An AI Experts Paid Subscription Toolbox

Generative AI has exploded into the mainstream, promising a new era of productivity. As someone who tests these tools professionally, I've seen countless applications that claim to be revolutionary. However, I've also found that very few are worth a recurring subscription fee. My approach is simple: I use AI to support my original work, not replace it, and I'm highly selective about the tools I keep in my digital arsenal.

My work is diverse—I run a small business, manage tech and design for another, develop security software for WordPress, and pursue creative projects from 3D printing to music production. Across all these areas, I leverage AI to enhance my workflow, particularly in programming, graphic design, and video production. Here are the tools that have proven indispensable enough for me to pay for them month after month.

1. ChatGPT Plus: The Go-To for Coding and Research

For $20 per month, ChatGPT Plus has become a cornerstone of my workflow, especially for programming. Initially, I found it doubled my output, but after utilizing its advanced coding models, the results were staggering. In one instance, a project that would have taken me over three weeks was completed in just 12 hours. I even briefly upgraded to a $200 Pro plan and developed four new products in four days—a task that would typically take me four years.

While I've since returned to the Plus plan, the value is undeniable. I use ChatGPT Plus to generate code for established APIs, which saves me hours of research and reverse-engineering. It's a powerful sounding board for complex problems and research tasks, offering more nuanced assistance than a simple web search. While other chatbots exist, ChatGPT has remained the most consistently useful tool in my subscription list.

2. Midjourney: The Choice for Creative Image Generation

Although ChatGPT Plus includes a capable image generator, I still pay an additional $10 per month for Midjourney. The reason is twofold. Subjectively, I often prefer the artistic style and stylistic flexibility that Midjourney offers. It allows for more nuanced control over the final image, which is crucial for creative work.

Objectively, having multiple image generation tools is invaluable. When I'm trying to translate a specific vision into a digital image, I can experiment with prompts on both platforms to see which delivers the best result. More specifically, I create a monthly promotional image for my wife's e-commerce business. Midjourney consistently excels at incorporating hobby-specific elements into the final graphic, reducing what used to be a multi-hour Photoshop session into about 10 minutes of work. That time savings alone makes the subscription worthwhile.

3. Notion AI: An Integrated Project Powerhouse

I recently added Notion AI to my toolkit. At $24 per month (billed annually), it's not perfect—its model isn't as robust as ChatGPT's—but its value lies in its deep integration with my primary project management system. I use Notion to organize every aspect of my work, from writing articles to managing complex projects.

Notion AI's ability to work directly within my existing databases and notes is its key advantage. For example, I recently used it to convert a massive, unstructured block of text into a clean Notion database. While it took a few attempts, it was a task that would have been incredibly tedious to do manually. The potential for it to act as a knowledge base limited to my own work is also very promising, making it a valuable, if sometimes frustrating, addition.

Honorable Mention: Adobe Photoshop's AI Features

I've been a longtime subscriber to Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, so I don't count it as a new AI expense. However, its new generative AI features, like Generative Fill and the AI Harmonize tool, have become incredibly helpful. I use these tools almost daily, often in combination with images generated by Midjourney or ChatGPT. While the subscription is costly, my deep-rooted muscle memory with Photoshop makes it an essential part of my workflow that is now significantly enhanced by AI.

Future AI Tools on the Radar

I'm cautious about adding new subscriptions, but two tools are on my shortlist.

First is NotebookLM Pro. As a research tool that can analyze and summarize a curated set of source documents, it's incredibly powerful. The free version has limits, and while the pro plans seem restrictive for my large archive, its deep-dive capabilities are so useful that I would consider upgrading if I hit a project-specific wall.

Second is Descript, an AI video editing tool priced between $16 and $24 per month. It automates tedious tasks like removing filler words, cleaning up audio, and creating clips from longer videos. As a Final Cut Pro user, the potential time savings are enormous. My only hesitation is whether it can handle my technical, hands-on project videos as effectively as it handles talking-head content.

What about you? Are there any AI tools you find valuable enough to pay for? Share your recommendations in the comments below.