This is my core tech stack:
- WordPress: Free and open-source,
- Hosting by Rocket, the world’s fastest WordPress hosting, at $30/month,
- This website is designed and built with GeneratePress + GenerateBlocks theme. Costs range from $0 to $149/yr (I use the premium versions of both).
- I send emails using the brilliant ConvertKit (full review here). Pricing is $0/mo (Newsletter plan) to $140/month for 10K subscribers on the Pro plan (I use a Pro plan).
- I use Paid Memberships Pro, an open-source membership plugin for WordPress that includes Stripe-based payment processing. The cost is $0/yr to $597/yr for the Plus plan.
Why Paid Memberships Pro?
I previously used Restrict Content Pro (RCP), developed by Pippin Williamson. When Pippin sold RCP in 2020 to iThemes, now part of the StellarWP family, the focus on its development seemed to suffer. StellarWP’s attention is spread across a wide portfolio, whereas Paid Memberships Pro (PMPro) is a small team dedicated to creating a best-in-class membership tool since 2010. Version 3 was released in March 2024, and it’s amazing!
I also admire PMPro’s commitment to open-source. Their code is 100% GPL, transparent, and free to use (no code is obfuscated). I opted for their paid Plus plan for a few added features and premium support.
While RCP meets my current needs, I prefer PMPro for its dedicated development and future-proofing my membership platform. Making such decisions early prevents the hassle of switching tools down the line.
Cost Breakdown
Depending on your choices and needs (free vs. premium options), my tech stack costs between $30/month (basic Rocket hosting with free versions of other tools) and approximately $170/month for the higher-end options.
This is the core tech stack of everything you need to run a successful digital business as a creator and indie publisher.
It ensures no middleman between my creations and my audience — I own everything. This embodies the spirit of being a sovereign creator.
Just think about how incredible this is. There’s no other time in history when this tech was possible and running a digital business was so accessible to everyone with a desire.