Cool web tools I've been bookmarking lately
I still install heavy apps for my main work, but I have been collecting lighter sites that solve one job well. Each of these earned a bookmark after I used it on a real task. Here are four I keep reopening.
| Tool | What I use it for | Install needed | The Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timezzon World Clock | Compare local times before I ping someone | No | No calendar sync |
| IT-Tools | Quick encodes, hashes, and format checks | No | UI can be overwhelming |
| Excalidraw | Sketches and flow diagrams | No | Laggy on huge files |
| Canvix | AI image editing and background removal | No | AI results vary |
Timezzon for teams spread across time zones
I coordinate with people in the US, Europe, and Australia. I got tired of typing "what time is it in Sydney" into a search box every time I wanted to schedule a call. Timezzon World Clock puts major cities on one page with live local times. I search the city list when I need something smaller than the default board.
It answers the boring question: is this hour reasonable for both of us. The site links to a converter and meeting planner if I need to go deeper, but most days I only need the clock grid. It uses the IANA timezone database, so it handles daylight-saving changes automatically, which is a relief during those messy transition weeks in March and October.
The drawback: It is a pure visualization tool. It doesn't integrate with your Google or Outlook calendar, so you still have to manually cross-reference your actual availability. If you need a tool that shows your "free/busy" status alongside these clocks, you might need a more heavy-duty meeting scheduler.
IT-Tools for small dev chores
I use IT-Tools when I want a JSON formatter and a Base64 encoder in the same place. It is an open-source aggregator of over 70 developer utilities, ranging from JWT debuggers and SQL formatters to Docker command generators and UUID creators. These one-off jobs come up often when I am debugging or writing docs.
Each tool loads fast and stays isolated. Because it is client-side only, none of the data you paste ever leaves your browser, which is a massive win for privacy. It has earned over 32,000 stars on GitHub, and you can even self-host it if you want total control over your toolchain. For local test strings and format cleanup, this site saves me from writing throwaway scripts.
The drawback: The sheer volume of tools can be overwhelming. The sidebar is packed, and while there is a search bar, it can sometimes take a second to remember exactly what a specific utility is called. It’s a "Swiss Army Knife" where you might only ever use three of the blades.
Excalidraw for diagrams that look human
When I need to explain a flow without writing a fifty-line message, I open Excalidraw. I sketch boxes and arrows in a hand-drawn style on an infinite canvas. It’s local-first and end-to-end encrypted, meaning your sketches are private by default. I can share a link for real-time collaboration or export an image, and the editor stays simple.
The community libraries are a hidden gem—you can pull in pre-made sets of icons for AWS, Kubernetes, or even wireframe components for mobile apps. It also has a great Obsidian plugin if you want to keep your visual notes alongside your text. For a quick sketch of how a request moves through three services, this is the right weight.
The drawback: Performance can take a hit on massive files. If you try to build a giant, high-fidelity system map with hundreds of elements, the browser might start to lag. It’s also a bit fiddly on tablets or phones if you don’t have a stylus; the touch precision isn't quite there for fine-grained adjustments.
Canvix for quick image edits
I use Canvix when I need to clean up an image or generate a quick asset without opening Photoshop. It is a specialized AI image editor that handles everything from prompt-based image generation to background removal. It includes a full layers panel, typography tools, and even an AI video generator to add motion to static designs.
I like that it exports to WebP, transparent PNGs, and even PDFs directly in the browser. It has a built-in search for free stock photos (via Pixabay) and a suite of "one-click" filters like cartoonify or upscaling. It is a lightweight way to handle thumbnails and social posts when I just need to get the file out the door.
The drawback: AI results can be a bit of a roll of the dice. While the background remover is solid, the prompt-based generation sometimes requires a few tries to get the lighting or composition exactly right. It’s great for quick iterations, but if you need pixel-perfect control over every AI-generated detail, you might still find yourself reaching for a dedicated prompt-engineering tool.