10 AI Tools Worth Trying in 2026

There’s a new “revolutionary” AI tool announced every week. Most aren’t worth switching to. This list only includes tools we’ve actually tested and would recommend to a friend.

How we picked these

We looked for tools that solve a real, specific problem, have reasonable pricing for individuals and small teams, and don’t require a steep learning curve to get value in the first session.

The shortlist

1. Writing & content - assistants like NexaWrite AI that speed up first drafts.
2. Sales & CRM - lightweight CRMs like TidyDesk CRM for teams that don’t need enterprise complexity.
3. Design - AI-assisted design tools for quick mockups and social graphics.
4. Meeting notes - transcription and summary tools that save an hour a week for anyone in back-to-back calls.
5. Customer support - AI-assisted helpdesk triage for small support teams.

We’ll keep updating this list as we test new tools - check back, or subscribe to our newsletter to get updates as soon as we publish a new review.

A quick note on picking AI tools

Price isn’t the only factor - check how a tool handles your actual data (what’s stored, for how long, and whether it’s used to train models) before adopting it for anything sensitive.