Tool directory

A modern transactional email API built for developers with a polished integration experience.

Resend focuses on developer sending use cases with a clean REST API, React Email support, and a reasonable free tier. Ideal for Next.js projects sending verification codes and billing notices—no self-hosted SMTP required.

Best for: Solo developers and small teams on modern frontend stacks who need transactional email live quickly.

The default deployment platform for the Next.js ecosystem—nearly standard for global frontends.

Vercel offers Git-connected deploys, edge functions, preview environments, and Analytics. The free tier covers personal projects; Pro suits small teams. Domestic access speed depends on edge nodes—sensitive workloads need separate compliance and ICP review.

Best for: Indie developers building Next.js/React static sites, marketing pages, and fast CI/CD pipelines.

All-in-one DNS, CDN, and Workers— a core edge option for Chinese developers.

Cloudflare's free tier includes DNS and basic CDN; Pages and Workers run full-stack apps and APIs. D1, R2, and other bindings suit serverless architectures. Easy signup from China—many teams start here, wiring up DNS and CDN first.

Best for: Individuals and small teams needing DNS + CDN + edge compute while controlling cost.

An open-source-friendly product analytics suite—self-host or use the cloud.

PostHog bundles event analytics, funnels, session replay, feature flags, and A/B testing. Generous free tier—ideal for technical teams replacing GA plus multiple SaaS tools with controllable privacy and data residency.

Best for: SaaS teams that care about data sovereignty and want all-in-one product analytics.

A popular email marketing platform for creators and newsletter workflows.

ConvertKit (now Kit) gives creators signup forms, automation sequences, and simple landing pages. The free tier covers small lists; paid unlocks more automation—built for content monetization, not pure transactional notifications.

Best for: Independent creators, newsletter authors, and personal brands selling courses or templates.

A media-forward newsletter platform with growth and monetization features built in.

Beehiiv bundles subscriptions, referral networks, ad placements, and a simple site. More media- and growth-focused than ConvertKit—ideal for creators serious about English-language newsletters.

Best for: Content entrepreneurs building English newsletters focused on subscriber growth and ad revenue.

The best-known email marketing tool—full-featured but heavy for small projects.

Mailchimp covers email design, automation, audience segmentation, and basic CRM. The free tier nurtures small lists; no special restrictions for Chinese users, but pricing climbs quickly with contacts—often overkill for indie projects.

Best for: Small businesses or ecommerce sites needing mature marketing features at meaningful list sizes.

Web services, static sites, and Cron jobs—often compared head-to-head with Railway.

Render offers free static sites, paid Web Services, and managed databases with clear configuration. Free-tier Web Services sleep on idle—fine for side projects and prototypes; production usually needs a paid tier.

Best for: Personal projects deploying mid-size APIs, static sites with light backends, and controllable budgets.