AI Tools Budget Planner: Best Stack at Every Price Point
Quick Summary: The optimal AI tool combination for $0, $20, $50, and $100/month budgets. 6 actionable steps below.
1. $0/month: The Free Stack
ChatGPT Free + Claude Free + Grammarly Free + Canva Free + Codeium Free. Covers 80% of needs at zero cost. Start here.
2. $20/month: The Essential Stack
ChatGPT Plus ($20) OR Claude Pro ($20). Pick one based on your primary use case. Keep free tiers of everything else.
3. $50/month: The Professional Stack
ChatGPT Plus ($20) + Grammarly Premium ($12) + Canva Pro ($13) = $45. Add $5 buffer. Covers writing, editing, and design.
4. $100/month: The Power Stack
ChatGPT Plus ($20) + Claude Pro ($20) + Cursor Pro ($20) + Canva Pro ($13) + Grammarly ($12) + Perplexity Pro ($20) = $105. The complete AI toolkit.
5. For Developers
Cursor Pro ($20) + GitHub Copilot ($10) + ChatGPT Plus ($20) = $50. Maximum coding productivity.
6. For Content Creators
ChatGPT Plus ($20) + Canva Pro ($13) + Grammarly ($12) + Buffer ($6) = $51. Complete content creation and distribution.
How to Use This Checklist
- Work through items in order — each builds on the previous step
- Do not skip the free tier testing — it prevents wasted subscriptions
- Bookmark this page and revisit weekly to track your progress
- Share with colleagues who are getting started with AI tools
FAQ
How long does this take?
Most people complete the full checklist in 1-2 hours. You can also spread it across a week, doing 2-3 items per day.
Do I need to pay for anything?
No. Every item can be completed with free tools. Paid subscriptions are optional upgrades once you have validated the value.
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