AI tools with a free plan
Every tool we cover that has a lasting free plan, ranked by user rating within each category.
Customer messaging
Find my matchTools that answer customers on your website, WhatsApp and social media, often with an AI that handles common questions.
- Strong Users rate this channel well
- Limited Works, but weaker or only on higher plans
| Tool and who it suits | Channels | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio Small online stores and service businesses that want website chat with an AI that answers common questions. |
WebsiteWhatsAppInstagram & FacebookEmail |
4.7/5 590 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| ManyChat Brands and creators who sell through Instagram, WhatsApp or TikTok rather than a website. |
WhatsAppInstagram & FacebookEmail |
4.6/5 72 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Crisp Small teams that want low-cost website chat now and AI later, with a spending limit. |
WebsiteWhatsAppInstagram & FacebookEmail |
4.6/5 148 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Chatbase Businesses that mainly want an AI on their website that answers questions from their own documents. |
WebsiteWhatsAppInstagram & FacebookEmail |
4.3/5 73 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
Writing & content
Find my matchTools that draft or polish social posts, emails, ads and articles.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly Anyone who wants their own writing clearer and error-free, especially non-native English speakers. |
Yes Paid: from about $25/month |
4.7/5 7,225 reviews on Capterra (Grammarly Business) |
High |
| Rytr Tight budgets that need quick short-form copy. |
Yes Paid: from about $14/month |
4.6/5 18 reviews on Capterra |
Low |
| ChatGPT Anyone who wants one assistant that does a bit of everything, from emails to images. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 407 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Claude People who write a lot, work with long documents, or code. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 62 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Copy.ai Short marketing copy: social posts, emails and product descriptions. |
Yes Paid: from about $29/month |
4.4/5 67 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
Design & images
Find my matchTools for social graphics, flyers, logos, presentations and AI-generated images.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canva Almost anyone who needs good-looking social posts, flyers or slides fast. |
Yes Paid: from about $12/month |
4.7/5 13,459 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Gemini People who already live in Google apps and want a generous free plan. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.6/5 95 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Adobe Express Quick social graphics with Adobe-quality AI images at a low price. |
Yes Paid: from about $10/month |
4.6/5 1,244 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| ChatGPT Anyone who wants one assistant that does a bit of everything, from emails to images. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 407 reviews on Capterra |
High |
Automation & AI agents
Find my matchTools that connect your apps and do repetitive work for you, from copying data to handling follow-ups.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make Budget-conscious users who want powerful automations and don't mind some setup. |
Yes Paid: from about $9/month |
4.8/5 409 reviews on Capterra UK |
Medium |
| Zapier Non-technical people who want apps to talk to each other without code. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.7/5 3,083 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| n8n Technical users and teams who want full control and lower costs at scale. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.6/5 48 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
Money & revenue tracking
Find my matchBookkeeping and invoicing tools that track what comes in and goes out, so you always know where your revenue stands.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books Small businesses on a budget, especially in India, the Middle East and Asia. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 681 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Wave Freelancers and very small businesses in the US and Canada who want to start free. |
Yes Paid: from about $19/month |
4.4/5 17 reviews on Capterra |
Low |
Video editing & AI video
Find my matchTools for editing your own videos, adding captions, and creating videos from text or with AI presenters.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canva Almost anyone who needs good-looking social posts, flyers or slides fast. |
Yes Paid: from about $12/month |
4.7/5 13,459 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| HeyGen Marketers and creators who want AI presenter videos for social media and sales. |
Yes Paid: from about $29/month |
4.7/5 319 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Descript People making talking videos, tutorials and podcasts who want to edit by text. |
Yes Paid: from about $15/month |
4.6/5 183 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Synthesia Businesses making training, explainer or sales videos, especially in several languages. |
Yes Paid: from about $29/month |
4.6/5 314 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| InVideo AI Quick promotional and social videos made from a script, with little editing. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.5/5 417 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| CapCut Creators and small businesses making quick short-form videos for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
1.2/5 24 reviews on Trustpilot |
Low |
AI assistants
Find my matchGeneral AI assistants for writing, research, studying and everyday questions.
| Tool and who it suits | Free plan | User rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini People who already live in Google apps and want a generous free plan. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.6/5 95 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Microsoft Copilot People and businesses that work in Microsoft 365 every day. |
Yes Paid: from about $10/month |
4.5/5 28 reviews on Capterra (Microsoft 365 Copilot) |
Medium |
| ChatGPT Anyone who wants one assistant that does a bit of everything, from emails to images. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 407 reviews on Capterra |
High |
| Claude People who write a lot, work with long documents, or code. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.4/5 62 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
| Perplexity Research: anyone who wants answers with links to where they came from. |
Yes Paid: from about $20/month |
4.2/5 35 reviews on Capterra |
Medium |
Vetstak summarises what users report in public reviews. It isn't our personal opinion or professional advice, and some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Always confirm details with the tool's provider.