AI Tools by Use Case
Short answer
Start from the job, not the brand. For coding, compare Copilot, Cursor and the terminal agents (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI). For writing and analysis, compare ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. For video after Sora, compare Runway, Luma and avatar tools. For self-hosting, compare open-weight models by licence. Each guide below states when its data was checked.
Task → tools → guide
| Task | Tools to compare | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Write code with AI | GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI | Best AI coding assistants |
| Pick a coding agent | Claude Code, Cursor, OpenAI Codex | Claude Code vs Cursor vs Codex |
| Choose a general AI assistant | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini | ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini |
| Make video | Runway, Luma, Kling, Veo, Synthesia, HeyGen | Best AI video generators |
| Run a model yourself | Qwen3.8, Kimi K3, DeepSeek, Gemma, gpt-oss | Best open-weight LLMs |
| Spend nothing | Free plans and open-weight models with verified limits | Best free AI tools |
| Automate work with agents | Claude Code, Codex, Lindy, n8n, Intercom Fin | Best AI agents |
| Generate speech | ElevenLabs, Murf, PlayHT, Speechify | How to choose an AI voice generator |
How to use these guides
Each guide leads with a short answer, then a table with a checked date for every price. Cells marked 'Check provider' mean we could not confirm the price on the provider's own page, so we did not publish a number. Evidence labels (Verified, Reported, Claimed by provider, Editorial assessment) tell you how much weight to give each claim.
If a tool you rely on has shut down, start with the alternatives section.
Every page in this section
- ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini in October 2026
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini compared in October 2026: current models, plans, API prices where confirmed, context windows and which to pick for what.
Comparison · updated 5 October 2026
- GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Tabnine (October 2026)
GitHub Copilot, Cursor and Tabnine compared on current plans, free limits, editor support, privacy and workflow fit. Prices checked October 2026.
Comparison · updated 5 October 2026
- Best AI Video Generators in 2026 (After Sora)
AI video tools after Sora's shutdown: Runway, Luma, Pika, Kling, Veo, Synthesia and HeyGen compared by use, clip length, audio and licence. October 2026.
Buyer's guide · updated 5 October 2026
- Claude Code vs Cursor vs OpenAI Codex
Claude Code, Cursor and OpenAI Codex compared on how you get them, price, where they run and where each fits. Access terms checked October 2026.
Comparison · updated 5 October 2026
- Best AI Coding Assistants in 2026
AI coding assistants compared: Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and more by workflow, free limits and verified prices. Checked October 2026.
Buyer's guide · updated 5 October 2026
- Best Free AI Tools in 2026: What You Actually Get
Free AI plans and open-weight models whose limits we verified on official pages: Copilot, Cursor, Claude, Gemini CLI, gpt-oss and more. Checked October 2026.
Buyer's guide · updated 5 October 2026
- Best Open-Weight LLMs in 2026
Open-weight language models compared by licence, size, context and how to run them: Qwen3.8, Kimi K3, DeepSeek, Gemma and gpt-oss. From vendor repositories.
Buyer's guide · updated 5 October 2026
- The best AI podcast generators, sorted by who writes the script
AI podcast generators compared by who writes the script, free plan, commercial rights and voice cloning. Prices checked on vendor pages, Oct 2026.
Buyer's guide · updated 5 October 2026
What changed in this update
- Added guides for coding assistants, free plans, open-weight models and coding agents; rewrote the video guide after Sora's shutdown.
- This hub now lists every comparison and best-of guide instead of six links.
Common questions
How do I choose the right AI tool?
Start with the task you need done, check whether a tool you already pay for covers it, then compare two or three options on the plan you would actually buy, using your own inputs.
How current are these comparisons?
Each guide shows its update date. Prices are re-checked monthly; pages with data older than 45 days show a notice.
Sources
- GitHub Copilot plans · checked 5 October 2026
- Cursor pricing · checked 5 October 2026
- Claude pricing · checked 5 October 2026