Articles
Choosing tools
How to decide which AI tools are worth your money and your time.
Choosing toolsHow to choose AI tools for your businessA five-step framework: name the repeated task, quantify the hours, check it reaches your existing tools, trial it on real work, then measure again at two weeks.Choosing toolsAI tools for solopreneurs and freelancersThe four AI categories that matter for a one-person business — scheduling, client comms, notes and invoicing — with real 2026 prices and honest failure rates.Choosing toolsHow much do AI tools cost for a small business?Published 2026 prices for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Notion, Otter and Zapier, plus the per-seat and annual-billing maths that inflates the bill.Choosing toolsIs AI actually worth it for a small business?Sometimes. AI reliably pays back on repetitive text work and reliably disappoints on judgement calls. Here is the research on which is which, without the hype.Choosing toolsDo you need an AI consultant?Often the honest answer is no. When sorting out your own AI tools is fine, when outside help actually pays, and what to watch for in a crowded market.Choosing toolsFree vs paid AI tools: what is worth paying for?Where an AI tool's free tier is genuinely enough, where it quietly costs you more than the subscription, and the four axes worth paying to upgrade.