Best Tools of 2024: Jeremy Caplan’s Top Picks

Jeremy Caplan, a well-known explorer of productivity and creativity tools, has shared his favorite discoveries of 2024. After testing hundreds of new tools, Caplan narrowed his list to 12 game-changers that stand out for their practical application, ease of use, and accessibility. These tools empower users to search smarter, design better, streamline collaboration, and even create software without technical expertise. Here’s a quick dive into his favorites.

Top Picks for Research and Writing

1. Perplexity - A smarter way to search the web. It delivers concise, citation-backed answers, helping users skip the clutter of traditional search engines.
2. NotebookLM - Apply AI to your notes and documents, gaining insights with a focus on accuracy and citation-backed connections. Perfect for research-heavy tasks.
3. Lex - A writing assistant designed to improve clarity and precision, making it an essential tool for editing and refining any text.

Design and Media

1. Ideogram AI - Create professional posters, graphics, and illustrations effortlessly, enhancing presentations and social media posts.
2. Craft - With the release of Version 3, Craft allows users to create polished reports, guides, and handouts without needing design expertise.
3. Descript - A transformative tool for editing audio and video content as if you’re working with a text document, ideal for podcast creators and video editors.
4. Napkin - Turn ideas and frameworks into clean infographics with ease, perfect for visualizing data or brainstorming concepts.

Collaboration and Meetings

1. Fathom - Revolutionize meeting follow-ups with AI-generated summaries and timestamped highlights, making collaboration more efficient.
2. Butter Scenes - Interactive online workshops are a breeze with Butter, enabling dynamic teaching and audience engagement with ease.

Code-Free Creativity

1. Claude Projects - A standout for ongoing, complex projects. Upload relevant files and receive context-aware assistance throughout the process.
2. Windsurf Cascade - Build apps and games without any coding knowledge. Caplan highlights its ease of use and creative potential.

Discover, Comment, and Share
Caplan encourages readers to try these tools and share their own favorites. Whether you’re a creative professional, educator, or entrepreneur, his recommendations promise to streamline workflows and spark innovation.

About
Jeremy Caplan is an educator, writer, and expert in productivity and technology tools. He is widely recognized for exploring and sharing innovative solutions that help people work more efficiently and creatively. Caplan serves as the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, where he helps journalists and media professionals integrate modern tools into their workflows. He is also known for his newsletter, “Wonder Tools”, where he curates and reviews tools for productivity, design, and creative endeavors. His work emphasizes practical applications, making complex tools accessible to a wide audience.