Tools
Everything here is something I've used personally and would recommend to someone I care about.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only list tools I genuinely use and recommend.
| Product | Why I recommend it |
|---|---|
| Synology DS925+ | Easy to use, stable, good software. |
| Ugreen DXP4800 Pro | Powerful, expandable, and capable of more than just storage. |
| Unifi Flex Mini 2.5G 5-Port Switch | Fast, reliable, easy to set up. Works with the Ubiquiti ecosystem. |
| Unifi Express 7 Cloud Gateway (UX7) | Solid and dependable. Works with the Ubiquiti ecosystem. |
| Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max, 512 GB) | Easy to set up and use. The software is fantastic. |
| GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) Pocket Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router | Simple, easy-to-use travel router. |
| Beelink Mate Mini-A Mac mini M4 Dock (aluminium stand, dual M.2 PCIe SSD) | Extra storage for an M4 / M4 Pro Mac mini. Fast, and supports two NVMe drives working simultaneously. |
Apple Notes
My go-to note-taking app. Syncs near instantly with all my devices I use it primarily for quick notes that I later decide if it's worth making into a document or just get rid off. If you are not a Apple user or don't like Apple products, I suggest trying SimpleNote.
Apple Reminders
It works. I don't need flashy, I need reliable. If you are not a Apple user or don't like Apple products, I suggest trying Todoist.
Apple Calendar
My simple calendar app. I've tried dozens over the years and end up coming back to calendar for it's simplicity and push syncing reliability. If you are not a Apple user or don't like Apple products, I suggest trying Google Calendar.
Raycast
Spotlight replacement for Mac that actually saves you time. Launcher, clipboard manager, and a dozen other things in one keystroke.
Raycast1Password
My recommended password manager. Simple to use. Accessible on most devices. Been paying for it for years.
1PasswordProtonMail
End-to-end encrypted email based in Switzerland. Better privacy than Gmail with a good enough free tier for most people.
Mullvad VPN
The VPN I actually trust. No accounts, no logs, flat rate. Not the cheapest, but the most privacy-respecting I've found.
Express 7
Best WiFi for most homes. Easy setup, reliable, and good enough performance for the price. I recommend this to family constantly.
Pi-hole
Network-wide ad blocking running on a Raspberry Pi. Blocks ads on every device in your home without installing anything on them.
Tailscale
Makes your devices act like they're on the same private network anywhere in the world. Free for personal use and absurdly easy to set up.
Claude
My primary AI assistant. Better than most for writing, reasoning, and longer conversations. The free tier is usable; Pro is worth it if you use it daily.
ClaudePerplexity
AI-powered search that cites its sources. I use it when I need current information or want a quick summary of something complex.
Perplexityn8n
Self-hosted automation between apps without writing code. I find it more powerful than Zapier for complex flows.