Boost Your Creative Workflow With These 20 Free AI Tools

As creatives, we find ourselves in a unique position. The very technology that many fear could replace our jobs is also providing amazing new ways to save us time and boost our efficiency. While it's understandable to be wary of AI, avoiding it entirely could mean missing out on valuable opportunities.

For instance, I was recently tasked with writing alt text for hundreds of abstract and complex images for an education app. This task was incredibly draining on my mental energy. At my client's suggestion, I turned to AI, and the result was a complete game-changer. By feeding the images into a chatbot like Gemini or ChatGPT with a simple prompt like, "Please write alt text for each of these images, not exceeding 100 characters," I found a powerful assistant. Of course, I still need to review the output for accuracy and nuance, but the process has saved me an immense amount of time and stress.

With so many AI tools emerging, it's easy to overlook one that could perfectly fit into your workflow. To help you navigate the options, I've compiled a list of 20 fantastic tools, all of which offer free versions, grouped by category.

Photo and Image Enhancement

1. GIMP with G'MIC filters: GIMP is a well-known free and open-source image editor. What's new is its integration of powerful AI-enhanced filters via the G'MIC plugin. These tools for noise reduction, image enhancement, and artistic effects can produce results comparable to expensive software like Photoshop.

2. Waifu2x: Despite its quirky name, this free online tool is excellent for upscaling anime-style art and photos. It operates directly in your browser without requiring registration.

3. Remove.bg: This web tool does exactly what its name implies: it automatically and accurately removes backgrounds from images, handling complex details like hair and fur. The free version has resolution limits and adds a watermark, making it best for mockups and pitches.

4. Cleanup.pictures: Another browser-based tool for removing backgrounds and deleting objects. While the free version has daily usage limits, it delivers highly professional results.

5. NVIDIA App: If you have NVIDIA graphics, this tool can be a great asset. It features RTX Video Super Resolution to enhance low-quality video by sharpening edges and upscaling, plus a Broadcast tool for real-time improvements for content creators.

Design and Layout Automation

6. Canva (free tier): Canva's free version offers AI design features that can generate layouts from text prompts. It also includes a Magic Write feature to generate copy, making it great for social media graphics and simple marketing materials.

7. Figma (free tier): The free plan for Figma provides access to basic AI features like text generation for prototypes and AI-enhanced suggestions for collaboration.

8. Penpot: This free, open-source design platform is developing its AI capabilities, which currently include intelligent suggestions for layout improvements and component creation.

9. Google Drawings with Smart Canvas: A free, browser-based tool for diagrams and flowcharts, Google Drawings now integrates AI-powered suggestions for shapes, layouts, and formatting, all while seamlessly connecting with other Google Workspace tools.

10. Krita with AI plugins: A beloved free digital painting software, Krita now supports various AI plugins that offer intelligent brush suggestions, color palette generation, and automated line art creation.

Content Creation and Productivity

11. ChatGPT (free tier): This popular AI chatbot is excellent for admin tasks like drafting emails, brainstorming concepts, or even getting advice on dealing with a difficult client. While its outputs need to be fact-checked, it's a surprisingly useful creative partner.

12. Gemini: Google's chatbot offers similar capabilities to ChatGPT but with tighter integration into the Google Workspace. It's particularly adept at fetching accurate, real-time information from Google search.

13. Microsoft Copilot (free tier): Deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, Copilot is highly effective for business-oriented tasks like creating client presentations, writing project proposals, and generating visual concepts within Office tools.

14. Claude (free tier): My personal favorite, Anthropic's AI assistant, excels at understanding subtlety and nuance, though it's not perfect. The free version has limits on input size, so for large documents, you may need to upgrade or try another tool.

15. Grammarly (free tier): Known for its excellent grammar and spell-checking, Grammarly has expanded its AI features to include helpful tone suggestions, which are perfect for refining client communications.

Video and Motion Graphics

16. DaVinci Resolve with AI features: A professional-grade video editor with a remarkably robust free version that's free of watermarks. It now includes impressive AI-powered features like automatic color correction, facial recognition, and audio enhancement.

17. OpenShot with AI plugins: This open-source video editor is another fantastic free option. It supports AI-enhanced plugins for intelligent scene detection, automatic audio leveling, and basic motion tracking.

18. Audacity with AI plugins: The go-to free tool for audio editing now supports AI-powered plugins for advanced noise reduction, vocal isolation, and other audio enhancements.

19. Blender with AI plugins: The top choice for free 3D modeling and animation, Blender's active community has developed AI add-ons for tasks like automated rigging, texture generation, and scene optimization.

20. OBS Studio with AI plugins: This free broadcasting software supports AI plugins for real-time background removal, noise suppression, and automated scene switching, making professional streams more accessible.