The directory / useful, not endless

Find a tool that
fits your life.

A focused starting selection across everyday tasks. Compare cost, comfort level and platform, then visit the provider for current details.

ORBIT / NAVIGATORDifferent personalities. None gets the final say.

Choose what matters

Browse the tools.

Twenty-four useful starting points, explained like a human would explain them. Search by task, cost, confidence level or where you want to use it.

24curated tools

13useful categories

100%plain English

TOOL FINDER / ONLINEClear guidance · check provider details

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ChatGPT

TOOL GUIDE

Drafts, explanations and brainstorming.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

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Writing

Claude

TOOL GUIDE

Helpful for longer writing and analysing documents.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

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Research

Gemini

TOOL GUIDE

Google’s general-purpose AI assistant.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Research

Perplexity

TOOL GUIDE

Search-style answers with links to inspect.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

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FIELD NOTES / Research

Perplexity

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Search the live web conversationally
Show links beside its answers
Build deeper multi-source research

Good jobs to try

Get a sourced starting overview
Compare current products or topics
Find primary sources to read yourself

Keep a human hand on the wheel

A citation can be real while the sentence beside it overreaches. Open the sources.

Image creation

Canva AI

TOOL GUIDE

Templates and AI-assisted visual making.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Image creation

Adobe Firefly

TOOL GUIDE

Generate and edit visuals with Adobe tools.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Image creation

Adobe Firefly

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Generate images from descriptions
Add, remove or replace visual elements
Support creative workflows across Adobe apps

Good jobs to try

Explore campaign concepts
Repair or extend a photograph
Create visual variations quickly

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Generative credits and feature access vary by plan, app and region.

Video

CapCut

TOOL GUIDE

Quick video editing with AI features.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Video

Descript

TOOL GUIDE

Edit audio and video using a text transcript.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on Desktop, webBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansSome experience

Details ↻Visit

Music

Suno

TOOL GUIDE

Writes and performs a song from a description. What it learned from is being argued in court.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Voice

ElevenLabs

TOOL GUIDE

Reads text aloud in a chosen voice. It can also copy a real voice from a short recording, which is why you should only ever do that with your own.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierSome experience

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Voice

ElevenLabs

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Read text aloud in a chosen voice
Copy a voice from a short recording
Produce the same audio in several languages

Good jobs to try

Narrate a video you made yourself
Listen to a long document while you cook
Give a small business a decent voiceover

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Only ever clone a voice that is yours, or one you have asked permission to use.

Image creation

Midjourney

TOOL GUIDE

Makes pictures from a description. Among the most capable, and among the least free.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansSome experience

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Image creation

Midjourney

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Make pictures from a written description
Reshape or extend a picture you already have
Hold one style across a whole set

Good jobs to try

Illustrate a newsletter
See a room in three colours before painting it
Make a poster for the village fete

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Check what rights you get before using a picture anywhere that earns money.

Video

Runway

TOOL GUIDE

Makes short video from a description or a still image.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierSome experience

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FIELD NOTES / Video

Runway

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Make a few seconds of video from a description
Animate a single still image
Remove or replace part of a clip

Good jobs to try

Background footage for something you are making
Try an idea before you go out and film it
Tidy an unwanted object out of a shot

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Never make video of a real person doing something they did not do.

Productivity

Notion AI

TOOL GUIDE

Summarise and organise notes inside Notion.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansSome experience

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Productivity

Notion AI

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Search information in a workspace
Summarise and draft inside pages
Turn notes into actions and structured content

Good jobs to try

Find an answer across team notes
Summarise a project update
Create a first draft beside your source material

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Its answer is only as reliable and current as the workspace it can access.

Communication

Otter.ai

TOOL GUIDE

Meeting transcription and summaries; seek consent.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Communication

Otter.ai

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Transcribe meetings in real time
Identify speakers and capture action points
Search and question past conversations

Good jobs to try

Create meeting notes
Find a decision without replaying an hour
Send a concise follow-up

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Tell people before recording and check names, numbers and assigned actions.

Writing

Grammarly

TOOL GUIDE

Writing clarity and tone suggestions.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, desktopBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

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Learning

Duolingo Max

TOOL GUIDE

AI conversation practice for language learning.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on MobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Learning

Khanmigo

TOOL GUIDE

Guided learning support from Khan Academy.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansBeginner

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FIELD NOTES / Learning

Khanmigo

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Guide learners with questions
Coach writing without simply supplying answers
Help teachers plan learning activities

Good jobs to try

Work through a stuck homework step
Develop an essay idea
Prepare a lesson or discussion

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Keep teachers and carers involved, especially for assessment and safeguarding.

Coding

GitHub Copilot

TOOL GUIDE

Code suggestions in development tools.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on Desktop, webBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Paid plansSome experience

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Coding

GitHub Copilot

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Suggest code inside an editor
Explain, refactor and test code
Support multi-step coding tasks

Good jobs to try

Remove repetitive boilerplate
Understand an unfamiliar function
Draft tests for behaviour you already understand

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Run and review every change. Plausible code can be insecure or simply wrong.

Productivity

Microsoft Copilot

TOOL GUIDE

Everyday assistance across Microsoft services.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Productivity

Microsoft Copilot

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Answer everyday questions
Draft, summarise and create images
Assist across supported Microsoft products

Good jobs to try

Prepare a first draft
Summarise information
Work with files inside a Microsoft workflow

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Consumer and Microsoft 365 capabilities differ, so check which Copilot you are using.

Health

Wysa

TOOL GUIDE

Wellbeing exercises and conversational support; not clinical care.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on MobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Health

Wysa

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Offer guided wellbeing conversations
Suggest evidence-based self-help exercises
Support reflection and mood awareness

Good jobs to try

Pause during a stressful moment
Practise a grounding exercise
Put feelings into words before seeking support

Keep a human hand on the wheel

It is not a diagnosis, crisis service or replacement for a qualified professional.

Finance

Cleo

TOOL GUIDE

Spending insights and money management features.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on MobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

Productivity

Goblin Tools

TOOL GUIDE

Break overwhelming tasks into smaller steps.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on Web, mobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Productivity

Goblin Tools

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Break daunting tasks into steps
Rewrite text in a chosen tone
Estimate time and interpret written tone

Good jobs to try

Start a task that feels too large
Make a message more formal
Turn a brain-dump into actions

Keep a human hand on the wheel

The creator calls outputs guesswork. Use your own knowledge before acting on them.

Learning

MagicSchool

TOOL GUIDE

Teaching resources and lesson planning support.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level Some experienceAvailable on WebBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

Free tierSome experience

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Learning

MagicSchool

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Create lesson plans, quizzes and resources
Differentiate material for learners
Support feedback and classroom communication

Good jobs to try

Draft a lesson outline
Adapt reading difficulty
Build a starting rubric or quiz

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Follow school policy and review for bias, accuracy and pupil-data privacy.

Parenting

Family Link

TOOL GUIDE

Manage children’s device settings with Google tools.

Official destinationCost labelledPrivacy prompt

Comfort level BeginnerAvailable on MobileBefore you start Check current price and privacy settings

FreeBeginner

Details ↻Visit

FIELD NOTES / Parenting

Family Link

DEEPER LOOK

What it can do

Set screen-time and bedtime limits
Approve apps and manage permissions
View supported device location and content controls

Good jobs to try

Agree healthy device boundaries
Review a new app together
Help locate a family device

Keep a human hand on the wheel

Controls support a conversation; they do not replace trust, context or supervision.

Your next small step

Found a contender but want a calmer first step?

Take the free course ↗

Advanced layer

Go one orbit deeper.

Clear enough for a beginner. Substantial enough to keep the curious ones busy.

LAB / 01

Interoperability matters

Export formats, integrations and data portability determine whether a clever tool becomes useful infrastructure or an expensive island.

LAB / 02

Measure correction cost

A fast first draft is not a saving if you spend longer finding subtle errors. Include checking and rewriting in your comparison.

LAB / 03

Keep an exit route

Know how to export work, delete data and switch providers. Your workflow should belong to you.

Find a tool thatfits your life.

Browse the tools.

ChatGPT

Claude

Gemini

Perplexity

Canva AI

Adobe Firefly

CapCut

Descript

Suno

ElevenLabs

Midjourney

Runway

Notion AI

Otter.ai

Grammarly

Duolingo Max

Khanmigo

GitHub Copilot

Microsoft Copilot

Wysa

Cleo

Goblin Tools

MagicSchool

Family Link

No signal found.

Found a contender but want a calmer first step?

Go one orbit deeper.

Interoperability matters

Measure correction cost

Keep an exit route

Find a tool that
fits your life.