Must-have tools for marketers to build a tech stack.
Have you ever tried building a tech stack for your team as a marketing manager? It's confusing, right? Especially when you don't know what to prioritize. Should social media be your concern? Or should you add tools in your technology stack that improve your team's communication and boost productivity?
When working with a software stack, one thing to keep in mind is that the tools you choose should help streamline your team's operations and be easy to handle without you having to go through hundreds of instructional videos.
For your ease, we have compiled an alphabetically sorted list of ten tools for marketers from categories such as graphic design, productivity, collaboration, and team communication, based on reviews from users just like you. (You can find our methodology at the bottom of this page.)
1. Adobe Creative Cloud: Facilitates team collaboration
Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of creative applications and services that offer photography, web and graphic design, and video animation, among other functionalities.
You can purchase the software suite as a bundle or get individual software based on your requirements for graphic design. Adobe’s design applications help you create graphics such as illustrations, posters, vector art, flyers, logos, and banners.
Adobe features a resource library with millions of stock photos and videos you can use to support your designs. The software lets you work on design layouts for printable and digital material.
Adobe Creative Cloud offers chat, email, and phone support. The software is web-based and has desktop applications for Mac and Windows. Additionally, you can also download mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- 3D digital asset management
- 3D video editing
- Audio capture
- Batch processing
- Brand overlay
- Collaboration tools
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Creating graphics in Adobe Creative Cloud
2. Canva: Has one of the best design template libraries
Canva is an online graphic design software solution for digital marketing teams. It helps create, customize, and share brochures, flyers, logos, resumes, and posters, among other visual content types.
With Canva, you can combine multiple pictures and videos to create slideshows, montages, ads, and short films. Additionally, you can upload PDF files and turn them into online designs using a built-in editor.
Canva lets you collaborate with your teammates and create designs together in real time. You can share one dashboard where all your projects get synced and saved. Any changes you make to your designs are visible to your teammates in real time.
Canva offers chat and email support. It is web-based and has applications for desktop and mobile (iOS and Android) devices.
Key Features
- Animation
- Asset library
- Audio file management
- Collaboration tools
- Custom fonts
- Content management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Design templates in Canva
3. Google Docs: Provides good offline support
Google Docs is a document management solution that helps you create spreadsheets and documents online.
The software lets you create and collaborate on online documents with your teammates in real time. You can edit documents and spreadsheets together and use comments, suggestions, and action items to keep track of the status of a project.
Google Docs also lets you use @ mentions to tag people and loop them in conversations. The software includes an assistive feature called Smart Compose that helps you write faster with fewer errors as it auto-completes your sentences based on suggestions.
Google Docs offers chat, phone, and email support. The software is web-based and has a mobile application for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Collaboration tools
- Document generation
- File sharing
- Notes management
- Project management
- Team chat
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Adding comments in a document in Google Docs
4. Google Meet: Offers live captioning during meetings
Google Meet is a communication solution that helps collaborate with teammates and helps facilitate online meetings with clients.
The software works in sync with other Google applications and can be used to present and live-stream to your audience. Google Meet also keeps you and your team connected and allows up to 30 participants in video calls.
You can sync Google Meet with your calendar to make it easier to schedule meetings. The software sends meeting reminders and shows important event details before joining.
Google Meet offers chat and email support. It is web-based and has applications for desktop and mobile (iOS and Android) devices.
Key Features
- Alerts/notifications
- Attendance management
- Audio calls
- Call recording
- Collaboration tools
- File sharing
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Upcoming meeting schedules in Google Meet
5. Google Workspace: Makes remote working easier for teams
Google Workspace is a collaboration platform that offers multiple services such as email, video conferencing, calendar management, cloud storage, and IT security.
The software suite helps businesses organize their workflow, collaborate on projects, and schedule meetings with teammates and clients.
With Google Workspace, you can collaborate with your teammates by working on a single document, spreadsheet, or a bunch of slides across your devices. Cloud storage lets you keep all your work in one place with secure access.
Google Workspace offers chat and email support. The software is web-based and has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Alerts/notifications
- Archiving and retention
- Availability management
- Collaboration tools
- Data storage management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Applications in Google Workspace
6. Microsoft 365: Offers a secure cloud-based workspace
Microsoft 365 is a suite of apps that help businesses increase productivity and team collaboration and make their work more secure.
The software suite features applications for document management, data storage, team meetings, and spreadsheet/presentation creation. You can use Microsoft Editor to create documents and emails, and the tool helps strengthen your spelling, grammar, and style.
The software also provides writing, speaking, and designing ideas with features such as PowerPoint Presenter Coach, Resume Assistant, and a library of pre-designed templates, stock photos, icons, and fonts.
Microsoft 365 offers chat, email, and phone support. The software is web-based and has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Address book
- Audit trail
- Brainstorming
- Calendar management
- Collaboration tools
- Contact management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Dashboard in Microsoft Office 365
7. Microsoft Word: Support multiple file types
Microsoft Word is a word processing and documentation tool that helps you create newsletters and business documents. It also allows you to collaborate with team members on projects.
With Microsoft Word, you can review and read your writing with ease with the help of the text-to-speech feature. The software also lets you add 3D models in your presentations to showcase data visually.
The built-in Microsoft Editor also checks your spelling and grammar and provides intelligent suggestions to make your writing more precise and effective. Additionally, you can translate documents into local languages with the built-in translator.
The software also features a built-in resume creator with pre-built templates that you can customize as per your requirements.
Microsoft Word offers email and phone support. The software is web-based with applications for Mac and Windows desktops and Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Clipboard grouping
- Collaboration tools
- Command groups
- Editing
- Offline access
- Templates
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Sharing a new document in Word
8. Slack: Lets you create effective communication channels
Slack is a team communication platform that brings your team together and helps them collaborate on projects.
The software lets you create multiple communication channels to segment and organize your projects based on work type and the number of teammates involved. You can even invite people outside your organization to be part of your channels and collaborate with them.
The software lets you host video conferences with the built-in video calling feature. You can also record video and audio calls and share files with your teammates. The software also helps book meetings by integrating with your calendar and keeping track of your schedule.
Slack offers chat and email support. The software is web-based and has desktop and mobile applications for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Activity tracking
- Audio calls
- Brainstorming
- Budget management
- Calendar management
- Call recording
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Channels in Slack
9. Telegram: Helps share files and media efficiently
Telegram is a communication application that helps you connect with your clients and teammates via instant messaging. It also allows you to create groups with multiple people as participants.
Telegram also lets you share files with other users and create data repositories to store your files. You can also use a built-in photo editor to customize and edit pictures before sending them to another user.
Telegram offers chat and email support. The software is web-based and has desktop applications for Mac and Windows systems and a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Batch communications
- Chat/messaging
- Collaboration tools
- Content import/export
- Drag and drop
- File sharing
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Cost to upgrade
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Chat window in Telegram
10. Trello: Provides a collaborative dashboard for teams
Trello is a collaboration tool that helps you plan and manage projects with your team and increase team productivity.
The software provides a Kanban-style dashboard with lists and cards you can use to segment tasks and organize them according to priority, teammates required, and the duration of work.
Trello also helps you build a road map for project planning by adding timelines to your projects. You can connect multiple boards, integrate your calendar, and assign tasks to team members.
With built-in automation, you can automate basic actions such as approving task requirements, changing project status upon task completion, and surfacing upcoming deadlines with your team.
Trello offers chat and email support. The software is web-based and has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Activity dashboard
- Activity/news feed
- Agile methodologies
- Billing & invoicing
- Brainstorming
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Project dashboard in Trello
How to choose the right tools for your tech stack
Every decision is crucial when you're trying to build the right technology stack. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating the right tech stack for your business:
Assess the level of integration that each software offers: Each tool you pick should be able to integrate smoothly with the rest of your stack. Make sure to confirm the integrational capability of the software with the vendor.
Check if the tools offer a mobile app as well: Having a mobile app for all your software makes it easier to work from anywhere and keep track of your progress. During selection, pick tools that offer a mobile app.
Assess the learning curve for each tool: When working on projects, your team should be able to navigate each software seamlessly. Ensure the tools you select are not too complicated, have a good user experience, and offer tutorials and guides to avoid confusion.
Common questions to ask vendors when selecting tools for your tech stack:
These are some common questions you can ask software providers before making your final purchase:
How robust is your customer support?
No tool comes without glitches and good software is always accompanied by robust customer support. Before finalizing your purchase, check for reviews regarding customer support that a vendor offers.
Does your product integrate with the rest of my stack?
Irrespective of the number of tools you're working with, you should be able to integrate all tools and streamline your team’s workflow. If your stack isn't in sync, it will cause problems when it comes to running marketing campaigns and aligning your team to discuss projects.
Is my data secure?
All the tools in your stack should be secure and compliant with digital safety protocols to ensure that your data is never compromised. Additionally, ideal tools have admin rights and you should be able to choose to give access permissions to certain team members.
How did we choose these products? We didn’t—you did
To find your ideal software match, you need information you can trust—so you can save time, stay on budget, and focus more energy on growing your business. It’s why we vet and verify all our user reviews and recommend only the tools endorsed by people such as you.
In other words, our product recommendations are never bought or sold, or based on the opinion of a single individual—they’re chosen by your peers, reflecting the views and experiences of our independent base of software reviewers.