AppSumo Black Friday 2024: Complete Tool Rankings and Tier List
Discover which AppSumo Black Friday deals are worth your money with this comprehensive tier list ranking of 35 thoroughly tested tools and alternatives.
For the second year running, I've created a comprehensive tier list ranking every AppSumo Black Friday deal. But this year, I went all in - spending the last two weeks thoroughly testing all 35 tools to provide you with detailed insights and recommendations.
Introduction [00:00]
As someone who reviews lifetime deals daily, I wanted to wrap up this Black Friday season by sharing my thoughts on every tool AppSumo released. While I usually score tools from 0-10, this tier list takes a different approach by comparing tools against each other using S, A, B, C, and D tiers.
Create your own TierList with my template!
How it Works [00:38]
The tier system breaks down as follows:
- S Tier: Elite tools that stand out from the pack
- A Tier: Excellent tools with strong features and value
- B Tier: Solid tools that serve their purpose well
- C Tier: Average tools with room for improvement
- D Tier: Tools that need significant work
Albato [00:56]
Albato landed in C tier. While it's a capable Zapier alternative, its technical nature makes it more challenging to use than similar tools. It's best suited for developers who need additional power and flexibility, but the average user might find it overwhelming.
Afforai [01:13]
This AI research assistant earned a solid B tier ranking. What stands out about Afforai is its focused approach - rather than trying to do everything, it concentrates on helping academic researchers and knowledge workers organize their thoughts effectively. Its streamlined feature set is actually a benefit, preventing the bloat that often plagues similar tools.
BeHuman AI and BeHuman Persona [01:34]
Both BeHuman tools landed in D tier, making them some of the most challenging tools to review during Black Friday. My experience was marked by technical difficulties and inconsistent performance. While these tools showed promise in their early days, recent user feedback suggests ongoing reliability issues. The technical outages and spotty functionality made it difficult to recommend either tool.
Boost.Space [02:21]
Earning an S tier ranking, Boost.Space impressed me with its unique approach to automation. What sets it apart is its built-in database functionality, allowing for more complex workflows than standard automation tools. While it's definitely a technical tool that requires some learning, the power it offers makes it worth the effort. There are rumors that it's connected to make.com, which might explain its robust integration capabilities.
Brilliant Directories [02:56]
Landing in B tier, Brilliant Directories offers a solid solution for creating directory websites or membership communities. While the interface might feel slightly dated, it's intuitive enough for most users to navigate. It's particularly well-suited for projects like local business directories or professional networking sites.
DepositPhotos [03:28]
Securing an A tier position, DepositPhotos remains a reliable choice for stock photos. Even in the age of AI-generated images, traditional stock photography maintains its value for professional use. The deal has become a Black Friday tradition, and for good reason - it consistently delivers high-quality assets at an excellent value.
ElementsKit [03:59]
This Elementor add-on pack earned a B tier ranking. While it offers extensive functionality for WordPress websites, I lean toward a minimalist approach with Elementor. The key is using such packs sparingly, enabling only the specific modules you need rather than loading everything at once.
Fable [04:39]
Landing in C tier, Fable's screen recording and documentation tool showed promise but fell short in some areas. While the core functionality works, the user interface feels dated compared to competitors. For tools that create customer-facing content, the aesthetic appeal matters more than usual, as it impacts user trust and engagement.
AppSumo Black Friday 2024: Complete Tool Rankings and Tier List
For the second year running, I've created a comprehensive tier list ranking every AppSumo Black Friday deal. But this year, I went all in - spending the last two weeks thoroughly testing all 35 tools to provide you with detailed insights and recommendations.
Introduction [00:00]
As someone who reviews lifetime deals daily, I wanted to wrap up this Black Friday season by sharing my thoughts on every tool AppSumo released. While I usually score tools from 0-10, this tier list takes a different approach by comparing tools against each other using S, A, B, C, and D tiers.
How it Works [00:38]
The tier system breaks down as follows:
- S Tier: Elite tools that stand out from the pack
- A Tier: Excellent tools with strong features and value
- B Tier: Solid tools that serve their purpose well
- C Tier: Average tools with room for improvement
- D Tier: Tools that need significant work
Albato [00:56]
Albato landed in C tier. While it's a capable Zapier alternative, its technical nature makes it more challenging to use than similar tools. It's best suited for developers who need additional power and flexibility, but the average user might find it overwhelming.
Afforai [01:13]
This AI research assistant earned a solid B tier ranking. What stands out about Afforai is its focused approach - rather than trying to do everything, it concentrates on helping academic researchers and knowledge workers organize their thoughts effectively. Its streamlined feature set is actually a benefit, preventing the bloat that often plagues similar tools.
BeHuman AI and BeHuman Persona [01:34]
Both BeHuman tools landed in D tier, making them some of the most challenging tools to review during Black Friday. My experience was marked by technical difficulties and inconsistent performance. While these tools showed promise in their early days, recent user feedback suggests ongoing reliability issues. The technical outages and spotty functionality made it difficult to recommend either tool.
Boost.Space [02:21]
Earning an S tier ranking, Boost.Space impressed me with its unique approach to automation. What sets it apart is its built-in database functionality, allowing for more complex workflows than standard automation tools. While it's definitely a technical tool that requires some learning, the power it offers makes it worth the effort. There are rumors that it's connected to make.com, which might explain its robust integration capabilities.
Brilliant Directories [02:56]
Landing in B tier, Brilliant Directories offers a solid solution for creating directory websites or membership communities. While the interface might feel slightly dated, it's intuitive enough for most users to navigate. It's particularly well-suited for projects like local business directories or professional networking sites.
DepositPhotos [03:28]
Securing an A tier position, DepositPhotos remains a reliable choice for stock photos. Even in the age of AI-generated images, traditional stock photography maintains its value for professional use. The deal has become a Black Friday tradition, and for good reason - it consistently delivers high-quality assets at an excellent value.
ElementsKit [03:59]
This Elementor add-on pack earned a B tier ranking. While it offers extensive functionality for WordPress websites, I lean toward a minimalist approach with Elementor. The key is using such packs sparingly, enabling only the specific modules you need rather than loading everything at once.
Fable [04:39]
Landing in C tier, Fable's screen recording and documentation tool showed promise but fell short in some areas. While the core functionality works, the user interface feels dated compared to competitors. For tools that create customer-facing content, the aesthetic appeal matters more than usual, as it impacts user trust and engagement.
GetSales [05:30]
Earning an A tier ranking, GetSales stood out among the cold outreach tools offered during Black Friday. Its powerful LinkedIn automation capabilities combined with an extensive B2B directory make it a comprehensive solution for lead generation. The ability to find leads without relying solely on LinkedIn gives it a significant advantage over competitors.
Gumlet Video [05:58]
Securing a B tier position, Gumlet offers impressive video hosting capabilities with features rivaling YouTube's functionality. The platform allows you to create your own channel complete with playlists and subscribe buttons. However, the decision to reserve 4K video capabilities for higher-tier plans felt restrictive in 2024, preventing it from reaching A tier status.
LaunchCart [07:08]
Placed in C tier, LaunchCart presents an interesting case as an e-commerce platform. While it offers comprehensive features and agency-friendly lifetime pricing, two major concerns affected its ranking. The interface design feels dated, and there are inherent risks in committing to a lifetime deal for e-commerce hosting with a newer provider rather than established platforms like Shopify.
LayerPath [08:27]
Achieving an A tier ranking, LayerPath improves upon the concept introduced by Fable. Its more aesthetically pleasing interface and additional features like AI voiceover make it a stronger contender in the documentation tool space. Minor issues with PDF exports and occasional saving inconsistencies prevented it from reaching S tier status.
Mailead [09:22]
Landing in B tier, Mailead focuses specifically on cold email outreach, distinguishing itself from broader tools like GetSales. Its generous usage limits and one-time pricing model make it an attractive alternative to monthly subscription services that typically cost $49-$99 per user. The integration with Task Magic adds valuable functionality for users needing both services.
Merlin [10:32]
Securing an A tier position, Merlin surprised me with its comprehensive AI capabilities. What sets it apart is its seamless integration with platforms like YouTube, Medium, LinkedIn, and Twitter, providing AI assistance that feels native to each platform. This implementation demonstrates how AI should be integrated into existing workflows.
Minvo [11:37]
Earning a B tier ranking, Minvo specializes in transforming long-form content into shorts. While it performs well for certain content types, I found its effectiveness limited for screen recording content with talking head segments. The tool shows promise but may require manual adjustments depending on your content style.
NeuronWriter [12:47]
Placed in A tier, NeuronWriter continues to prove its worth as an AI-assisted SEO tool. Its strength lies in optimizing existing content rather than generating it from scratch. The tool excels at helping with semantics and keyword optimization, making it particularly valuable for content teams focused on SEO performance.
Nowa [13:48]
Landing in C tier, Nowa offers no-code app development using Flutter. While the concept is promising and the implementation is solid, the output's non-native feel impacts the user experience. For those prioritizing native app experiences, this limitation might be significant despite the tool's otherwise capable features.
NytroSEO [15:08]
Earning a B tier position, NytroSEO provides dynamic metadata optimization for websites. While effective as a temporary solution, its reliance on third-party scripts for core SEO elements raises some concerns. It's best used as a diagnostic tool and temporary fix rather than a permanent solution for metadata management.
ZooTools [16:41]
Placed in C tier, ZooTools impresses with its beautiful design but falls short on functionality for newsletter management. The tool shows potential but needs feature expansion to compete effectively in the email marketing space. Its aesthetic appeal suggests a strong foundation for future development.
Trafft [17:07]
Achieving an A tier ranking, Trafft stands out in the appointment booking space by catering to service-based businesses. Its specialized features for handling in-person and group appointments make it an excellent alternative to expensive industry-standard solutions like MindBody or Acuity Scheduling.
Squirrly SEO [17:50]
Landing in B tier, Squirrly SEO offers comprehensive WordPress SEO functionality enhanced by AI capabilities. While powerful, its complex interface and menu structure can be challenging for users. The tool delivers strong features but requires dedication to master its full potential.
TaskMagic [18:44]
Placed in C tier, TaskMagic's ranking was influenced by limited trial access to its full feature set. While the tool includes interesting capabilities like keyboard and mouse control automation, the inability to fully test these features during review impacted its assessment.
Remo [19:57]
Earning a B tier position, Remo offers an interesting take on virtual events with its skeuomorphic interface design. While the tool is well-executed, its timing relative to changing market demands for virtual events affected its ranking. The quality is there, but the market timing is challenging.
ReelCraft [20:60]
Securing a B tier ranking, ReelCraft impresses with its AI video generation capabilities. While the output quality is compelling, its usefulness depends heavily on brand identity and marketing strategy. It's particularly valuable for businesses comfortable with AI-generated content in their marketing mix.
VistaCreate [21:44]
Achieving S tier status, VistaCreate stands out for its exceptional value proposition. Offering unlimited access, team capabilities, and multi-brand support at a remarkably low price point makes it an outstanding choice for businesses needing reliable design capabilities.
TidyCal [22:24]
Earning S tier ranking, TidyCal demonstrates that AppSumo can create top-tier products. This calendar booking tool matches Calendly's functionality at a fraction of the lifetime cost. The addition of team features in tier two further enhances its value proposition.
ZeroWork [23:47]
Landing in B tier, ZeroWork impresses with its automation capabilities but serves a specific audience. While powerful for data scraping and social media automation, its specialized nature means it's best suited for users with specific data-driven growth strategies.
Eurekaa [25:28]
Placed in B tier, Eurekaa provides valuable structure for online course creation and research. While potentially overkill for single-course creators, it offers significant value for serial course creators or those needing extensive planning support.
OneTake [27:09]
Achieving C tier ranking, OneTake aims to automate video post-production but falls short of replacing traditional editing workflows. While the technology shows promise, it's not yet at the level where it can fully automate complex editing decisions.
Press Ranger [27:49]
Securing an A tier position, Press Ranger addresses the often-overlooked need for business publicity. Its combination of press release creation tools and publication placement services provides a valuable alternative to traditional outreach methods.
VideoTap [28:59]
Earning S tier status, VideoTap impressed with its comprehensive content repurposing capabilities. The tool automatically generates various content formats from video input, including social media posts, blog content, and metadata, making it an exceptional value for content creators.
SuperCopy [29:45]
Achieving A tier ranking, SuperCopy innovates in the AI copywriting space with its approach to storing and applying company and audience information. This persistent context makes it more efficient than tools requiring repeated setup for each generation.
Thoughtly [30:31]
Landing in B tier, Thoughtly showcases impressive AI phone call technology but faces practical implementation challenges. While the technology is remarkable, considerations about customer experience and disclosure requirements affect its immediate business applicability.
Straico [32:38]
Placed in B tier, Straico offers valuable multi-LLM capabilities but ranks slightly below similar tools like Merlin. While effective, it serves as a reminder that feature sets alone don't determine a tool's ultimate value to users.
Conclusion [33:06]
This Black Friday season demonstrated AppSumo's commitment to bringing valuable tools to their marketplace. Unlike last year's tier list where I ranked tools based on initial impressions, this year I invested significant time testing each tool thoroughly. The distribution across tiers shows a healthy mix of offerings, with standout performers like BoostSpace, TidyCal, and VideoTap earning S-tier status.
For those considering these deals, remember that even B-tier tools can be excellent choices depending on your specific needs. The rankings are relative to each other, and most tools showed solid functionality and value. The few exceptions, notably in the D tier, faced significant technical challenges that hopefully will be addressed in future updates.
The tier list template I used in the video is available for you to create your own rankings. I encourage you to share your perspectives and experiences with these tools - tag me and AppSumo in your social media posts to join the conversation.
