12 Free AI Tools That Actually Work (No Trials, No “Lite” Versions)

Free AI tools usually come with a catch, tight limits, missing features, or a “free” badge that really means “free for 7 days.”

This list is different. These are 12 AI tools you can start using right now without paying, and they’re useful for real work, especially if you run an online business, create content, or manage a busy schedule. Along the way, there’s also a tool “named like a cereal” that does something surprisingly helpful.

Quick list: the 12 AI tools covered

• Google Workspace Studio: build Google app workflows with Gemini.
• Pomelli (Google Labs): generate on-brand social campaigns fast.
• Wispr Flow: voice-to-text that cleans up what you say.
• NotebookLM: research and create outputs from your sources.
• Granola: meeting notes and transcripts with reusable “recipes.”
• Goblin Tools: break big projects into step-by-step tasks.
• mymap.ai: create flowcharts and process maps from text.
• Napkin AI: turn dense text into simple visuals.
• Headline Studio (CoSchedule): score and improve titles and subject lines.
• n8n (Community Edition): advanced workflow automation, self-hosted.
• ChatHub.gg: compare outputs across multiple AI models at once.
• Snipd: an AI podcast app for summaries, quotes, and saved clips.

1) Google Workspace Studio (Google Workspace Flows)

Google has a new tool (released in early December 2025) that finally makes it easier to connect your Google Workspace apps into repeatable workflows. It works across tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, Drive, Sheets, Meet, and Chat, and it uses Gemini to help you build the workflow.

You can start with templates or write what you want in plain language and let Gemini build it.

A simple example template is a daily unread email summary:

• The workflow runs on a schedule (Google calls this a starter).
• It summarizes unread emails.
• It sends the recap to you in Google Chat.

You can also build from scratch and pick a starter like “when I get an email,” then add steps like “Ask Gemini,” then route the output wherever it belongs. A practical use case is setting up an email assistant that drafts replies, labels messages, or prepares a triage summary.

Use it here: Google Workspace Studio (Workspace Flows)

For extra background and commentary on how Workspace Flows might evolve, this write-up is useful: Google Workspace Flows overview by Erin Turnmeyer

2) Pomelli (Google Labs) for on-brand social campaigns

Pomelli is part of Google Labs, and it’s built to generate social media campaigns that match your brand.

The flow is straightforward:

1. Enter your business info, including your website URL.
2. Pomelli analyzes your site and pulls details like brand colors.
3. You choose a campaign direction (or accept a suggestion).
4. It generates multiple images and variations you can edit.

You can then tweak the results by adding text, calls to action, creative direction, uploading your own images, and choosing the right dimensions for each platform.

Try Pomelli here: Pomelli campaigns in Google Labs

If you’ve never explored Google Labs, the broader experiments page is worth browsing: Google Labs experiments

3) Wispr Flow for voice-to-text (that fixes your mistakes)

Wispr Flow is a voice-to-text AI that does more than dictation. It actively cleans up messy speech, corrects obvious mistakes, and produces text that reads like you typed it.

A small detail that matters in day-to-day use is the keyboard shortcut. When dictation is instant, it’s easier to use it for:

• quick emails
• rough drafts
• brainstorming notes
• turning spoken ideas into structured text

It’s available on Mac, Windows, and iPhone. The free plan is generous:

• 2,000 words/week on Mac or Windows
• 1,000 words/week on iPhone

You can also use a promo link for a free month of Pro: Wispr Flow free Pro month

4) NotebookLM for research and content outputs

NotebookLM is one of those tools that’s hard to appreciate until you put real material into it. It’s designed to bring your sources into one place, then help you understand, connect, and reuse them.

It can work from web research and content in your Google Drive, and it supports both “fast” and “deep” research modes. Where it gets interesting is what it can create from your notebook:

• Audio overview
• Video overview
• Mind map
• Reports
• Infographics
• Slide deck

It originally targeted writers doing book research, but it’s strong for anyone collecting messy inputs and trying to turn them into something usable.

Use it here: NotebookLM

5) Granola for meeting notes, transcripts, and follow-ups (Mac-only)

Granola is a virtual notetaker that can join calls (like Zoom), transcribe them, and deliver structured notes afterward.

The standout feature is its set of pre-built actions called recipes, like generating a TL;DR, plus the ability to create your own recipes for repeatable post-call workflows.

After a call, you can:

• “talk to” the transcript (ask questions about what was said)
• choose different note templates
• send notes to Notion or Slack
• copy text, draft an email, or create follow-up messages quickly

Granola is currently Mac-only. If you’re on Windows, Rick mentions trying Fathom as an alternative (not covered in depth here).

Try Granola here: Granola

6) Goblin Tools for breaking big tasks into doable steps

Goblin Tools is a collection of small tools built for moments when work feels too big or too fuzzy. It’s especially helpful for neurodivergent brains, but the core idea works for anyone: reduce vague tasks into clear next actions.

Two tools stand out:

Magic To-Do

Type a project like “create a new live workshop for my email list” and it breaks it down into step-by-step tasks automatically. You can also add subtasks and estimate time.

Compiler

This turns a brain dump into an action list. It pairs well with Wispr Flow because you can dictate your messy thoughts, paste them in, then convert them into tasks in seconds.

Use it here: Goblin Tools

7) mymap.ai for flowcharts, mind maps, and process mapping

mymap.ai turns ideas into diagrams using AI, including flowcharts, mind maps, matrices, and presentations.

A fast way to use it is to type a few steps of a workflow, submit, and let it generate a flowchart. From there you can:

• chat to modify the diagram
• add text cards, title cards, or web cards
• adjust the structure without redrawing everything manually

It’s not trying to be a high-design tool. It’s more about getting clarity fast, especially when you’re mapping processes so you can decide what should be automated.

Try it here: mymap.ai

8) Napkin AI for turning text into visuals

Napkin AI turns highlighted text into visual diagrams and cards. It’s great when you have dense notes and want a simple graphic for:

• a slide deck
• a training doc
• a social post that needs structure

The workflow is quick:

1. Paste or write your text.
2. Highlight the section you want to visualize.
3. Click the lightning bolt.
4. Pick from suggested visual styles.
5. Edit fonts and colors, then download.

A limitation noted is that the graphic styles can start to feel repetitive. Still, the speed is the point.

Use it here: Napkin AI

9) Headline Studio by CoSchedule for titles and subject lines

Headline Studio does what it sounds like: you paste in a headline, and it grades it with suggestions.

You can analyze:

• YouTube titles
• email subject lines
• blog titles
• TikTok, Instagram, podcast titles
• LinkedIn ad headlines

In the example tested, the title “12 AI tools you won't believe are free” scored 67, and the tool explained why. It also shows practical details like how the headline might appear in Google, plus word count and character count.

Try it here: Headline Studio by CoSchedule

10) n8n Community Edition (free, but advanced)

n8n is a visual workflow builder that can connect apps, data, and AI agents. The important detail in this list is the Community Edition, which is free and self-hosted.

That means:

• you can use it without paying for the cloud plan
• you’ll need to install it locally (often via Docker or a terminal)
• it’s more technical than most tools on this list

Inside a workflow, you can add nodes for apps and AI steps, then chain logic together into full automations. It’s powerful and scalable, but it’s not the best starting point if you’re brand new.

Start here: n8n

If you want a simpler automation builder to start with, Rick recommends Relay: Relay.app automation workflows

11) ChatHub.gg to compare multiple AI models side-by-side

ChatHub is built for a very specific job: run one prompt and see the output from multiple models at the same time.

You pick how many models you want to compare (two, three, or more), then view differences in structure, tone, and detail instantly. It also offers a Chrome extension, which makes it easy to keep in your daily browser workflow.

Try it here: ChatHub.gg

There’s also a Pro plan ($19/month mentioned), but the free version is enough to understand the value quickly.

12) Snipd, the AI podcast app that helps you keep what matters

Snipd (the “cereal-named” favorite) is an AI-powered podcast app that helps you get more value from episodes without taking manual notes the whole time.

Key features include:

• AI-generated episode summaries before you listen
• chapter breakdowns while playing
• transcripts and show notes
• highlighted quotes pulled automatically
• saving and sharing “snips,” which are clipped insights

In the iPhone demo, Snipd shows chapters as you listen, then lets you grab a moment and save it with a label, star it, and share it. If you create content from podcasts, or you listen for business ideas, this makes it much easier to keep what you’d otherwise forget.

Use it here: Snipd

What stood out in real use (lessons learned)

After seeing how these tools behave across different tasks, a few patterns show up fast:

1) “Free” is only helpful if it fits into existing tools.
The most useful free tools here are the ones that connect to work you already do, email, meetings, docs, and planning. That’s why Google Workspace Studio, NotebookLM, and Granola stand out.

2) The best time-savers aren’t always the flashiest.
Voice-to-text and meeting notes can feel basic, until they remove dozens of small friction points each week. Dictation plus auto-notes usually beats “one more chatbot tab.”

3) Visual tools matter when you’re building workflows.
Text-only planning breaks down when a process gets longer than a few steps. Diagram tools (mymap.ai) and visual summarizers (Napkin AI) make it easier to see gaps, bottlenecks, and handoffs.

If you’re moving toward more agent-style automation, it also helps to understand what modern agents can do beyond chat. This internal read is a strong primer: Run your own AI agent locally

Free plan details at a glance (for the tools that mention limits)

Tool	What the free plan includes (as mentioned)	Platforms/notes
Wispr Flow	2,000 words/week (Mac/Windows), 1,000 words/week (iPhone)	Mac, Windows, iPhone
Napkin AI	500 AI credits/week, unlimited visuals and editing	Web app
Granola	Free plan is usable for lots of calls (limits not hit in heavy use)	Mac-only
ChatHub.gg	Free available, Pro option mentioned at $19/month	Web + Chrome extension
Snipd	Free core features, chat requires upgrade	iPhone demo shown

Conclusion

If you’ve been avoiding “free” AI tools because they usually disappoint, this list is a good reset. Start with the ones that reduce daily friction first (email, notes, dictation), then add the diagram and headline tools when you’re ready to publish or build repeatable processes. The best result comes from pairing tools, like Wispr Flow plus Goblin Tools, or Workspace Studio plus Chat. Pick two tools, use them for a week, and aim for less manual work.