Two years ago, AI tools for developers meant one thing: autocomplete. Now they do everything — write code, review code, create designs, generate tests, manage databases, deploy apps, and even write documentation.
Here are the 10 AI tools I actually use. Not tools I read about. Tools that are open on my computer right now.
1. Cursor — The Code Editor
What it does: AI-powered code editor that writes, edits, and refactors code.
Why I use it: Cursor replaced VS Code for me. Same interface, same extensions, but the AI is built into everything. Tab completion predicts what I want before I finish typing. The Composer mode lets me describe changes in English and Cursor edits multiple files at once.
The one feature I can’t live without: Inline edit. Select code, press Cmd+K, describe what I want changed. Cursor rewrites just that section. Takes 3 seconds instead of 3 minutes.
Price: Free tier available. Pro at $20/month.
2. Claude Code — The Terminal Agent
What it does: AI coding agent that runs in your terminal. Reads your project, writes code, runs tests, handles git.
Why I use it: When I hit a hard problem — a bug that spans 5 files, a big refactor, understanding someone else’s code — Claude Code handles it better than any other tool. It can read your entire codebase and make changes that actually fit.
The one feature I can’t live without: Multi-file refactoring. “Rename this service and update every file that imports it.” Done in 30 seconds.
Price: Requires Claude Pro at $20/month. Full power at $100-200/month.
3. GitHub Copilot — The Autocomplete
What it does: AI code suggestions inside your existing editor. Works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and more.
Why I use it: Sometimes I don’t need Cursor or Claude Code. I just need fast autocomplete in Android Studio. Copilot handles that. It is the simplest AI tool to set up — install the extension and start typing.
The one feature I can’t live without: Ghost text completion. You start typing a function, and Copilot shows the full implementation in gray. Press Tab. Done.
Price: Free tier (2,000 completions/month). Pro at $10/month.
4. Claude.ai — The Thinking Partner
What it does: Browser-based AI chat. Ask anything about code, architecture, debugging, or concepts.
Why I use it: Not for writing code — for thinking about code. “Should I use Room or SQLDelight for this project?” “Explain the trade-offs between MVI and MVVM.” “Review this architecture diagram.” Claude gives thoughtful, detailed answers.
The one feature I can’t live without: Uploading files. Drag a screenshot of an error, a code file, or a diagram into the chat. Claude understands all of them.
Price: Free with daily limits. Pro at $20/month.
5. ChatGPT — The Quick Answer
What it does: General AI chat with coding ability. Good for quick questions and code snippets.
Why I use it: Fast answers to simple questions. “How do I parse JSON in Kotlin?” “What is the regex for email validation?” “Convert this Java code to Kotlin.” ChatGPT is the fastest for these small tasks.
The one feature I can’t live without: Code interpreter. Paste a CSV, ask ChatGPT to analyze it, and it writes and runs Python code in the browser. Great for quick data tasks.
Price: Free tier available. Plus at $20/month.
6. v0 by Vercel — The UI Generator
What it does: Generates frontend UI components from text descriptions. Outputs React + Tailwind code.
Why I use it: When I need a web UI fast. “Create a pricing page with three tiers” or “Design a dashboard with a sidebar and charts.” v0 generates clean, ready-to-use code with a live preview.
The one feature I can’t live without: The live preview. You see the UI as v0 generates it. You can keep prompting to adjust colors, layout, and components until it looks right.
Price: Free tier available. Pro for more generations.
7. Perplexity — The Research Tool
What it does: AI-powered search engine. Ask a question, get a sourced answer with links.
Why I use it: When I need to research a library, compare tools, or find documentation. “What is the latest version of Jetpack Navigation Compose?” “How does Hilt compare to Koin in 2026?” Perplexity gives answers with links to the actual sources.
The one feature I can’t live without: Follow-up questions. Ask a question, read the answer, then ask a follow-up without starting over. It keeps context.
Price: Free for basic use. Pro at $20/month for more advanced models.
8. Warp — The Smart Terminal
What it does: A modern terminal with AI built in. Ask questions, get command suggestions, and understand error messages — all inside your terminal.
Why I use it: Every developer lives in the terminal. Warp makes it smarter. When a command fails, Warp explains the error and suggests a fix. When you forget a command, type what you want in English and Warp suggests the right command.
The one feature I can’t live without: AI command search. Type # followed by what you want. “# find all large files over 100MB” → Warp suggests find . -size +100M. No more googling terminal commands.
Price: Free for personal use.
9. Notion AI — The Documentation Tool
What it does: AI writing and organization inside Notion. Summarize, draft, translate, and organize documents.
Why I use it: Every project needs documentation. Notion AI helps me write it. “Summarize these meeting notes.” “Write a README for this project.” “Create a technical spec from these bullet points.” It saves hours of writing.
The one feature I can’t live without: Summarize. Paste a long document, click summarize, get the key points. Perfect for reading other people’s documents.
Price: Notion Free plan available. AI features from $8/month.
10. Gemini Code Assist — The Free Powerhouse
What it does: AI coding assistant by Google. Autocomplete, chat, test generation, debugging — all free.
Why I use it: 180,000 free code completions per month. That is 90x more than Copilot Free. It works natively in Android Studio, which is perfect for Android development. And it is completely free.
The one feature I can’t live without: The “finish changes” feature. Start writing half a function or leave a TODO comment, and Gemini figures out what you were trying to do and completes it.
Price: Free. No credit card needed.
How I Use Them Together
I don’t use all 10 at the same time. Here is my daily setup:
For Coding
Cursor (main editor)
+ Claude Code (for hard problems, open in terminal)
+ Copilot (in Android Studio when working on Android)
For Thinking
Claude.ai (complex questions, architecture)
+ ChatGPT (quick questions, code snippets)
+ Perplexity (research, comparing tools)
For Everything Else
v0 (when I need a web UI fast)
Warp (my terminal)
Notion AI (documentation)
Gemini Code Assist (Android Studio, free autocomplete)
My Monthly Cost
| Tool | Plan | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor Pro | $20/month | $20 |
| Claude Pro | $20/month | $20 |
| Copilot | Free | $0 |
| ChatGPT | Free | $0 |
| v0 | Free | $0 |
| Perplexity | Free | $0 |
| Warp | Free | $0 |
| Notion | Free | $0 |
| Gemini Code Assist | Free | $0 |
| Total | $40/month |
$40/month for tools that save me hours every day. That is the best investment in my career.
Where to Start If You Use Nothing
Don’t install 10 tools at once. Start with these two:
- Gemini Code Assist (free) — install it in your editor today
- Claude.ai (free tier) — use it in your browser when you need help
Use those for a week. When you feel the limits, upgrade to:
- Cursor Pro ($20/month) — if you want a better editor
- Claude Pro ($20/month) — if you need Claude Code or more chat
That is the most natural upgrade path. Free → $20 → $40/month as you grow.
The Bottom Line
AI tools in 2026 are not a nice-to-have. They are the new standard. Every developer I know uses at least 2-3 of these tools daily.
If you are not using any AI tools yet — start today. Pick one free tool from this list. You will wonder how you ever coded without it.
Related Articles
- Cursor vs Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot — detailed comparison of the top three AI coding tools.
- Best Free AI Coding Tools in 2026 — more free options to add to your toolkit.