AI for Everyone: The Only 12 Tools You’ll Actually Open Daily (2025 Refresh)

👋 Last updated: October 2025 – changelog at the bottom.

I test AI tools so you don’t have to. After deleting the hypeware, these 12 stayed on my phone & laptop because I open them almost every day. No affiliate links, no dev speak. Pick three that solve your biggest pain, run the mini-routine, and thank yourself later.


If you hate… Use this Free tier Paid from
Reading long docs NotebookLM podcast $0
Googling & getting ads Perplexity $20/mo
Writing the first sentence ChatGPT (GPT-4o mini) $20/mo
Boring slideshows Gamma.app $8/mo
Manual note-taking OtterPilot 600 min/mo $8/mo
Robot voice-overs ElevenLabs 10 k char/mo $1/mo
Zero-design flyers Adobe Express AI $0
Messy bookmarks Glasp YouTube summary $0
Scheduling ping-pong Reclaim.ai $8/mo
“I have nothing to wear” YesPlz style finder $0
100 browser tabs Arc Max “Ask” $0
Blurry old photos Remini 5/day $4.99/wk

  1. Morning commute (2 min) – Ask Perplexity “What happened in {my industry} overnight?” → ad-free summary.
  2. Plan day (2 min) – Reclaim auto-blocks focus time around my calendar; no meeting tetris.
  3. Write / reply (3 min) – ChatGPT first draft → I add human tone.
  4. Meet (live) – OtterPilot records + summarises; I stay present.
  5. Before bed (1 min) – Drop photos into Remini; family album done.

Total active time: ≈ 10 min. The apps do the heavy lifting while I work, eat, sleep.


NotebookLM

Turn 50-page reports into a 10-min podcast with two hosts who ask each other the questions you forgot to ask. Great for walking meetings. Tip: Paste your next presentation PDF → generate audio → listen on the way to the meeting.

Perplexity

Search engine that quotes real sources (no SEO fluff). Switch to “Academic” for papers or “Social” for Reddit threads. Tip: Use voice search on mobile; faster than typing.

ChatGPT (GPT-4o mini)

Still the best blank page killer. Ask for “bad first draft, casual tone, bullet points”—easier to edit than perfect prose. Tip: Custom instructions: “I write in UK English, short sentences, emoji-free” → saves editing time.

Gamma.app

Type a one-sentence brief → gets outline → auto-builds slick slides. Export to PPT or PDF. Tip: Use “Zen” theme for investor decks; looks expensive.

OtterPilot

Joins Zoom/Meet/Teams, records + transcribes + emails summary to attendees. Tip: Say “Action @Name deadline” out loud; Otter tags it automatically.

ElevenLabs

Paste text → pick voice → download MP3. New “Speech-to-Speech” lets you record your voice then fix stumbles without re-recording. Tip: Keep one personal voice clone for Loom videos; saves retakes.

Adobe Express AI

Text-to-image and text-to-template (flyers, Reels, logos). Free tier = no watermark. Tip: Start from “Remove background” → add new AI background → post to Instagram in-app.

Glasp

YouTube summary in one click; saves highlights to a public page (great for sharing). Tip: Highlight any article line → Glasp adds timestamp → exports to Notion later.

Reclaim.ai

Auto-blocks focus, lunch, workout around existing meetings; moves with conflicts. Tip: Set “Defend 2 mornings/week for deep work” → Reclaim guards them like a bouncer.

YesPlz

Upload selfie → AI suggests three outfits using clothes already in your closet (or links to buy). Tip: Use “work casual” filter → Monday morning decision = 5 seconds.

Arc Max

Browser with built-in “Ask” sidebar: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grammarly in one panel. Tip: Cmd-T → “Ask: summarise this page in bullet points” → no copy-paste.

Remini

Uncle’s 1998 scanned photo? One tap → HD, colour-corrected, printable. Tip: Batch 10 photos before bed; download next morning.


Date What changed Why
2025-10-11 Added YesPlz, Arc Max, Remini; removed Claude (paywall) & Midjourney (niche) Keep list daily-use only
2025-09-03 Replaced Bard → Gemini branding Google rename
2025-07-15 Added Gamma.app, dropped Canva Better free tier

Next update: December 2025.

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