apps and Online tools Every Illustrator Should use
I’m Dean, the host of Women of Illustration
A community dedicated to helping artists turn their creativity into a career.
This is a handpicked collection of tools, apps, and subscriptions I personally use to run my business. Whether you're looking for the best design software, marketing resources, or ways to streamline your workflow, you'll find my go-to recommendations here.
SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULER: BUFFER (FREE - $24/mo)
Buffer is the only reason I can show up on 11+ platforms without living online. I batch everything in one sitting, schedule it out, and then log off. I spend a couple hours a month scheduling content and Buffer handles the rest, which means my brain stays focused on making art instead of babysitting algorithms.
EMAIL SERVICE: OMNISEND (FREE – $16+/MO)
My favorite email platform for Shopify, built for e-commerce. It lets me set up automated flows (welcome, post-purchase, abandoned-cart) without touching a line of code. It comes loaded with templates and a drag-and-drop editor, so sending polished, on-brand emails takes minutes, not hours.
VINTAGE PNGs: CENTURY LIBRARY (FREE – $13/MO)
My go-to treasure vault for vintage public-domain art. Thousands of illustrations are already clipped into clean PNGs, so you can collage, remix, and design without spending hours cutting things out by hand. If you love antique weirdness, mythical creatures, botanicals, and medieval vibes, this place is a goldmine.
Product research: Merch Informer ($10/mo)
How I research profitable T-shirt and apparel niches, track keyword trends, and spy on what’s selling best on Amazon and Etsy. It helps me find designs people are actually searching for, so I’m not just making random art and hoping it sells. It even has tools for SEO, trademark checks, and product research so I can make better decisions, faster.
DM automation: ManyChat (Free - $15+/mo)
I’ve made way more sales since using ManyChat! It automates DMs on Instagram and Facebook, instantly sending people the right links, whether it’s to my shop, newsletter, or online courses. Plus, it collects emails, sends reminders, and keeps my audience engaged without me doing a thing.
Print on demand: printful ($7 to $30 +shipping)
This is my favorite print-on-demand service for creating and selling custom products without managing inventory. It connects to nearly any website platform, including WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify. They handle printing, shipping, and can even add your branding. You can also store your own inventory with them for fulfillment along with your print-on-demand products.
BuILD FORMS: Typeform ($25-$83/mo)
This versatile platform is perfect for creating engaging and interactive surveys, forms, and quizzes. I use it to connect with my audience when I need feedback on products or social media ideas. You can customize designs with branded colors and photos. It’s also great for creating questionnaires for clients that calculate custom quotes based on their answers, with an option for them to pay at the end.
draw on ipad: Astropad ($30-$80)
Since I personally don't like Procreate, I use Astropad to transform my iPad into a graphics tablet. This is ideal for digital artists who already love using the Adobe Suite, as Astropad mirrors your screen, enabling you to use your iPad and Apple Pencil for precise drawing and editing in software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
best website builder: shopify ($39-$399/mo)
If you're looking to create a large inventory of products over time, Shopify is the best e-commerce platform for you. It's ideal for selling your illustrations and managing inventory, payments, and shipping. The best part is that any other app or addition you'd like to add to your website will likely work seamlessly with Shopify. However, designing non-templated pages may require some web design assistance.