The only AI tools
worth your time.

The tool that started the modern AI era, and still the best all-around starting point. Excellent at writing, editing, explaining complex topics simply, and having genuinely useful back-and-forth conversations. If you only use one AI tool, make it this one.

The most underrated tool on this list. Think of it as a search engine that actually answers your question with cited sources, instead of giving you ten links to wade through. For research and fact-checking, it beats Google for most everyday tasks.

If you ever need to make anything visual, Canva is the answer. Its AI features let you generate images, write copy, and resize designs automatically — no design experience needed. The free tier is generous and the learning curve is nearly flat.

Grammarly has evolved from a spell-checker into a full AI writing assistant. It works everywhere you type — Gmail, Google Docs, Word, your browser — and quietly catches errors, suggests better phrasing, and flags tone issues in real time. Set it up once and forget about it.

Google's AI assistant, and the best alternative to ChatGPT if you're already in the Google ecosystem. Its biggest advantage is real-time web access on the free tier — it knows what happened yesterday. If you use Gmail or Google Docs regularly, the integration alone makes it worth trying.

YNAB isn't just an AI tool — it's the most effective personal budgeting app available, now with AI-powered features that help you understand your spending and plan ahead. People who stick with YNAB for 90 days save an average of $600 in their first two months. It has a 34-day free trial with no credit card required.

Powered by OpenAI's models and built directly into Windows and Microsoft Office. If you already live in Word, Excel, and Outlook, Copilot is the easiest way to add AI to your existing workflow — no new apps, no separate accounts. Just press the Copilot button.

Not an AI tool itself, but an essential companion if you care about privacy while using AI. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so your activity is harder to track, especially on public Wi-Fi. If you're entering sensitive information into AI tools — which we recommend against — a VPN adds a meaningful layer of protection.