I’ve spent the last few months testing just about every AI tool that matters — chatbots, video generators, writing helpers, the works. Some were genuinely useful. Most were hype. This page is my shortlist: the tools I’d actually recommend to a friend, with links to our hands-on guides for each one.
| Tool | What it does | Price | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Best all-round AI chatbot | Free / $20/mo | ChatGPT guides |
| Claude | Best for long writing | Free / $20/mo | Claude comparison |
| Gemini | Best Google integration | Free / $20/mo | Gemini comparison |
| Perplexity | Best AI search engine | Free / $20/mo | AI search guide |
| Runway | Best AI video generator | From $12/mo | Video generators compared |
| Pika | Easiest video generator | Free / $10/mo | Video generators compared |
| Kling | Best realistic video | Free / $10/mo | Video generators compared |
| NotebookLM | Best research assistant | Free | NotebookLM guide |
| Grammarly | Best writing checker | Free / $12/mo | Email productivity guide |
Best AI Chatbots
ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini compared side by side — these are the three chatbots that actually earn their keep in day-to-day work. We tested each on writing, research, and everyday questions — read our full breakdown: ChatGPT Plus vs Claude Pro vs Gemini Advanced.
Best AI Video Generators
Runway, Pika, Kling, and Veo tested — we put the leading AI video generators through their paces to see which ones are genuinely useful. Our results, strengths and weaknesses, and what each one is best at — see: AI Video Generators Compared.
Best AI Tools for Freelancers
These are the prompts and workflows that win clients — from proposals to portfolio pieces, small AI wins add up to real income. Our practical guide walks through seven of them — see: ChatGPT for Freelancers: 7 Prompts That Win Clients.
Best AI Productivity Workflows
Cut email time, smarter meetings — a few small AI workflows made a big dent in my daily busywork. Here’s the exact system I use — see: How I Cut My Email Time in Half With AI.
This list gets updated as we test new tools. Got one we should try? Reach out via our contact page.