4 Jun 2025
My Core Tech Stack (TL;DR):
This is the foundation I use to run everything — my website, membership, newsletter, and payments.
- WordPress: Free and open-source. It’s the sovereign creator’s CMS of choice . I’ve been using WordPress since 2004 (version 1.0). It was a blogging platform then, but today, it’s a robust all-purpose platform that powers most websites on the Internet (43% as of 2024).
- Rocket: The world’s fastest WordPress hosting, at $30/month. I’ve tried many — Rocket is the one I trust.
- GeneratePress + GenerateBlocks: The design and layout engine behind this site. Lightweight, powerful, and precise. Pricing ranges from $0 to $149/year (I use the GeneratePress One plan).
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit): My email platform of choice. Brilliantly made, built for creators. $0/month for Newsletter plan (10K subscribers). I use their Creator Pro plan. (→ Here’s my full Kit review.)
- SureMembers + SureCart: Handles all membership and payment processing. SureMembers is $69/year. SureCart is either free (with 1.9% transaction fee) or $179/year.
Why SureMembers & SureCart?
They’re part of the same product family — designed to work together seamlessly.
SureMembers is a fast, lightweight, native WordPress membership plugin. It does one thing incredibly well: access control.
SureCart is a modern, lightning-fast shopping cart system and Stripe gateway. One-time payments, subscriptions, digital downloads, courses, ebooks, SaaS, physical products — it handles everything without fuss.
It’s smooth. Cohesive. No duct tape required.
Cost Breakdown
Your mileage will vary depending on the versions you use (free vs premium), but here’s a rough range:
- Basic setup: $30/month (Rocket hosting + free versions of the other tools),
- Full-featured setup: $170/month (Premium ConvertKit, SureCart, GeneratePress One)
This tech stack is everything you need to run a powerful, independent digital business — as a creator, online educator, or indie publisher.
No gatekeepers. No walled gardens.
Just you, your ideas, and the people who care.
It’s the essence of being a sovereign creator.
Final Thought
It’s kind of wild when you think about it.
At no point in history has it been this possible to build something lasting — to reach people directly, and get paid — with tools this accessible.
If you’ve got something to say, something to teach, something to build…
There’s never been a better time.
~ André