Pick your workflow, budget, and must-have capabilities. Get a practical AI stack instead of another random subscription list.
Inputs
Primary workflow
Budget
Must-have capabilities
Recommended stack
Use one premium assistant for planning, one coding cockpit for repo work, and one research tool for market/source checks.
Cursor
Primary coding environmentBest for agentic edits, repo context, and long-running coding work.
Claude Code
Careful codebase workUse for multi-file refactors, debugging, and technical planning.
Perplexity Pro
Fast source researchUse for market scans, API docs, competitor checks, and citations.
Monthly cost
$40-$80/mo
$40-$80/mo if you keep one paid coding tool plus one research/general assistant.
Free alternative
Use ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, and GitHub Copilot Free until paid agent runs save billable build time.
Upgrade trigger
Upgrade only when agent runs save more than 3-4 hours per month.
6 profiles
pro
$40-$80/mo
Use one premium assistant for planning, one coding cockpit for repo work, and one research tool for market/source checks.
Free path: Use ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, and GitHub Copilot Free until paid agent runs save billable build time.
paid
$20-$50/mo
Separate live discovery, private-source synthesis, and deep reasoning so your research does not collapse into one messy chat.
Free path: Use Perplexity Standard plus NotebookLM free uploads before paying for deeper recurring research runs.
paid
$15-$50/mo
Use AI to move from concept to production assets without flattening everything into generic prompt art.
Free path: Start with Canva Free, Claude Free, and manual publishing before adding paid media or brand workflow tools.
team
$20-$60/user/mo
Choose the AI layer that sits closest to where your team already works, then add research and automation around it.
Free path: Use existing workspace AI trials and manual Zapier/n8n recipes until repeat workflows are proven.
free
$0/mo
Use free tiers intentionally instead of scattering work across every shiny app.
Free path: This is the free baseline: use limits intentionally and pay only where recurring work hits friction.
scale
$0+ variable infra
Use open and low-cost models where control, privacy, or unit economics matter more than consumer-app polish.
Free path: Stay with hosted free or paid consumer plans until privacy, volume, or unit economics justify infrastructure.