How to Choose an AI Tool: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Subscribe

How to Choose the Right AI Tool in 2025

With hundreds of AI tools available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Ask these five questions before spending money on any AI subscription.

Question 1: What Is Your Primary Use Case?

Different AI tools excel at different things:

• Writing and content: Claude Pro ($20/mo) — best writing quality
• General productivity: ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) — most versatile
• Research: Perplexity Pro ($20/mo) — best for sourced answers
• Coding: Claude Code or Cursor ($20/mo each)
• Design: Canva Pro ($13/mo) — AI-powered design for non-designers

Do not buy a tool because it is popular. Buy it because it solves your specific problem. See our complete AI tool guide by category.

Question 2: Have You Maxed Out the Free Tier?

Every major AI tool offers a free tier. Before subscribing:

• Use the free version for at least 2 weeks
• Track how often you hit limits
• Identify which paid features you actually need

Many professionals find that free tiers are sufficient for casual use.

Question 3: Will You Use It Daily?

A $20/month subscription only makes sense if you use the tool regularly. At daily use, that is less than $1/day — an easy return on investment. If you use it once a week, the free tier may be enough.

Question 4: Can One Tool Replace Multiple?

Subscription fatigue is real. Before adding another AI tool, check if an existing one can do the job:

• ChatGPT Plus includes DALL-E for images, browsing for research, and Code Interpreter for data analysis
• Claude Pro handles writing, coding, and document analysis
• Notion AI combines workspace + AI in one subscription

Question 5: What Is Your Budget?

Realistic AI budgets for professionals:

• $0/month: Surprisingly powerful — Claude free + ChatGPT free + Perplexity free
• $20/month: Pick one premium tool based on your primary need
• $40/month: Two complementary tools (e.g., Claude + ChatGPT)
• $60+/month: Full AI stack for power users

Our Recommendation

Start free. Use Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity free tiers for 2 weeks. Subscribe to whichever one you reach the limit on most often. That is the tool you actually need.

See also: AI tool pricing comparison and best free AI tools.