You just discovered a gem of a creator, and you want to keep up with everything they do. But with so many platforms and algorithms, it’s easy to miss their latest posts. That’s where this list comes in. We’ve scoured the web to find underrated tools that help you save, organize, and never miss a beat from the creators you love. Whether you’re a superfan, a curator, or just someone who wants to stay in the loop, these hidden gems will change the way you follow and support your favorite voices online.
Table of Contents(Click to Toggle)
- Why you must explore hidden-gem tools for following creators
- 1. Linktree : The Original Link-in-Bio Tool
- 2. Koji : Link-in-Bio with Interactive Apps
- 3. Carrd : Simple, One-Page Sites
- 4. Beacons : All-in-One Creator Storefront
- 5. Gumroad : Sell Digital Products Directly
- 6. Ko-fi : Buy Me a Coffee with a Twist
- 7. Patreon : Membership Platform for Creators
- 8. Buy Me a Coffee : Simple Donations
- 9. Substack : Newsletter with Paid Options
- 10. Revue : Twitter-Based Newsletters
- 11. Feedly : RSS Reader to Follow Any Site
- 12. Inoreader : Advanced RSS and News Aggregator
- 13. The Old Reader : Simple RSS with Social Features
- 14. Pocket : Save Articles for Later
- 15. Instapaper : Read It Later, Distraction-Free
- 16. Raindrop.io : Bookmark Manager with Collections
- 17. Wakelet : Curate and Share Collections
- 18. Notion : All-in-One Workspace for Organizing
- 19. Airtable : Spreadsheet-Database Hybrid for Tracking
- Bonus Mentions: More Ways to Support and Follow
- The Internet’s Best-Kept Secrets (So Far)
Why you must explore hidden-gem tools for following creators
Mainstream social media often hides the posts of the creators you care about, showing you ads and suggested content instead. But there’s a whole ecosystem of underrated tools designed to help you save, organize, and support your favorite creators without the noise. These tools let you take control of your online experience, ensuring you never miss an update, and often directly support the creator financially. Whether you’re a curator, a superfan, or just someone who wants to streamline your digital life, these hidden gems are worth your time.
1. Linktree : The Original Link-in-Bio Tool
What it is: A simple tool that lets creators put multiple links on a single page, perfect for their bio on Instagram, TikTok, and more.
Category: Link-in-bio
Why it stands out: It’s the pioneer of the link-in-bio trend, and it’s incredibly user-friendly. You can add unlimited links, customize the look, and even collect email addresses. Many creators use it to centralize their content, making it easy for you to find everything they offer in one place.
Best for: Anyone who wants a straightforward way to see all of a creator’s latest links without missing out.
2. Koji : Link-in-Bio with Interactive Apps
What it is: A link-in-bio platform that goes beyond simple links, offering mini-apps and interactive widgets.
Category: Link-in-bio
Why it stands out: Koji turns a simple bio link into an interactive experience. Creators can add games, polls, donation buttons, and even digital storefronts. For you, this means a more engaging way to support and interact with your favorite creators, all from one link.
Best for: Fans who want to engage with creators in fun, new ways beyond just clicking a link.
3. Carrd : Simple, One-Page Sites
What it is: A platform for building simple, responsive one-page websites, often used as a link-in-bio or mini-portfolio.
Category: Website builder
Why it stands out: Carrd is incredibly lightweight and fast. You can create a beautiful page with multiple sections, embed videos, and even sell products. It’s a favorite among creators who want full control over their page’s design without learning to code.
Best for: Creators and fans who appreciate minimalistic design and want a clean, fast-loading page to follow all links.
4. Beacons : All-in-One Creator Storefront
What it is: A link-in-bio tool that also offers email marketing, media kits, and even a storefront for digital products.
Category: Link-in-bio + storefront
Why it stands out: Beacons is designed specifically for creators, integrating with platforms like TikTok and YouTube to show your latest videos automatically. It also provides analytics, so creators know what you’re interested in. For you, it’s a one-stop shop to see everything a creator has to offer.
Best for: Supporting creators who sell merch or digital products and want to see all their offerings in one place.
5. Gumroad : Sell Digital Products Directly
What it is: A platform that allows creators to sell digital products like ebooks, courses, and memberships.
Category: E-commerce
Why it stands out: Gumroad is incredibly easy for creators to set up, and it handles payments, taxes, and delivery. For you, it’s a direct way to support a creator by purchasing their work, with the assurance that your money goes straight to them.
Best for: Buying exclusive content or digital products from creators you love.
6. Ko-fi : Buy Me a Coffee with a Twist
What it is: A platform that lets fans support creators with small donations, often as a “coffee” (a few dollars).
Category: Donations
Why it stands out: Ko-fi is known for its friendly vibe and low fees. Creators can also sell digital products and offer memberships. For you, it’s a simple, no-pressure way to show appreciation for a creator’s work.
Best for: Supporting creators with small, one-time or recurring donations.
7. Patreon : Membership Platform for Creators
What it is: A membership platform that allows creators to offer exclusive content and experiences to paying subscribers.
Category: Membership
Why it stands out: Patreon is the go-to for creators who want a steady income. It offers tiered memberships, so you can choose your level of support and get perks like early access, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive posts.
Best for: Superfans who want to dive deeper into a creator’s world and get exclusive perks.
8. Buy Me a Coffee : Simple Donations
What it is: A simple donation platform that lets fans support creators with a one-time or monthly “coffee”.
Category: Donations
Why it stands out: It’s incredibly straightforward, with no monthly fees for creators. You can leave a tip and a message, making it a personal way to say thanks.
Best for: Quick, easy support without the commitment of a membership.
9. Substack : Newsletter with Paid Options
What it is: A platform for writing and sending newsletters, with options for free and paid subscriptions.
Category: Newsletter
Why it stands out: Substack has become a hub for independent writers and journalists. You can subscribe for free or pay for premium content. It’s a great way to follow a creator’s long-form thoughts and essays directly in your inbox.
Best for: Following writers and thinkers who share in-depth content regularly.
10. Revue : Twitter-Based Newsletters
What it is: A newsletter tool that integrates directly with Twitter, allowing you to curate tweets into a newsletter.
Category: Newsletter
Why it stands out: Revue is perfect for following Twitter creators who want to send a digest of their best tweets. It’s now part of Twitter, so it’s seamless. You can subscribe to get a curated roundup of a creator’s content without missing out.
Best for: Twitter enthusiasts who want a digest of their favorite accounts’ tweets.
11. Feedly : RSS Reader to Follow Any Site
What it is: An RSS reader that lets you aggregate feeds from any website or blog.
Category: RSS reader
Why it stands out: Feedly is a powerful tool that lets you follow any site that has an RSS feed, including blogs, news sites, and YouTube channels. You can organize feeds into collections and never miss a post. It’s a great way to support creators by reading their content directly.
Best for: Keeping up with multiple blogs and websites in one place.
12. Inoreader : Advanced RSS and News Aggregator
What it is: A feature-rich RSS reader with advanced filtering, search, and automation capabilities.
Category: RSS reader
Why it stands out: Inoreader goes beyond basic RSS with features like rules, tags, and even monitoring keywords. It’s perfect for power users who want to automate their content consumption. You can follow creators and get alerts for specific topics.
Best for: Tech-savvy users who want granular control over their feeds.
13. The Old Reader : Simple RSS with Social Features
What it is: A free RSS reader that emphasizes social sharing and community.
Category: RSS reader
Why it stands out: The Old Reader is simple, fast, and has a social aspect where you can share articles with friends. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the Google Reader days, and it’s great for following creators and sharing their content.
Best for: Those who miss the old-school RSS experience and want a no-frills reader.
14. Pocket : Save Articles for Later
What it is: A read-it-later service that lets you save articles, videos, and more to view later.
Category: Bookmarking
Why it stands out: Pocket is great for saving content from creators you follow, so you can read or watch it when you have time. It integrates with many apps and offers a clean reading experience with tags and recommendations.
Best for: Saving long-form content to enjoy offline or later.
15. Instapaper : Read It Later, Distraction-Free
What it is: Another read-it-later service focused on a distraction-free reading experience.
Category: Bookmarking
Why it stands out: Instapaper offers a clean, typography-focused reading view, plus text-to-speech. You can save articles from any creator’s blog and read them without ads or clutter. It’s perfect for deep reading.
Best for: Readers who want a minimal, focused way to consume saved content.
16. Raindrop.io : Bookmark Manager with Collections
What it is: A visual bookmark manager that lets you organize links into collections, tags, and even screenshots.
Category: Bookmarking
Why it stands out: Raindrop.io is visually stunning and allows you to save not just links but also images and videos. You can create collections for different creators or topics, making it easy to find everything later.
Best for: Curators who love organizing content visually.
17. Wakelet : Curate and Share Collections
What it is: A content curation platform where you can create collections of links, posts, and media from across the web.
Category: Curation
Why it stands out: Wakelet is perfect for following creators who curate content. You can see their collections, which often include their favorite links, articles, and videos. It’s a great way to discover new creators through the eyes of those you already follow.
Best for: Discovering curated content and following creators’ recommendations.
18. Notion : All-in-One Workspace for Organizing
What it is: A productivity tool that combines notes, databases, wikis, and task management.
Category: Productivity
Why it stands out: Many creators use Notion to share public pages with their resources, links, and recommendations. You can follow a creator’s Notion page to see their curated lists, templates, and more. It’s a flexible way to support and learn from them.
Best for: Following creators who share extensive resources or templates.
19. Airtable : Spreadsheet-Database Hybrid for Tracking
What it is: A hybrid of a spreadsheet and a database, allowing for powerful data organization and collaboration.
Category: Productivity
Why it stands out: Airtable is used by creators to share databases of resources, such as tools, books, or even community members. You can follow a creator’s public Airtable bases to access their curated lists and stay updated.
Best for: Accessing and interacting with structured data that creators share.
Bonus Mentions: More Ways to Support and Follow
Bonus: Linktree Alternatives : More Link-in-Bio Options
Beyond Linktree, there are other great link-in-bio tools like Bio.link, ContactInBio, and Campsite. Each offers unique features like analytics, custom domains, and different pricing models. They all help you consolidate a creator’s links, making it easier to follow them across platforms.
Bonus: Newsletter Platforms : More Ways to Get Email Updates
For creators who prefer email, platforms like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and Buttondown offer robust newsletter services. These tools allow creators to send beautiful newsletters, and you can subscribe to never miss an update.
Bonus: Bookmarking Tools : Additional Save-for-Later Options
If you’re looking for more bookmarking tools, check out Diigo for social bookmarking and Pocket (already mentioned) and Instapaper (also mentioned). These tools help you save and tag content for easy retrieval later.
Bonus: Social Media Management : Follow Creators Across Platforms
Tools like Buffer and Hootsuite are mainly for scheduling posts, but they also allow you to monitor multiple social media accounts in one dashboard. You can create streams to follow your favorite creators’ posts without missing any.
Bonus: Creator Discovery Platforms : Find New Creators to Support
Platforms like Product Hunt and Designer News are great for discovering new creators and tools. You can follow creators who launch products, and support them early on.
The Internet’s Best-Kept Secrets (So Far)
These underrated tools are just the tip of the iceberg. By using them, you can take control of your online experience and ensure you never miss a post from the creators you care about. Whether it’s through a link-in-bio, an RSS reader, or a bookmarking service, each tool offers a unique way to save and support the creators who enrich your feed. So go ahead, explore these hidden gems, and discover a more intentional way to follow your favorites.
Have you tried any of these tools? Or do you have a hidden gem of your own? Share your discoveries in the comments below!
