Back to archive
AI Tools
How I Compare AI Tools Before Paying for Them
A practical checklist for deciding whether an AI tool deserves a place in your stack.
There are too many AI products to test randomly.
When I compare a new tool, I look for a few things first:
What exact job does it do?
If the answer is vague, the tool is probably trying to be everything at once.
Does it save time or just add novelty?
A product can feel impressive and still make the workflow slower. Look for tools that reduce repetitive work, not just ones that make a flashy first impression.
Is the output good enough without heavy cleanup?
Some tools only look efficient until you count the editing time afterward.
Will I still want this in a month?
This is the best filter. If the value disappears once the excitement wears off, it is usually not worth adding.