large app and theme ecosystem.

Good for: building stores for product-based clients Visit Shopify

Semrush

SEO
4.6 / 5 on Capterra · 2,300+ reviews

SEO suite for keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits and client reporting.

Good for: agencies that sell SEO or content services Visit Semrush
Top pick

Rippling

Payroll & HR
4.8 / 5 on Capterra · 5,500+ reviews

Payroll, HR and IT in one system: onboard a hire, pay them and set up their apps and devices from one place.

Good for: growing agencies with staff or contractors in several places Visit Rippling

Gusto

Payroll & HR
4.6 / 5 on Capterra · 4,200+ reviews

Online payroll for US businesses that runs pay, files payroll taxes and handles benefits and onboarding.

Good for: US agencies hiring their first employees Visit Gusto

A note from Santhosh

Hi, I'm Santhosh. I run Agency Toolbench from Quebec. Every tool here sells to freelancers and small agencies with big promises and small print, so I read the small print: pricing pages, plan limits, refund terms and the add-ons that show up on the second invoice.

To be clear about what I do and don't do: I research, I don't benchmark. I haven't run speed tests or hosted client sites on every platform here. When a vendor's page doesn't answer something, I say so instead of guessing, and I link every source so you can check me.

Spotted a price that changed, or something I got wrong? Tell me. I fix it and note the change on the page.

Santhosh, founder

Guides

How we choose

Built for client work

Every tool here solves a job an agency does every week. Nothing else makes the list.

Public ratings, linked

Each rating links to its source so you can read the reviews yourself, including the bad ones.

Paid by sign-ups, not placement

We earn a commission on some sign-ups. Vendors cannot pay to be listed or to rank higher.