AI tools.Less hype.
More help.
There are plenty of free and paid AI tools. Which one will actually help you? Here are the tools I use, a guide to what each one can do, and prompts you can try straight away.
Find the right toolAs of 15 October 2026 · A personal selection of tools.
Five areas to help you choose.
What do you want to get done?
Pick a starting point. You can combine tools when different parts of the job call for different strengths.
What do I use most?
ChatGPT & Codex.
I mainly use ChatGPT and Codex. I sometimes use Claude and Gemini for personal tasks. I tried Grok and found I reached my usage limit quickly.
GPT-6.1 Sol lets me handle more connected tasks in my own workflow. I also use files, skills, plugins and automations. Higgsfield is another tool I like for exploring image and video ideas.
My starting point: narrow the task → pick the relevant documents → draft → check sources and figures → improve the result.
That is my own experience. Try a small task of your own to see which plan and workflow suit you. GPT-6.1 Sol is documented for Work and Codex. Access depends on your account.
A clear brief.
A better start.
The model, application and plan each play a different role. The model generates the answer, the application adds tools and the plan sets the features and usage limits. More tokens do not necessarily mean you get more done.
Tokens are units the model processes, such as words or parts of words. An API lets other programs use a service. API usage is often billed separately from a chat subscription.
Say what you want to make
Give the goal, audience, material, format and limits. Ask the AI to flag missing information. Check important claims yourself.
Keep one topic together in a project
Projects group related chats, sources and instructions. They do not automatically have access to all your past conversations or files on your computer.
Write a handover before a break
Ask for a short summary of the goal, decisions, current state, open questions and next steps. Save it and bring it back when you resume, especially if you start a new chat. That way you have the important details to hand.
Save a useful workflow as a skill
A skill is a reusable set of instructions, for example for creating a website brief. It helps keep results consistent. You still need to check the work.
Connect the services you need
Apps and plugins can add tools and access to data. Before connecting one, check which files it can read and which actions it can take.
Automate a workflow you have tested
Test it manually before putting it on a schedule. Check the first results. Working with local files may require your computer to be on and the app to be running.
Seven tools.
Different strengths.
This guide draws on publicly documented features as of 15 October 2026. The profiles describe what the tools are used for. They do not measure quality, rank products, report user tests or give percentage scores. Features vary by plan, model and interface.
The levels describe areas of use and do not add up to an overall rating. Understanding images does not necessarily mean a tool can generate images or video.
Useful extra: Some features may help, though this is a secondary use in this comparison.Well suited: Publicly documented features cover typical tasks in this area.Core use: This is a main use of the product described.
ChatGPT & Codex
Free and paid plans
Chat helps with questions and drafts. Work tackles multi-step tasks using files and tools. Codex is particularly suited to technical work. Their capabilities overlap.
- Useful for
- Copy, research, spreadsheets and software tasks with oversight.
- What to check
- Verify sources, changes and results. Available models and usage depend on your account.
- Costs
- Free to start. Paid plans expand access and usage. The API is billed separately.
- Copy and ideas
- Core use
- Research and sources
- Core use
- Files and data
- Core use
- Code and workflows
- Core use
- Images and video
- Well suited
Data use and sources for ChatGPT and Codex
Check the data controls. The commitment to exclude Business, Enterprise and Edu data from training by default does not apply across all personal paid plans.
Claude
Free and paid plans
A general-purpose assistant for writing, analysing files and developing software, with editable outputs and Artifacts.
- Useful for
- Edit copy, organise documents and discuss code.
- What to check
- Subscriptions still have usage limits. Long conversations and demanding tasks use more of the allowance.
- Costs
- Free to start. Pro, Max and business plans expand access.
- Copy and ideas
- Core use
- Research and sources
- Well suited
- Files and data
- Core use
- Code and workflows
- Core use
- Images and video
- Useful extra
Data use and sources for Claude
Personal account holders can opt out of training. Feedback and safety-related cases are exceptions. Data may be processed outside the EU.
Gemini
Free and paid plans
Google’s assistant offers Deep Research, Canvas, image features and integration with Google apps depending on the plan.
- Useful for
- Research and drafting with the relevant Google files.
- What to check
- A Google AI subscription, Workspace and developer access differ. Check the specific feature in your account.
- Costs
- Free to start. Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra expand access.
- Copy and ideas
- Well suited
- Research and sources
- Core use
- Files and data
- Core use
- Code and workflows
- Well suited
- Images and video
- Core use
Data use and sources for Gemini
For personal accounts, check the saved activity and model training settings. Google keeps temporary chats for 72 hours. Feedback follows separate rules.
Perplexity
Free and paid plans
Searches, gathers and explains information from the web, with links to sources. Model selection and features vary by plan.
- Useful for
- Get an overview, collect sources and compare claims.
- What to check
- Open the original source. A link alone does not show that the answer represents it accurately.
- Costs
- Basic search is free. Pro and Max expand features and limits. The API is billed separately.
- Copy and ideas
- Well suited
- Research and sources
- Core use
- Files and data
- Well suited
- Code and workflows
- Useful extra
- Images and video
- Useful extra
Data use and sources for Perplexity
AI Data Retention is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. If you switch it off, the change applies to data collected from then on.
DeepSeek
Free chat · paid API
Free chat, a separately billed API and open model weights for other hosting options.
- Useful for
- Logic tasks, coding and technical experiments.
- What to check
- Running the model yourself takes suitable hardware and maintenance. Chat and the API are separate services.
- Costs
- The official chat is free. The API is usage-based and self-hosting has running costs.
- Copy and ideas
- Well suited
- Research and sources
- Useful extra
- Files and data
- Well suited
- Code and workflows
- Core use
- Images and video
- Useful extra
Data use and sources for DeepSeek
The provider says its official service processes and stores personal data in China. For self-hosted model weights, data processing depends on the infrastructure you use.
Grok
Free and paid plans
A general-purpose chat with web and X search, file analysis, and image, video and voice features.
- Useful for
- Follow current debates and track topics.
- What to check
- Public posts are not reliable evidence on their own. Use of chat and media draws on a shared allowance that varies by task.
- Costs
- Limited free access. Paid plans expand the allowance.
- Copy and ideas
- Well suited
- Research and sources
- Core use
- Files and data
- Well suited
- Code and workflows
- Well suited
- Images and video
- Well suited
Data use and sources for Grok
Check Improve the Model and the separate X settings. The European privacy addendum says personal data is processed in the US.
Higgsfield
Free to start · credits
A creative platform with its own and third-party models, reference media, and image and video tools.
- Useful for
- Create variations on a subject, short clips and planned camera movements.
- What to check
- Check the details, rights and cost of each attempt. Unlimited use on the web does not cover agent integrations or the API.
- Costs
- Free to start, with access that varies. Image and video generation uses credits. The developer API is separate.
- Copy and ideas
- Useful extra
- Research and sources
- Useful extra
- Files and data
- Useful extra
- Code and workflows
- Useful extra
- Images and video
- Core use
Data use and sources for Higgsfield
The web terms allow training with media and prompts. Deleting them ends future training use but does not remove their influence from models already trained.
Which tool comes out on top?
Benchmarks measure specific tasks with specific models and settings. Artificial Analysis assesses language models among other things, while Arena collects human preferences. Image and video are assessed separately. These results do not give you one overall score for an entire AI subscription.
My tip is to check the model, date, task and method. Then try the same small task with the same material. What matters for your website is whether you can verify and use the result.
What makes a good prompt?
A clear brief.
Give the goal, context, material, limits, expected output and checks. Replace the square brackets in the templates with your details. Made-up data is enough for practice.
Turn your facts into a useful FAQ
I’m updating the website of a small business. Use the approved fact sheet below to write an FAQ for [audience]. The goal is to help visitors decide if the service suits them and see how to get in touch. Fact sheet: [Include only verified services, steps, contacts and terms here.] Write six questions with answers of 40–70 words each. Use clear, friendly and specific language. Use only the fact sheet. Do not invent prices, guarantees, certificates, reviews or commitments. If something is missing, mark it [TO CONFIRM]. Return a table with each question, answer and the part of the fact sheet it draws on. End with the points I still need to approve. Prepare a draft and do not publish it.
Turn rough notes into a website brief
Help me turn these notes into a concise website brief. The business provides [service] for [audience]. The website’s main goal is [goal]. Notes and approved sources: [Paste the material or name the files you have chosen to share.] Structure the draft around the goal, audience, key visitor questions, main message, pages needed, desired action, existing content and open decisions. Separate verified information from assumptions. Cite the exact source for each verified statement. Do not invent new commitments or customer claims. Ask up to five questions if the answers would substantially change the structure of the site. End with a short list of decisions I should make next. Do not edit or share any original files.
Refine an image idea before generating it
Develop three image ideas for the hero of a website about [offer]. Audience: [audience]. Desired impression: [e.g. approachable and calm]. Brand colours: [colours]. Format: [format], with space for a heading on the [left/right]. Required facts and permitted references: [material]. For each idea, describe the subject, composition, lighting, colours and how it supports the main message. Then give me a precise image prompt and say what to check in the result. Do not use third-party brands, real people or reference images without permission. Do not depict the team, rooms or product as real if they are invented. Leave text, logos and verified product details for the layout stage. Plan only. Do not start any paid generation. State your assumptions and your preferred idea for me to approve.
Less manual work.
Connect what you need.
Ideas for your next step. A useful integration starts with a clear goal, approved data and access permissions you have checked.
Make: sort incoming enquiries
Form submission → validated fields → draft brief → approval. You can start for free. Credits and connected AI services may cost extra.
When the integration gets stuck
A form was submitted but details are missing or the next step never happens? My automation guide covers 15 practical questions about Make, Zapier, KlickTipp and LeadTable, including how AI agents can help with setup and testing.
n8n: build a custom workflow
Sources → draft → validation rules → approval. Cloud hosting is paid, while you can self-host the Community edition. Allow for running costs, maintenance and AI usage.
Google Drive: bring project information together
Selected documents → open points → brief. Native Gemini features need a suitable plan. A connector to another AI service has its own permissions.
Canva: design with approved content
Approved copy → editable layouts → select and check readability. The free plan includes selected AI features. Other features depend on the plan.
WordPress: from draft to page
Checked FAQ → WordPress draft → preview → approval. Pasting it manually is often enough. Jetpack AI is optional and has a limited trial allowance.
You can write the first draft without installing a WordPress plugin. If your site itself is giving you trouble, the plugin guide covers the tools I use and some tips for using them.
AI agents. From asking to doing.
An AI model processes information and writes answers. An agent system adds tools and a workflow so it can plan tasks, work with files or use a browser. What it can actually do depends on the tools you connect and the permissions you grant.
Hermes: put together your own workflow.
Hermes lets you select models and providers for different jobs. It also offers tools such as web search, browser interaction and file handling. Allow for access, setup and any usage costs.
In my own experience, setting it up took several days. I found the command-line work especially involved. Something was often missing or a step behaved differently than expected, so getting started took time.
Can one AI ask another? It can through a browser.
With browser access, ChatGPT Work or Codex can use another AI’s web chat to enter a task, read the reply and work with the result. This worked in my first small tests with DeepSeek and Grok. It uses the service’s web interface, so sign-in, permissions, limits and the interface itself affect what works. Whether it is worth doing depends on the job.
Why I still use ChatGPT most.
For my work, I find it useful to have ChatGPT, Codex, plugins and reusable workflows together. It makes it relatively straightforward for me to set up and connect many of the tools I use. I also find the price fair for my use. Which option suits you depends on your tasks, your plan and how much setup you want to take on.
A few things to clear up.
Six questions that come up when you are getting started.
Do I need to pay to get started?
Usually you can try a small, typical task for free. A paid plan can be worthwhile if you regularly need more features or a larger allowance. Check the provider’s current plans.
Which AI tool is best?
It depends on the task and how you work. Try the same small task with the same materials and compare accuracy, usefulness and effort. The profiles here are a guide to what each tool can do.
Can I upload customer data?
First check permission, the contract, the plan, data controls and connected services. Use only what you need and anonymise examples wherever possible. A paid personal plan alone does not establish that an upload is permitted.
Can I use answers as they are?
Check sources, numbers, names and commitments. Ask for gaps to be marked. Review and approve the draft yourself before you publish or send it.
The same applies to code and layout. Compare the image positions, order and content against your reference. If the preview and description differ, check which saved file is actually open. Judge completion by the result you can see.
What is the difference between ChatGPT, Work and Codex?
Chat helps in conversation. Work handles larger tasks with files and tools. Codex provides developer tools particularly suited to software work. Their capabilities overlap and access depends on your account.
Can I maintain my website later with AI through chat or voice input?
Yes, for the areas we have set up for it. Describe your change to the chosen tool through chat or suitable voice input, then ask it to update the relevant code block. First back up the current version. Put the updated code into the agreed preview and check it before publishing. The proposal sets out the tools, guidance, preview, checks and rollback we agree on. We discuss larger redesigns or new features separately.
Where is this heading?
AI already goes beyond single answers. It can gather information, prepare drafts and work with tools as part of a workflow. Good source material, appropriate permissions and clear approval steps matter more as those workflows grow.
OpenAI introduced Dots, agents for ongoing work with a cloud computer and browser. Access is being rolled out gradually. According to the documentation at the time of writing, personal Pro accounts in Germany were initially excluded. Business Premium and Enterprise have separate rollouts and approval settings.
This guide is a snapshot as of 15 October 2026. Features, availability and prices can change. Use the linked provider documentation to check the details.
Have an idea?
Still working out how to use it?
If you want to use AI on your website or for a recurring task, tell me where you are losing time. We can work out which next step is worth taking.
Discuss your idea