WritingBest first step
ChatGPT
Start here if you want to write faster, research something, or just see what AI can actually do. The free plan is genuinely useful.
02 — Learn
The tools I'd recommend to someone just getting started.
No rankings designed to impress. No list of 50 things to evaluate. Just the tools that actually lowered the barrier — and what I'd tell you to try first.
Some links on this page are affiliate links — I only include things I'd actually recommend to someone just getting started. Your cost is never affected.
Where I'd tell you to start.
These are the tools I've actually used. Each one has a real free plan and doesn't require any prior experience to get something useful out of it on day one.
I didn't start with the most powerful tools. I started with the ones that gave me a small win fast — because that's what builds the confidence to go further.
DesignNo design skills needed
Canva
If you've ever needed to make anything visual and didn't know where to start, Canva is where that changes. Free plan covers most of what you'll need.
VideoCreator workflow
Descript
Edit video by editing text. If you've been putting off making video content because editing felt too hard, this is the one that removes that wall.
Quick comparison.
The things that matter most for someone starting out: what's free, what it's for, and who it fits.
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price | Who It Fits | PromptlyKit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Writing, studying, research, productivity | Yes | Free to paid | Anyone starting with AI | 9.5 |
| Canva | Design, presentations, social posts | Yes | Free to paid | Creators, freelancers, small businesses | 9.1 |
| Descript | Video, podcast, captions, editing | Yes | Free to paid | Anyone making video or audio content | 8.8 |
| Grammarly | Writing polish and grammar support | Yes | Free to paid | Anyone writing in English professionally | 8.7 |
How I think about what to recommend.
A few things I try to get right — because most AI recommendation sites don't bother with any of them.
Free where it counts
I only mention paid upgrades when the free plan genuinely runs out for what you're trying to do.
No prior experience assumed
Every recommendation comes with context for someone who hasn't used this type of tool before.
Honest tradeoffs
What a tool can't do matters. I say so, even when there's an affiliate link involved.
When to pay
I tell you exactly when the paid plan becomes worth it — and when it isn't yet.