The AI Tools Stack I Use Daily (All Free or Under $20/Month)

I've tested over 50 AI tools in the past year. Most are overhyped. Here are the ones I actually use every single day, what I use them for, and why they're worth it. Tier 1: Daily Drivers (Free) Claude (Free Tier) Use for: Complex writing, analysis, code review, strategic thinking Why: Best at following nuanced instructions. When I need something done RIGHT, not just done fast. ChatGPT (Free Tier) Use for: Quick lookups, brainstorming, simple drafts Why: Fastest for simple tasks. Good mobile app for on-the-go. Perplexity (Free) Use for: Research with sources, fact-checking, competitive analysis Why: Gives citations. When I need to VERIFY information, not just generate it. Tier 2: Weekly Power Tools (Free) Gamma.app (Free) Use for: Presentations and pitch decks Why: Turns a text outline into a professional slide deck in 60 seconds. Canva AI (Free tier) Use for: Social media graphics, thumbnails Why: Magic Resize alone saves me 2 hours per week. Notion AI (Free with Notion) Use for: Meeti