You don't need a big software budget to get value from AI. Every tool below listed a free plan on its official pricing page when we. Free plans come with limits (users, usage, features), so check what's included before you rely on one.
Writing, replies and everyday admin
- ChatGPT, Claude and Google Gemini all offer free plans. Use them to draft customer replies, rewrite a rough note into a clear email, or turn bullet points into a service description. Paid plans: ChatGPT Go $8/month (Plus $20/month, USD); Claude Pro $20/month ($17/month billed annually, USD); Google AI Pro (Gemini) $19.99/month (USD).
- Grammarly has a free plan that checks spelling, grammar and tone.
- Tidio has a free plan for website live chat. It also offers an AI chatbot (Lyro). Check its pricing page for what each plan includes.
Always read AI output before sending it. AI assistants can get facts, prices and dates wrong, and you're responsible for what you send to customers.
Design and social media
- Canva has a free plan with templates for posts, flyers and menus; Pro is US$144/year for one person.
- Buffer's free plan covers up to 3 social channels for scheduling posts.
- Pixelcut has a free plan for quick product photo edits like background removal.
Bookings and scheduling
- Calendly: free plan for a booking link customers can use to pick a time.
- Setmore: free plan for teams of up to 4 users.
- Square Appointments: free plan for a single location.
- ServiceM8: free plan for 1 user and up to 30 jobs a month (per its UK pricing page), aimed at trades and field services.
Bookkeeping with built in AI on paid plans, plus a free US plan
- Wave: the Starter plan is $0 and covers invoicing and basic bookkeeping. Card payments cost extra per transaction.
- Zoho Books: a free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses, including invoices and quotes.
- QuickBooks Online: the US pricing page listed a $0 QuickBooks Free plan for 1 user, with up to 2 invoices a month.
Tax rules differ by country. Accounting software doesn't replace advice from an accountant, and in some countries (such as the UK with Making Tax Digital) you need software that's compatible with the tax authority's systems.
How to choose
- Start with the one job that eats most of your week.
- Try the free plan on real work for a week or two.
- Only upgrade when you hit a limit that's actually costing you time.
Pick your trade and problem and see 3 to 5 tools with checked prices.
Sources
- ChatGPT pricing
- Claude pricing
- Google Gemini subscriptions
- Grammarly plans
- Tidio pricing
- Canva pricing
- Buffer pricing
- Pixelcut pricing
- Calendly pricing
- Setmore pricing
- Square Appointments pricing (US)
- ServiceM8 UK pricing
- Wave pricing
- Zoho Books pricing (US)
- QuickBooks Online pricing (US)
Prices; they change often, so confirm on the official site. We are not affiliated with any company mentioned. How we rank.
We may earn a small fee if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you. How we rank