My Favorite Lifetime Tools (and How They Keep My Spark Sandbox Free)
The Magic of Lifetime Tools
First, what do I mean when I talk about my sandbox? It’s an open, playful space where I can try things, make a mess, and see what sparks. That’s exactly how I want my creative business to feel: expansive, experimental, and free.
But there’s one thing that can kill the playfulness fast: monthly subscription fees.
Every tool wants $19 here, $29 there, $59 if you “grow too big.” Suddenly, your sandbox starts to feel more like quicksand. (hey- any other Gen Xers who grew up terrified of quicksand???)
That’s why I’m obsessed with lifetime tools. You pay once, you own it, and you get to play forever. No pressure to “use it enough” each month to justify the cost. No feeling of impending doom waiting for all the monthy bills to hit you at once, especially when you are just starting out. Just freedom.
My Favorite Lifetime Tools
Here are the tools that make my sandbox feel extra sparkly:
Note: all links below are my affilitat links which means I will earn a small commission if you click and purchase. THANK YOU!
✨ Teachery
Teachery is where I build my hubs, kits, and courses. It’s simple, flexible, and I never have to stress about hidden fees. Once I bought in, it became a home for my ideas- no strings attached.
Plus it’s a platform created by a couple, Jason and Caroline, who put a lot of thought into it, continue to improve it, and have plans to cap it to a comfortable number of users.
or read more about why I chose Teachery.
🎨 Artistly
Ignore the cheesy marketing these guys put out, because Artistly is a hidden gem. I use it for social media images, book covers, Pinterest graphics, t-shirt mockups, coloring book pages, and playful experiments. Almost all of the visuals you see on Following Sparks come from Artistly. Pay once, play forever.
📅 Agile Assets
This is my social media scheduler, and I got it through a lifetime deal. I love knowing I can batch schedule and experiment without a monthly bill breathing down my neck. It’s got a fun, quirky user interface, is easy to use, and has very personable customer service. It was created by a wonderful woman who uses it for her own business as a social media manager, so it is thoughfully built.
Get the $49 lifetime deal while it is still available on AppSumo.
📚 Tangent Templates
If you’re creating journals or books for KDP, Tangent Templates is the gold standard. One payment, and you get a toolbox full of templates and resources that keep on giving.
Katheryn does not have an official affiliate program, but let’s me share the lifetime deal via her Gumroad page.
🌈 Imagine
This is technically a coloring book course. But, just it is so much more. From the same creators of Tangent Templates, Imagine is a course that just keeps growing. I purchased because of the low, lifetime cost even though I only needed a couple of specific images. Katheryn and Isac (the creators) give and give and then give some more. They run their business as their own spark sandbox and chase their joy vs chasing your money.
Apart from the course, Imagine includes an image editor that is MAGIC for black and white images.
Check out Imagine lifetime deal.
Almost-Lifetime: Flodesk
While Flodesk isn’t a lifetime tool, it deserves a special mention. They’re currently locking in their unlimited plan until the end of November 2025. After that, their pricing will shift to tiered plans based on subscriber count.
I jumped on the annual plan early, and it felt like an investment in myself—like I was telling myself, “I believe in what I’m building.” Even though it’s not technically lifetime, it gives me the same sense of stability.
Get your first year at 50% off AND lock in the unlimited pricing plan.
Why Lifetime Tools Spark So Much Joy
No Pressure: I can experiment wildly without guilt. If I use a tool daily, great. If I forget it for a month, no panic over wasted fees.
True Sandbox Energy: Lifetime tools let me follow sparks wherever they lead. I don’t have to ask, “Am I using this enough?” I just get to play.
Future-Proofing: Prices go up, plans change, but once you’ve got your lifetime access, you’re set.
Creative Confidence: Every lifetime tool I’ve invested in has been a reminder to myself: I’m serious about building this, and I’m giving myself the resources to succeed.
Monthly Sighs of Relief: no more distress about all of the recurring monthly charges rolling in like clockwork.
Final Thoughts
For me, lifetime tools are about more than saving money. They’re about protecting the freedom to create, explore, and grow without a clock ticking in the background.
If you’re building your own creative business, I can’t recommend them enough. They make my Spark Sandbox feel wide open, playful, and sustainable.
You can see all of my favorite tools (lifetime and otherwise) here: followingsparks.com/tools
