Kis.tools – A directory of tools that work
Hey HN! Tired of hitting "Sign up for free" buttons only to discover the real limitations after creating an account? Or finding a "free" tool that adds watermarks to everything? Yeah, me too. I'm building kis.tools, a curated directory of tools that: Work instantly - registration only when technically necessary, have genuine free functionality, keep interfaces clean and focused, process data locally when possible, keep promotional messages or ads minimal and unobtrusive Think of it as a home for tools like Eric Meyer's Color Blender (running since 2003!) - tools that do one thing, do it…
In plain words
Kis.tools is a curated directory of software tools that prioritize user experience over monetization. It features applications that work immediately without mandatory sign-ups, offer genuine free functionality without watermarks, maintain clean interfaces, and process data locally when possible. Each tool is personally tested and honestly described, including its limitations. The directory targets users frustrated with deceptive freemium models and seeks to highlight practical utilities that focus on doing one thing well rather than pushing subscriptions.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hey HN! Tired of hitting "Sign up for free" buttons only to discover the real limitations after creating an account? Or finding a "free" tool that adds watermarks to everything? Yeah, me too. I'm building kis.tools, a curated directory of tools that: Work instantly - registration only when technically necessary, have genuine free functionality, keep interfaces clean and focused, process data locally when possible, keep promotional messages or ads minimal and unobtrusive Think of it as a home for tools like Eric Meyer's Color Blender (running since 2003!) - tools that do one thing, do it well, and respect users enough to let them try before asking for anything in return. Every tool is personally tested and described honestly, including limitations. No marketing fluff, just straight talk about what works and what doesn't. Would love your feedback and tool suggestions, especially mobile apps - seems like every 'free' app nowadays sells its core functionality through in-app purchases.
More growth this month
the category →
AstraPixels▲267A pixel-art solar system at its real current positions.
Growth · 29d ago · astrapixels.com
Launched alongside, November 2024
the whole month →
- IB
I wasn't quite sure if this qualified as "Show HN" given you can't really download it and try it out. However, dang said[0]: > If it's hardware or something that's not so easy to try out over the internet, find a different way to show how it actually works—a video, for example, or a detailed post with photos. Hopefully I did that? Additionally, I've put code and a detailed guide for the netboot computer management setup on GitHub: https://github.com/kentonv/lanparty Anyway, if this shouldn't have been Show HN, I apologize! [0]…
Dev tools · 2024 · lanparty.house
