AI Tools Expert Reveals the Two Paid Tools They Swear By

It's hard to believe, but it's only been about two years since generative artificial intelligence (AI) burst onto the scene, transforming how we approach productivity. Nowadays, AI is everywhere, and it's changing the game in more ways than one.

In my line of work, I'm constantly testing out new AI tools, diving deep into whatever AI-related tech comes my way to see what it can do. You might have come across my detailed comparisons of AIs for programming or AI content checkers. I'm always on the hunt for the next big thing that can make our lives easier.

While my professional testing takes place in a controlled environment to deliver accurate results to ZDNET readers, I've also integrated AI into my daily life to boost my productivity. I juggle multiple roles—from running a small business with my wife, where I handle the tech and design, to collaborating with industry groups and managing a popular security software product for WordPress users. Plus, I'm always tinkering with new projects, whether it's designing the ultimate 3D printed charging tower, experimenting with an AI-assisted Etsy store, or composing and marketing music.

One thing I want to make clear: I never use AI to create my core content. Every article, song, or social media post is entirely my own work. However, AI has become an invaluable tool for managing other aspects of my workload.

I'm particularly fascinated by how AI can enhance programming, graphics work, and video production. Let me share some of the AI tools I pay for and why they've become indispensable to me.

1. ChatGPT Plus - $20/mo

When it comes to programming, ChatGPT has been a game-changer, essentially doubling my output. It's incredibly helpful for tackling common-knowledge programming tasks. In my article on 25 tips for using AI, I dive into how ChatGPT can write code for published APIs, saving me hours of searching and reverse-engineering code snippets from various programming forums.

I've tested numerous AI tools, but none, aside from Perplexity (which essentially uses ChatGPT), could reliably assist with the code I was working on for real-world projects. That's why I'm willing to pay $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus. It's not just about programming; I use it for a wide range of research tasks, math problems, and other challenges I face daily. While I never take its output as gospel, ChatGPT serves as an excellent sounding board, far more useful than a quick Google search.

As for why I choose ChatGPT Plus over something like Google Gemini's pro version? It's the programming capabilities. I've run tangible tests, and ChatGPT consistently outperforms. I did try Gemini Advanced for a few months, but it didn't deliver the same value, and I even managed to break it. I'd reconsider if Gemini could reliably handle the five ways I outlined for AI assistance in Gmail, but for now, it's not worth it for me.

I also experimented with Notion AI, but their pricing model was a major turn-off. My wife and I each have a Notion subscription, and when I signed up for Notion AI, I was unexpectedly hit with a $240 annual charge. Notion won't let you sign up for AI features on just one account, so I had to get a refund and stick with ChatGPT.

2. Midjourney - $10/mo

Both the free and Plus versions of ChatGPT include access to DALL-E 3, which is great for text-to-image generation. With the Plus version, you get more images in a given time period, but the core functionality remains the same.

I've had a blast playing around with DALL-E 3, from creating quirky images of every US state to comparing it head-to-head with Midjourney in two comprehensive tests. Both tools performed well overall, though each had its strengths and weaknesses.

Despite getting DALL-E 3 with my ChatGPT Plus subscription, I still pay an extra $10 a month for Midjourney. Why? Well, part of it is subjective—I just like the images Midjourney produces. It also allows for more creative control, letting you specify artist styles and riff off a wide range of stylistic choices, something DALL-E 3 can't quite match due to OpenAI's guardrails.

But there are also two practical reasons I pay for Midjourney. First, having multiple tools at your disposal is crucial when you're trying to translate the vision in your head into an image. I often experiment with different prompts and even the same prompts across both tools to see which yields the best results.

Second, every month, I generate a promotional image for my wife's online business, which supports a popular hobby. She runs a very active Facebook group and gives a craft-along theme each month. Midjourney consistently does a better job of incorporating elements of the hobby into these images than DALL-E 3. What used to take two to three hours of pixel-pushing in Photoshop now takes about 10 minutes with Midjourney, making it well worth the $10 a month.

Photoshop Generative Fill - Honorable Mention

I mentioned paying for two AI tools, but I should clarify that I also subscribe to Adobe's Creative Cloud suite. I've been using and paying for Photoshop long before generative fill existed, so I don't count it as an AI tool expense. Even if Adobe removed generative fill tomorrow, I'd still pay for Photoshop—albeit reluctantly, given its cost and restrictive two-computer license limitation.

I did try switching to Affinity Photo, which was $50 at the time (now $70), but despite its quality, my deep-rooted Photoshop muscle memory made the switch too cumbersome. I use Photoshop almost daily and have since before the internet was a thing. Switching slowed me down considerably.

That said, I find Photoshop's generative fill and other AI features incredibly useful, often using them alongside Midjourney and DALL-E 3 to enhance my work.

What Do You Use?

Do you pay for any AI tools? Which ones, and why? Is there an AI tool you strongly recommend that I haven't mentioned? Feel free to share your thoughts on AI subscriptions in the comments below.

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