Search & discovery

Free tools and calculators

A small free tool that answers a question your buyers search for, with a link back to the product.

Cost
Free

Free to use. No paid tier is needed to list or post.

Verdict
slow burn

Slow burn: a useful tool earns links and search traffic over time.

Difficulty
Medium

Needs preparation, a review, or a steady habit before results.

Effort
High

About 10 or more hours a month, mostly during launches or a regular posting habit.

First result
2 to 4 months

A rough range for one person working on it part-time.

Payoff
Compounds

keeps growing while you keep at it.

Best for

Products that answer a number-based question.

Not for

Products that cannot offer a useful free tool.

Pros

  • Earns links and search traffic
  • Shows value at once

Cons

  • Takes time to build
  • Visitors may never upgrade

The full guide

Last verified 2026-10-30

Links checked 2026-10-30 · No website to check: this channel works by word of mouth or offline

01What it is and who is there

A free tool or calculator is a small, useful web page that answers a question your buyers search for, such as "pricing calculator" or "subject line tester". It brings search traffic and links from other sites, and shows your product's value at once. Visitors come for the tool; some then try the product.

02Cost and what you actually pay for

Hosting a small tool is often free or cheap. Your main cost is the time to build and maintain it.

03Is it right for you?

It fits SaaS, developer tools and consumer products with a related question that has a clear answer. It fits poorly for products where nothing useful can be offered for free. If no one searches for the tool's question, it will not bring traffic.

04Before you start

  • A search query with clear intent, such as "[thing] calculator".
  • A simple tool that works without sign-up.
  • A clear next step from the tool to your product.

05Step-by-step: how to distribute here

  1. Find a question your buyers search for that a tool can answer.
  2. Build the smallest useful version.
  3. Put it on its own page with a clear title and short explanation.
  4. Add a link to your product where it fits, such as "save this result in [product]".
  5. Share it in communities where people ask that question.
  6. Reach out to bloggers who write about the topic and might link to it.
  7. Improve it based on usage.

06What to post or submit

Page title:

Free [thing] calculator: [result] in seconds

Outreach email:

Hi [name], I saw your post on [topic]. I built a free [tool] that [does job], no sign-up. It might be useful for your readers: [link]. Happy to adjust it if something's missing.

07Common mistakes and do-nots

  • Do not hide the result behind sign-up.
  • Do not build a tool unrelated to your product.
  • Do not let it break and leave it broken.

08How to measure it

  • Track visits, tool uses and clicks to your product.
  • Track links in Search Console.
  • A realistic test: three to four months after launch.

09Time budget

  • Before: 8 to 30 hours to build.
  • Ongoing: 1 hour a month.

10Pair it with

11Sources

Sources