You know what we love most about our Showit Design Partner community? They're not just incredibly talented at creating beautiful websites; they're also masters at building efficient, profitable creative businesses.
And after working with hundreds of designers over the years, we've noticed something: the most successful ones aren't just great at design. They're also strategic about the tools they use to streamline their workflow, manage their clients, and make their Showit sites perform even better.
So today, we're pulling back the curtain and sharing the 9 tools that our top Design Partners use daily. These aren't just “nice-to-have” tools—these are the secret weapons that help them deliver stunning Showit websites while building thriving businesses.
Whether you're a designer yourself or a DIY Showit user looking to level up your site and business, these tools will help you work smarter, not harder.
Ready to peek inside the designer's toolkit? Let's jump in!
Why Our Designers' Tool Recommendations Matter
Before we jump into the specific tools, here's why you should pay attention to what our Design Partners are using:
They've tested everything. These designers have tried dozens of tools and stuck with the ones that actually deliver results.
They work with real clients daily. They know what tools make client relationships smoother and projects more profitable.
They understand Showit inside and out. They know which tools integrate beautifully with the Showit platform and which ones cause headaches.
They run successful businesses. The tools they choose directly impact their bottom line, so they're strategic about every decision.
Now, let's explore their favorites!
1. Moxie: The All-in-One Business Command Center
What Our Designers Love: “I can manage my entire design business from one dashboard instead of juggling five different tools.”
If you've ever felt like you're drowning in different apps for project management, invoicing, time tracking, and client communication, Moxie is about to become your new best friend.
Here's what makes Moxie a designer favorite:
Project Management Made Simple: Create projects for each Showit website design, set milestones, and track progress—all while keeping clients in the loop.
Smart To-Do Management: Never lose track of where you are in the design process. Moxie keeps all your tasks organized by client and project.
Integrated Calendar: Schedule client calls, design reviews, and launch dates all in one place.
Professional Invoicing: Send beautiful invoices that match your brand, set up payment plans, and track what's been paid.
Time Tracking: See exactly how long each phase of your Showit design process takes (hello, better pricing!).
Perfect for: Designers who want to consolidate their business operations and spend more time actually designing.
Pro Tip from Our Designers: “Use Moxie's project templates to standardize your Showit design process. Create a template with all your typical phases—discovery, wireframes, design, revisions, launch—and you'll never miss a step again.”
2. Adobe XD & Figma: The Wireframing Dream Team
What Our Designers Love: “I can show clients exactly what their Showit site will look like before I start building, which saves SO much time in revisions.”
While Showit gives you incredible creative freedom, our top designers know that planning comes first. That's where wireframing tools like Adobe XD and Figma come in.
Why These Tools Are Essential:
Client Clarity: Show clients the layout and flow before you start designing in Showit.
Faster Design Process: Having a roadmap makes the actual Showit build much smoother.
Professional Presentations: Present your concepts in a polished way that builds client confidence.
Collaboration: Clients can leave feedback directly on the wireframes.
Adobe XD vs. Figma:
- Adobe XD: Great if you're already in the Adobe ecosystem, with seamless integration with Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Figma: Browser-based, excellent for real-time collaboration, and has a generous free plan.
Perfect for: Anyone who wants to streamline their design process and reduce revision rounds.
3. Pixresize: The Image Optimization Hero
What Our Designers Love: “I can batch resize, rename, and optimize hundreds of images in minutes instead of hours.”
Here's a secret: the difference between a good Showit site and a great one often comes down to image optimization. Our designers know that beautiful images need to load fast, and that's where Pixresize becomes indispensable.
Why This Tool Is a Game-Changer:
Batch Processing: Upload multiple images and resize them all at once to the perfect dimensions for your Showit site.
Smart Renaming: Automatically rename images with SEO-friendly filenames.
Optimization Without Quality Loss: Reduce file sizes dramatically while keeping images crisp and beautiful.
Multiple Format Support: Convert between JPG, PNG, WebP, and more.
Perfect for: Anyone who works with lots of images and wants their Showit site to load lightning-fast.
Designer Tip: “I always batch process client images through Pixresize before uploading to Showit. It makes such a difference in site speed, and faster sites rank better on Google!”
4. Komodo Decks: The Screen Recording Secret Weapon
What Our Designers Love: “I can create unlimited client training videos without worrying about recording limits or monthly fees.”
Client education is huge in the design world. Our Design Partners frequently create custom training videos showing clients how to update their Showit sites, and Komodo Decks has become their go-to tool.
Why Designers Choose Komodo Decks Over Other Options:
Unlimited Free Videos: Unlike Loom's limitations, record as many training videos as you need.
High-Quality Output: Professional-looking videos that reflect well on your brand.
Easy Sharing: Send clients direct links to their custom training videos.
No Watermarks: Your videos look completely professional.
Perfect for: Designers who want to provide exceptional client service without the recurring costs of premium screen recording tools.
Real Designer Use Case: “After launching a Showit site, I create a series of Komodo Decks videos showing my client how to update their blog, change images, and add new pages. Clients love having these personalized tutorials they can reference anytime!”
5. HoneyBook vs. Dubsado: The Client Management Showdown
Our designers are split between these two powerhouse client management systems, and honestly, we love them both! Here's how they stack up:
HoneyBook: The User-Friendly Favorite
What Our Designers Love: “It's so intuitive that I was up and running in a day, and my clients actually enjoy using it.”
HoneyBook Strengths:
Gorgeous Interface: Beautiful, modern design that clients love to interact with
Easy Learning Curve: You'll be productive immediately, not after weeks of setup
Smart Automation: Automatically send follow-ups, contracts, and payment reminders
Payment Processing: Built-in payment processing with competitive rates
Mobile-First: Works beautifully on phones and tablets
Perfect for: Newer designers or anyone who wants powerful features without complexity.
Dubsado: The Customization Champion
What Our Designers Love: “I can customize everything to match my brand perfectly, and it grows with my business.”
Dubsado Strengths:
Ultimate Customization: Make everything match your brand exactly
Advanced Workflows: Create complex automation sequences
Detailed Reporting: In-depth analytics on your business performance
Flexible Pricing: More cost-effective as you scale
Powerful Forms: Create detailed questionnaires and intake forms
Perfect for: Established designers who want maximum control and customization.
Our Take: You can't go wrong with either option. Choose HoneyBook if you want to get started quickly with something beautiful and intuitive. Choose Dubsado if customization and advanced features are priorities.
6. MailerLite: The Email Marketing Favorite
What Our Designers Love: “It's powerful enough for everything I need but simple enough that I actually use it consistently.”
Email marketing is crucial for designers—whether you're nurturing leads, sharing design tips, or staying in touch with past clients. MailerLite strikes the perfect balance between features and simplicity.
Why Designers Choose MailerLite:
Beautiful Templates: Professional email designs that match your brand aesthetic
Advanced Segmentation: Send targeted emails to different client types
Automation Sequences: Set up welcome series, follow-ups, and nurture campaigns
A/B Testing: Optimize your emails for better open and click rates
Generous Free Plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month, free
Perfect for: Designers who want professional email marketing without the complexity or high cost of enterprise tools.
Designer Strategy: “I use MailerLite to send a monthly newsletter featuring recent Showit sites I've launched, design tips, and business updates. It keeps me top-of-mind with past clients who refer new business!”
7. Bdow: The Pop-Up and Lead Capture Specialist
What Our Designers Love: “I can create beautiful, on-brand pop-ups that actually convert without any coding.”
Converting website visitors into email subscribers is crucial for any creative business, and our designers swear by Bdow for creating pop-ups and lead capture forms that actually work.
What Makes Bdow Special:
Design Flexibility: Create pop-ups that perfectly match your Showit site's aesthetic
Smart Targeting: Show different pop-ups based on visitor behavior
Mobile Optimized: Pop-ups look and work great on all devices
Easy Integration: Works seamlessly with your email marketing platform
Performance Analytics: See which pop-ups are converting best
Perfect for: Anyone who wants to grow their email list with beautiful, effective pop-ups that don't annoy visitors.
8. Flodesk vs. Kit: The Email Platform Face-Off
Just like with client management tools, our designers are passionate about their email marketing platform of choice. Here's the breakdown:
Flodesk: The Beautiful Email Champion
What Our Designers Love: “My emails look so stunning that clients screenshot them to show their friends.”
Flodesk Strengths:
Gorgeous Templates: Hands down the most beautiful email templates available
Intuitive Design: Drag-and-drop editor that's actually enjoyable to use
Flat-Rate Pricing: Same price regardless of list size (great for growing lists!)
Instagram Integration: Easy to pull in your Instagram content
Mobile-Perfect: Templates automatically look great on phones
Perfect for: Visual creatives who want their emails to be as beautiful as their work.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit): The Creator's Powerhouse
What Our Designers Love: “The automation capabilities are incredible—I can create complex sequences that nurture leads automatically.”
Kit Strengths:
Advanced Automation: Create sophisticated email sequences and workflows
Powerful Segmentation: Tag and segment subscribers based on behavior
Creator-Focused: Built specifically for creators and online business owners
Landing Page Builder: Create beautiful landing pages for lead magnets
Commerce Features: Sell digital products directly through email
Perfect for: Designers who want to create complex email funnels and sell digital products.
Our Take: Choose Flodesk if visual appeal is your top priority and you want something simple but stunning. Choose Kit if you want powerful automation and plan to sell digital products or courses.
How to Choose the Right Tools for Your Showit Business
Feeling overwhelmed by all these options? Here's how our most successful Design Partners approach tool selection:
Start with Your Biggest Pain Point
What's currently taking up too much of your time or causing the most frustration? Start there.
Consider Your Business Stage
- Just starting out? Focus on the essentials: a client management system and email marketing tool.
- Growing quickly? Add project management and automation tools.
- Scaling up? Invest in advanced tools that save significant time.
Think Integration
Choose tools that work well together. Many of these tools integrate with each other, creating a seamless workflow.
Budget Wisely
Many of these tools offer free plans or trials. Start free, then upgrade as your business grows.
The Designer's Ultimate Toolkit Setup
If you're ready to go all-in, here's the dream toolkit our top Design Partners recommend:
For Client Management: HoneyBook or Dubsado For Project Planning: Moxie + Adobe XD or Figma For Image Optimization: Pixresize For Client Training: Komodo Decks For Email Marketing: Flodesk or Kit For Lead Capture: BDOW!
Total monthly investment: $100-200 for a toolkit that can help you 10x your efficiency and professionalism.
Your Next Steps: Building Your Designer Toolkit
Ready to start building your own designer-approved toolkit? Here's your action plan:
This Week:
- Identify your biggest business challenge from the list above
- Sign up for a free trial of the recommended tool
- Spend 30 minutes setting it up and testing it out
Next Week:
- If the tool is working, commit to using it for all relevant tasks
- Start looking at your next biggest challenge
- Begin researching the recommended tools for that area
Within a Month:
- Have 2-3 core tools integrated into your workflow
- Start seeing time savings and improved client experience
- Plan your next tool additions based on business growth
The Bottom Line: Tools That Work as Hard as You Do
Here's what we've learned from watching hundreds of successful Design Partners: the right tools don't just make your work easier—they make your entire business more professional, more profitable, and more enjoyable to run.
When you have systems that handle the routine stuff automatically, you get to spend more time on what you love: creating beautiful Showit websites that wow your clients.
And honestly? Your clients notice the difference. When your communications are polished, your process is smooth, and your deliverables are on time, you stop being just another designer and start being the obvious choice for anyone wanting a stunning Showit site.
The designers in our community who use these tools consistently book higher-paying clients, have smoother project workflows, and actually enjoy running their businesses more. Not bad for a few monthly subscriptions, right?
So what do you say—ready to build your designer-approved toolkit and take your Showit business to the next level?
Want to see these tools in action on real Showit websites? Browse our Design Partner gallery to explore stunning sites created by designers who use these exact tools daily. And if you're ready to build your own show-stopping site, start your free Showit trial today! Your perfect website is just a few clicks away!
