Tools directory
Find a useful starting point for writing, research, coding, creative work or automation. This is a selected directory, not an exhaustive list: each entry explains what a tool does, where it may fit and one trade-off worth considering.
Start with your task, not another subscription. Use the categories below, then follow our guides and published examples when you need more context.
Directory entries are researched summaries. A listing does not mean we have tested the tool. Where first-hand work is published, we link to the specific example or test.
Start with an assistant if you need ideas or structure; use an editing tool if the draft already exists. Try the tools you already have before adding a specialist subscription.
Use web research to discover sources, paper-search tools to find studies, or a source notebook to question documents you already have. Open the supporting material: a citation is a route to evidence, not proof by itself.
See Byte’s claim-by-claim evidence checkDecide what the finished output must do: an editable image, a downloadable voiceover, a presenter video or a repeatable workflow. Check export, usage limits and review steps before paying.
Search and category work together. Each tool has one primary category; search also includes related tasks and former names.
30 tools across 8 categories
Alphabetical within each category, not ranked by performance. “Visit” links open a new tab.
No tools match that search. Try a different term or category.
Looking for Udio? It is temporarily withheld from active recommendations while we reassess export availability. This does not mean the service has shut down. See the directory note.
Draft, explore ideas and work through questions. Check factual claims before relying on an answer.
A general-purpose assistant for drafting, exploring questions, working with files and creating images.
Access: Free plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — ChatGPT official sourceAnthropic’s assistant for working with documents, drafting text and getting help with code.
Access: Free plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Claude official sourceGoogle’s assistant for questions, drafting and work with supported Google apps.
Access: Free access; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Gemini official sourceMeta’s assistant for questions and creative tasks, available through its service and supported Meta apps.
Access: Core experience free; paid expanded usage.
Access checked — Meta AI official sourceCreate or edit visuals. Check the model, output controls and usage terms for your intended project.
Adobe’s creative service for generating and editing images and other media, with Adobe and partner models.
Access: Limited free access; paid plans.
Access checked — Adobe Firefly official sourceAn image-generation service for developing visuals from prompts and image references.
Access: Paid subscription.
Access checked — Midjourney official sourceModel family, rather than one hosted app.
A family of image-generation models that can run locally or through compatible hosted services.
Access: Model licence and hosting costs vary.
Access checked — Stable Diffusion official sourceGet help inside an editor or build a prototype. Generated code still needs review and testing.
An AI-oriented code editor with chat, assisted edits and agent workflows.
Coding assistance in supported editors and GitHub, including suggestions, chat and agent workflows.
Access: Limited free plan for individuals; paid upgrades.
Access checked — GitHub Copilot official sourceAn AI-assisted environment for building and running apps, with publishing and hosting features.
An AI coding assistant with documented private-deployment options for organisations.
Distinguish generated scenes from presenter videos: they solve different production problems.
A service for avatar videos, video translation and dubbing.
Access: Limited free plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — HeyGen official sourceA creative service for generating short videos and other media with selectable models and effects.
Access: Generation uses credits; paid plans or packs.
Access checked — Pika official sourceA creative service for generating and editing video and other media.
Access: Limited one-time free credits; paid plans.
Access checked — Runway official sourceA service that turns scripts into presenter-led videos using AI avatars.
Access: Free Basic plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Synthesia official sourceChoose between making music, generating a voice and editing an existing recording.
An audio and video editor built around transcripts, with AI-assisted cleanup and editing tools.
Access: Limited free plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Descript official sourceA service for generating speech and creating voice-based content, including narration and dubbing.
Access: Free plan with limits; commercial-use features depend on plan.
Access checked — ElevenLabs official sourceAffiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy through this link.
Visit ElevenLabs (opens in a new tab) Read the voiceover section of our creator guideA service for generating songs with vocals and instruments from prompts.
Access: Free generation access; downloads and rights depend on plan.
Access checked — Suno official sourceImprove a draft or work inside an existing workspace before adding another writing subscription.
A writing assistant for grammar, spelling, clarity and tone in supported apps.
Access: Free plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Grammarly official sourceA marketing platform for developing content and repeatable workflows around brand guidance.
Access: Paid plans; trial available.
Access checked — Jasper official sourceAI assistance inside Notion for documents, databases and questions about workspace information.
Access: Limited AI trials in lower plans; ongoing features vary by plan.
Access checked — Notion AI official sourceWeb discovery, paper search and questioning your own documents require different tools.
A research search service for finding studies and exploring their findings with AI assistance.
A research assistant for finding papers, summarising findings and comparing information across studies.
Access: Free Basic plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Elicit official sourceFormerly NotebookLM.
Google’s standalone research notebook for asking questions and developing summaries around your source material.
An AI search service that answers questions with links and citations to web sources.
Access: Free Standard plan; paid upgrades.
Access checked — Perplexity official sourceStart with one repeatable task. Plan how you will review errors before connecting real workflows.
A platform for AI-assisted sales and marketing workflows, including content and information processing.
Access: Paid plans.
Access checked — Copy.ai official sourceA platform for connected AI agents and workflows that work with business tools and information.
Access: Paid plans; trial available.
Access checked — Gumloop official sourceA visual workflow builder for connecting apps, transforming information and adding AI steps.
Access: Free platform plan; paid upgrades. AI usage costs can vary.
Access checked — Make official sourceA workflow automation platform with AI integrations and options for self-hosting.
Access: Self-hosted Community edition has usage restrictions; running costs apply.
Access checked — n8n official sourceA platform for connecting apps and adding AI-assisted steps to repeatable workflows.
Access: Free platform plan; AI features and paid options have separate limits.
Access checked — Zapier official sourceWe select tools for a clear, practical use case and explain the trade-offs that matter to that task. Inclusion and placement cannot be bought. Tools are grouped by task and listed alphabetically within each category; the order is not a performance ranking.
Descriptions and access notes are researched from official product information. “Our take” is our editorial judgement, not a claim of hands-on testing. When we publish a test or worked example, we link to that specific piece of work.
Plans and availability change. Access notes show when they were checked and link to the official source; confirm the details for your account and region before paying. We omit plan claims we cannot verify confidently. Report a correction.
The ElevenLabs link is an affiliate/referral link. We may earn a commission if you buy through it. An affiliate relationship does not purchase inclusion, placement or a favourable assessment.
DALL·E: our former consumer-tool entry is now covered by ChatGPT, including its current image features. DALL·E remains a search alias, not a claim that ChatGPT’s current image feature is the same model.
NotebookLM: listed under its current name, Gemini Notebook. The former name remains searchable.
Udio: temporarily withheld from active recommendations while we reassess export availability and suitability. This is not a claim that Udio has shut down or been permanently excluded. Its official help page reported disabled downloads when checked on .