Decision Guide

Which AI should I use? A guide for every situation.

There are dozens of AI tools available. You don’t need to try them all. This guide tells you exactly which AI to use for your specific situation — with no jargon and no wasted time.

Decision guide Updated April 2026

Tell me what you want to do

Click your situation — jump straight to the answer.

✍️
Writing
Emails, essays, copy
📊
Presentations
Slides, decks, pitches
🌄
Images
Create, edit, design
🔍
Research
Find facts, summarise
💼
Work tasks
Spreadsheets, reports
🎓
Studying
Learn, revise, explain
💻
Coding
Write, debug, explain
🎤
Voice & Audio
Narration, podcasts
✍️

Writing — emails, essays, copy, articles

Best overall
ChatGPT
Excellent for first drafts. Give it context, tone, and purpose. Free tier sufficient for most writing tasks.
Full guide →
Best quality
Claude
Produces noticeably more nuanced, well-structured writing. Better for long-form content and complex topics.
Full guide →
If you use Google
Gemini in Docs
Built directly into Google Docs. Write, improve, and summarise without leaving your document.
Full guide →
Ready-to-use writing prompt
Write a [type of content] for [audience]. The purpose is [goal]. Tone should be [formal/conversational/warm]. Key points to include: [list]. Length: approximately [word count]. Do not use jargon.
📊

Presentations — slides, decks, pitches

Best overall
Gamma.app
Type your topic, get a full presentation with design, images, and layout. Free tier available. No design skills needed.
If you use PowerPoint
Copilot in PowerPoint
Requires Microsoft 365 subscription. Creates presentations from a Word document or a prompt, directly inside PowerPoint.
Full guide →
Best for content
ChatGPT → then design
Use ChatGPT to create the structure and content, then paste into Canva or PowerPoint. More control over design.
Presentation structure prompt
Create a presentation outline for [topic]. Audience: [who they are]. Purpose: [inform/persuade/sell]. Duration: [X minutes]. Format: [number] slides with a title, 3 key points per slide, and a clear call to action at the end.
🌄

Images — create, edit, design

Best quality
Midjourney
The most powerful image generator available. Stunning artistic quality. Works via Discord. Paid plans from $10/month.
Full guide →
Easiest to use
DALL‑E 3 in ChatGPT
Type your description in ChatGPT and ask it to create an image. No extra app needed. Available on ChatGPT free tier.
Full guide →
For social media
Canva AI
Built into Canva. Generate images, remove backgrounds, and design posts in one place. Free tier available.
🔍

Research — find facts, understand topics, summarise

Best for current info
Perplexity
Searches the web and gives you an answer with sources linked. Best for current events and factual questions. Free to use.
Full guide →
Best for documents
Claude
Upload a long PDF or document and ask questions about it. Best for understanding contracts, reports, and research papers.
Full guide →
For general questions
ChatGPT
Excellent for explaining topics in depth. Note: verify facts independently — AI can confidently state incorrect information.

Quick comparison — the main AI tools

AI Tool Made by Best for Free?
ChatGPTOpenAIWriting, coding, general tasksYes
ClaudeAnthropicLong docs, careful analysis, quality writingYes
GeminiGoogleGoogle Workspace integrationYes
CopilotMicrosoftMicrosoft 365, Office, WindowsYes (basic)
PerplexityPerplexity AIResearch with cited sourcesYes
MidjourneyMidjourney Inc.AI image generation (best quality)No (from $10/mo)
DALL‑E 3OpenAIImages inside ChatGPTYes (via ChatGPT)
ElevenLabsElevenLabsAI voice, narration, audioYes (limited)