Free AI tools for small business
There are plenty of free AI tools that are genuinely useful. The catch is that free plans usually come with limits on volume, features or data handling. Use them to test, then decide whether to pay.
General assistants
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all have free tiers. The free versions handle most everyday writing and summarising. Paid versions get you better models, more capacity and better data terms.
Meeting notes
Fathom is free for individuals and a strong default. Otter has a useful free tier for short meetings.
Content and design
Canva's free plan covers a surprising amount of design work, including AI features for backgrounds and resizing.
Notes and docs
Notion has a generous free plan, with limited AI included. Useful for small teams that want internal docs in one place.
What free does not cover
Most free plans do not give you the strongest data protections. If you handle anything sensitive, pay for the business plan or pick a different tool.
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