Must-have AI tools for a productive work week: My top 7 picks

People ask me all the time: “What AI tools do you use?” And not just out of curiosity—they want to know if they could benefit from using the same tools in their own work. So, I figured it was time to pull back the curtain and share exactly which AI tools I rely on daily and why. These tools help me scale myself and accomplish more in a day than I ever could alone. While I use a mix of paid and free tools, each has earned its spot in my weekly rotation for a specific purpose.

Here are my top four paid tools and three free ones, along with a few tips on why I picked them and how they might fit into your workflow.

ChatGPT Teams (Paid)

I use ChatGPT Teams for practically everything. Whether I’m brainstorming new ideas, drafting content for clients, writing emails and social posts, simplifying complex topics, or building web components—ChatGPT is my go-to. It’s like having an all-in-one creative assistant who can keep up with the diverse range of tasks I handle every day.

• Why I chose the paid Teams version: I opted for the Teams version not only for its increased message limit and access to new features but also because of the data privacy and security assurance it offers. My data isn’t used for training, which is critical when working on client projects, and it includes indemnification clauses that protect my business from copyright issues. With Teams, I have the peace of mind to dive into more sensitive client work without hesitation.

Claude Pro (Paid)

Claude Pro is my “second opinion.” Whenever I need an alternate viewpoint—whether I’m brainstorming a new content angle or validating a client strategy—I turn to Claude. I’ve also found it especially useful for building complex content in Artifacts, such as website components and ROI calculators. Its Project’s feature is also helpful when creating derivative content.

• Why I chose the paid version: The free version felt too limiting for the volume and type of work I do, and the Projects feature is only available to paid users. With the Pro plan, I get more usage and better processing speed, making it a worthwhile investment for my workflow.

Adobe FireFly & Express (Paid)

For on-brand images and creative assets, Adobe Express and Firefly have become my secret weapons. I can quickly create professional visuals for social media, YouTube thumbnails, and even document templates—all while maintaining a consistent look and feel.

• Why I chose Adobe: Its ability to match photo styles and generate templates that align with my brand identity has saved me a lot of time. No more juggling different tools to get a unified visual theme—Adobe’s AI-powered design capabilities handle that effortlessly.

CapCut (Paid)

For video content, CapCut is a lifesaver. I’ve started outsourcing some of my more complex YouTube projects, but for quick demos or simpler edits, I do them myself in CapCut. The killer feature here is the ability to edit videos based on the transcript. I’m not exaggerating when I say this feature has saved me about 90% of my editing time.

• Why I chose CapCut: Instead of scrubbing through video clips repeatedly, I can scan the transcript, make the necessary edits directly in text form, and instantly trim out unwanted segments. I can also enhance the audio, add captions, and include graphics in a few clicks. This streamlined approach has drastically cut down my editing time and made video production a breeze. If you are wondering why I didn’t go with Descript, it is because Descript is more focused on podcast vs. video, at least when I was making the decision.

Perplexity AI (Free—Quick update on Oct 2: Paid)

Perplexity is my go-to for quick research and fact-checking. It’s ideal for when I need a concise answer or to validate a point without getting lost in a rabbit hole of articles and sources. I also find it useful for generating insights and summarizing information on the fly.

• Why I am not on the paid version: As of now, I don’t use it enough to justify the cost. I have never run out of searches, and for other features—such as file analysis—I have alternative tools that cover those needs. That said, I know people love the paid version, and I may consider upgrading during high research months.

• October 2: I got the paid version today because of the LinkedIn Premium offer of Perplexity Pro for 1 year. I will update this as I determine if it is worth it or not.

Grammarly (Free)

Grammarly is always running in the background, catching my typos (I can’t spell!) and ensuring my sentences make sense. While I use ChatGPT for more comprehensive edits on longer documents, Grammarly is great for inline, quick text corrections as I go.

Fathom (Free)

Fathom is my dedicated meeting notetaker. It allows me to be fully present in client meetings because I know it’s capturing everything—from key points and action items to detailed follow-up tasks. Its real value comes post-meeting, when I can quickly search through the notes and share them with clients or teammates.

NotebookLM (Free)

NotebookLM is my newest tool for organizing and synthesizing information, and I’m still discovering new ways to use it. I primarily leverage it for building podcast outlines and referencing past proposals when working on new ones. It’s great for creating structured content and making sure I don’t lose track of important details.

• Why I’m hooked: The ability to ask questions directly from my uploaded documents means I can look back at old materials and quickly pinpoint key takeaways. It’s like having a virtual research assistant that knows exactly where everything is.

While these are the tools I use each week, it’s not about having the best AI tools—it’s about finding the right ones that complement your workflow and help you get more done. Some, like ChatGPT and Claude, act as creative collaborators, while others, like FireFly and CapCut, enable me to enhance my capabilities in areas I have limited experience.

As you build out your own AI toolkit, focus on what areas you most need support in, test the tools that address them (they all have free trials), and see which aligns best with your style. The reality is that various tools will all be “the best” at something—but none will be “the best” at everything. Focus on your workflows, try different tools, and I promise you’ll see your productivity and creativity soar!

AI disclosure: This post was AI-enhanced with ChatGPT based on my dictation. This post’s image was AI-directed with Adobe FireFly. I, Natalie Lambert, contributed as the human element in these activities.