Spotlightly

Creator software toolkit

The software stack.
Built for creators.

Every tool here is used by working creators. No bloated suites, no software you'll install and never open. Just what actually moves the needle.

DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission on purchases through some links at no extra cost to you.

🎬

Video Editing

The software that turns raw footage into content fans actually watch.

DaVinci ResolveFree

Best free editor — used by Hollywood

Free (Studio: $295 one-time)

Genuinely professional color grading, audio, and editing. The free version beats most paid alternatives. Start here.

Get it →

CapCut Pro

Best for short-form — TikTok, Reels, Shorts

$9.99/mo

AI-powered captions, auto-cut to beat, trending templates. Built for social-first creators. Mobile and desktop.

Get it →

Adobe Premiere ProPro pick

Industry standard for YouTube & long-form

$55/mo

The professional standard. Every editor knows it, every studio uses it. Worth it at scale.

Get it →

Final Cut ProMac only

Best for Mac creators

$299 one-time

Fastest rendering on Apple Silicon. If you're on a Mac and serious about video, this pays for itself fast.

Get it →

🎨

Design & Graphics

Thumbnails, channel art, social graphics — design that makes fans click.

Canva ProMost popular

Best for non-designers — thumbnails, social posts

$15/mo

Magic resize, brand kit, thousands of creator templates. The tool most creators use every single day.

Get it →

Adobe Express

Best for quick branded content

$10/mo

AI-powered templates, Firefly image generation built in. Fast and polished.

Get it →

Figma

Best for advanced creators and brand systems

$15/mo

If you have a team or want pixel-perfect control over your visual brand. Overkill for most, perfect for some.

Get it →

📡

Streaming Software

The software between your setup and your audience.

OBS StudioFree

Best free streaming software — industry standard

Free

Every serious streamer starts here. Open source, endlessly customizable, zero cost. No reason not to use it.

Get it →

Streamlabs

Best for beginners — OBS with training wheels

Free (Ultra: $19/mo)

Alerts, widgets, and themes built in. Easier than OBS with most of the same power. Good starting point.

Get it →

Elgato 4K Capture Card

Required for console streaming

$180

If you're streaming gameplay from PlayStation or Xbox, you need a capture card. This is the best one.

Get it →

Creator Productivity

Tools that save you hours every week.

NotionFree to start

Best content planning and organization

Free (Plus: $10/mo)

Content calendar, brand guidelines, brand deals tracker, video scripts — all in one place. Every creator should use this.

Get it →

Buffer

Best social media scheduler

Free (Essentials: $6/mo)

Schedule posts across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X from one dashboard. Batch your content, post automatically.

Get it →

Later

Best visual Instagram scheduler

$18/mo

Drag-and-drop calendar, visual grid planner, best-time-to-post analytics. Built for Instagram-first creators.

Get it →

DescriptAI-powered

Best AI-powered video and podcast editing

Free (Hobbyist: $24/mo)

Edit video by editing text. Remove filler words automatically. Transcribe podcasts. Genuinely revolutionary for creators.

Get it →

☁️

Storage & Backup

Lose your footage once and you'll wish you had this.

BackblazeEssential

Best unlimited cloud backup

$9/mo

Unlimited storage backup for one computer. Every creator who shoots video needs this. Lose your footage once and you'll understand.

Get it →

Google One (2TB)

Best Google Drive storage upgrade

$10/mo

If you already live in Google Docs/Drive for scripts and planning, this gives you 2TB for photos and video backup.

Get it →

Dropbox Plus

Best team collaboration storage

$10/mo

If you work with editors, this makes file sharing simple. Smart sync means your full library doesn't take local space.

Get it →

Need physical gear too? We've got that covered.

See the gear guide →