Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase at no extra cost to you from qualifying purchases. I only recommend tools I use or would confidently use myself.
Starter Stack (Most Used)
Camera:
Free: Your phone camera.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Canon+EOS+Rebel+T7+kit&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Full-Frame-Mirrorless-Interchangeable-Lens-ILCE7M3/dp/B07B43WPVK?tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sony+FX9+camera&tag=eadvice00-20
Lens:
Free: The lens on your phone camera.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00X8MRBCW?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=24-70mm+f2.8+GM+II&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cinema+zoom+lens&tag=eadvice00-20
Mic:
Free: The mic on your phone camera.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Microphones-Wireless-Channel-Microphone/dp/B08XFQ6KP9?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/Shure-Microphone-Podcasting-Voice-Isolating-Technology/dp/B08G7RG9ML?tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-MKH416-P48U3-Super-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00030679K?tag=eadvice00-20
Lights:
Free: The light on your phone camera.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=neewer+660+led+video+light+kit&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/Aputure-Daylight-Balanced-45000lux-Reflector/dp/B07H6BK5?tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=aputure+600d+pro&tag=eadvice00-20
Tripod:
Free: A chair, books, or anything you have handy that can prop up your camera.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-Befree-Advanced-Travel-Tripod/dp/B0772RZBGM?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sachtler+ace+xl+tripod&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=oconnor+tripod+head&tag=eadvice00-20
Teleprompter:
Free: https://cueprompter.com/
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Glide-Gear-TMP100-Adjustable-Teleprompter/dp/B019AJOLEM?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=padcaster+parrot+teleprompte&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=prompter+people+teleprompter&tag=eadvice00-20
Editing Computer (Optional):
Free: Your phone with an application for editing.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=refurbished+mac+mini+m1&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=macbook+pro+14+m3+pro&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mac+studio+m2+ultra&tag=eadvice00-20
SSD (Fast Storage):
Free: The storage on your phone.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=samsung+t7+portable+ssd&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=samsung+t9+portable+ssd&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=owc+thunderblade+ssd&tag=eadvice00-20
Backup Drive:
Free: Any cloud drive with storage. Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, etc.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wd+elements+portable+2tb&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Desktop-USB-3-0-8TB/dp/B07FNK6QMT?tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=synology+nas+8+bay&tag=eadvice00-20
Studio + Audio
Key Light:
Free: The light on your phone.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Key-Light-Air-app-adjustable/dp/B082QHRZFW?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nanlite+forza+300&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=astera+titan+tube+kit&tag=eadvice00-20
Fill / Practical Light:
Free: Any lamp or lighting in your environment… Including the sun.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=govee+smart+bulb&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nanlite+pavotube+30x&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=astera+helios+tube&tag=eadvice00-20
Lav Mic:
Free: The headphones you currently have with microphone access.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Lavalier-Professional-Wearable-Microphone/dp/B07WM65GTF?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sanken+cos-11d&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dpa+4060+lav&tag=eadvice00-20
Audio Interface:
Free: Your phones voice memo feature.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB?tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=focusrite+scarlett+2i&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=universal+audio+apollo+x8p&tag=eadvice00-20
Acoustic Treatment:
Free: Your mattress, blankets, pillows, etc.
Beginner: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=acoustic+foam+panels&tag=eadvice00-20
Intermediate: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rockwool+acoustic+panels&tag=eadvice00-20
Pro: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vicoustic+room+kit&tag=eadvice00-20
Editing + Post
Editing Software:
Free: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Beginner: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
Intermediate: https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/
Pro: https://www.avid.com/media-composer
Music / SFX library:
Free: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC/music
Beginner: https://www.epidemicsound.com/
Intermediate: https://artlist.io/
Pro: https://www.soundstripe.com/
Stock Footage:
Free: https://www.pexels.com/videos/
Beginner: https://www.videvo.net/
Intermediate: https://www.storyblocks.com/
Pro: https://www.gettyimages.com/
Thumbnail/Design Tool:
Free: https://www.canva.com/
Beginner: https://www.photopea.com/
Intermediate: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.htm
Pro: https://www.figma.com/
Platforms I Use
Website Hosting:
Free: https://pages.github.com/
Beginner: https://www.bluehost.com/
Intermediate: https://www.siteground.com/
Pro: https://wpengine.com
Email Marketing:
Free: https://www.mailerlite.com/
Beginner: https://kit.com/
Intermediate: https://www.activecampaign.com/
Pro: https://www.klaviyo.com/
E-commerce:
Free: https://gumroad.com/
Beginner: https://www.shopify.com/
Intermediate: https://woocommerce.com/
Pro: https://www.bigcommerce.com/
Payments:
Free: https://stripe.com/
Beginner: https://stripe.com/payments/payment-links
Intermediate: https://www.paypal.com/
Pro: https://www.adyen.com/
Scheduling:
Free: https://calendar.google.com/
Beginner: https://calendly.com/
Intermediate: https://savvycal.com
Pro: https://acuityscheduling.com/
Creator Tools
Keyword/SEO:
Free: https://trends.google.com/
Beginner: https://vidiq.com/
Intermediate: https://ahrefs.com/
Pro: https://www.semrush.com/
Design:
Free: https://www.canva.com/
Beginner: https://www.figma.com/
Intermediate: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html
Pro: https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d
Automation:
Free: https://zapier.com/
Beginner: https://zapier.com/
Intermediate: https://www.make.com/
Pro: https://n8n.io/