7 Free AI Tools Every Creator & Small Business Should Use in 2025

Technology changes how people work. AI tools are now accessible enough for anyone to use.

They can help you automate tasks, edit videos, write better content, generate music, and even guide you through software steps as you work.

These aren’t tools for overnight success. They are tools every content creator and small business should be using in 2025.

Let’s go through each one, one by one.

7 Free AI Tools You Should Be Using in 2025

1: Zapier

Zapier connects apps and automates workflows.

If you use Google Forms, Gmail, Slack, Notion, Excel, or any combination of these, Zapier helps you create triggers and actions between them.

For example, when someone fills out a Google Form, Zapier can email a response, update a spreadsheet, and notify your team in Slack — all automatically.

You don’t need to code anything. You select the trigger app, choose the action app, and define the conditions.

How to use it better:

• Set up automatic email replies to new leads.
• Sync form submissions directly to a Notion database.
• Create multi-step Zaps that pass data across multiple apps.

Use filters to only run actions when specific conditions are met. For instance, send an email only if the form submission includes the word “Urgent.”

Zapier gives you a way to build small automation systems without hiring a developer.

2: Google AI Studio

Google AI Studio watches your screen and walks you through tasks in real time.

It works best when you’re stuck using software like Excel, Word, or other desktop applications.

You hit record, describe what you want to do, and it guides you step-by-step.

Example:

You’re trying to calculate total sales by region in Excel. AI Studio tells you to select the data, insert a pivot table, and drag the “Region” field to Rows and “Sales” to Values.

How to use it better:

• Use it during live troubleshooting instead of searching forums or tutorials.
• Learn complex features like VLOOKUPs or conditional formatting without memorizing formulas.
• Let it guide you through unfamiliar interfaces.

3: ChatGPT (Free Version)

ChatGPT has now become the must-have AI tool for content creation.

The free version supports basic writing, editing, and planning tasks.

You can open its Canvas mode to draft long-form content, refine paragraphs, and track changes.

You can also upload documents and ask for summaries, comparisons, or insights.

How to use it better:

• Draft emails, scripts, outlines, social media posts, and images.
• Generate ideas when you’re stuck.
• Use role-based prompts like “You are a product launch strategist” for targeted advice.

You can also read our guide on using the OpenAI API with Python to build your own custom AI tools.

4: Udio

Udio generates full songs from simple text prompts.

You describe the genre, mood, structure, and lyrics. Udio creates two versions.

You can adjust length, strength of the lyrics, and song structure.

Example:

You type, “A pop anthem about coffee addiction.” Udio returns two songs with vocals and backing tracks.

How to use it better:

• Generate copyright-free background music for YouTube videos or TikTok clips.
• Use it for podcast intros and outros.
• Try different genres and moods to match your brand tone.

You don’t need music production skills to use Udio. Just a description and a few clicks.

5: ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs converts text into human-like speech.

You can clone your voice by uploading a short audio sample. Once trained, the system speaks any text you provide in your voice.

Example:

You write a script for a video. ElevenLabs reads it back exactly as you would.

How to use it better:

• Add narration to explainer videos.
• Dub videos into multiple languages.
• Convert blog posts into audio versions.

Use emotion settings to change tone. Add pauses and breathing sounds for natural delivery.

6: Perplexity AI

Perplexity searches the web and returns answers with sources.

You type a question. The result includes citations from academic papers, Reddit threads, or general websites.

For instance:

You search, “What are current SEO trends?” Perplexity shows a summary and links to recent studies and articles.

How to use it better:

• Do research with reliable sources cited.
• Compare data from multiple sources.
• Find trending topics for content creation.

And, no doubt, Perplexity adds credibility to your research process.

7: Descript

Descript edits video by editing text.

Once you upload a clip, Descript transcribes it. You edit the transcript, and the video updates in sync.

You can remove filler words, delete pauses, and add captions automatically.

Example:

You recorded a 10-minute video. Descript highlights pauses with red dots. Click and delete. The video trims instantly.

How to use it better:

• Fix mistakes with Overdub. Record once, fix errors later.
• Generate subtitles in multiple languages.
• Clean up audio using Studio Sound.

You can use Screen Recorder inside Descript to capture quick tutorials or walkthroughs.

Combine These Tools Into One Workflow

These tools don’t work in isolation. You can use all these tools combinedly in your workflow.

Here’s a real-world example of how they can work together:

1. Use Zapier to collect customer feedback via Google Forms.
2. Copy the form data into Excel. Use Google AI Studio to analyze the data.
3. Ask ChatGPT to summarize the findings.
4. Upload the summary to ElevenLabs. Generate a voiceover.
5. Use Descript to edit a presentation video with the voiceover.
6. Find supporting data using Perplexity AI.
7. Add background music using Udio.

This approach saves hours of work and improves quality.

Your Next Move?

AI tools are not magic. They don’t make decisions. They don’t think like humans.

But they can save time, reduce friction, and increase output quality. Use them where they fit naturally into your workflow.

Try one at a time. Learn how it works. Then integrate it into your daily routine.

There’s no rush to adopt all seven at once.

Pick the one that solves a current problem. Master it. Then move forward.

That’s how you use AI – not as a shortcut – but as a practical extension of your capabilities.

If you’re curious, check out our guide on how to build a personal AI assistant using Python for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Good Luck!