Canva (+ built-in AI)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: the mainstream graphic design tool (posters, posts, CVs, presentations), supercharged with AI: image generation, retouching, text.
Who it's for: nonprofits, small businesses, parents, students — anyone who needs to "make it look nice" without being a designer.
Jo's verdict: the shortest path from "I can't draw" to a clean-looking visual.
Avoid: getting lost in the options — always start from an existing template.
Checked: 2026-07
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CapCut
IntermediateFree (basic version)
What it is: simplified video editing on your phone, with automatic subtitles and AI tools.
Who it's for: anyone who wants to publish videos (family, business, social media) without complicated software.
Jo's verdict: the automatic subtitles alone are worth a try.
Avoid: sensitive professional use — read the terms about how your content is used.
Checked: 2026-07
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ChatGPT (OpenAI)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: the best-known AI assistant. You write to it like a person, it answers: emails, summaries, explanations, ideas, organizing.
Who it's for: everyone. It's the tool behind Jo's missions — if you pick only one, pick this.
Jo's verdict: the best starting point. The free version is more than enough to begin.
Avoid: trusting it with sensitive data (health, banking) and believing everything it says without checking — it can be confidently wrong.
Checked: 2026-07
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Claude (Anthropic)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: an AI assistant known for its nuanced answers and quality writing, very good with long documents.
Who it's for: people who write a lot or work on big documents that need summarizing.
Jo's verdict: excellent for writing and analysis. Natural tone, a real pleasure to work with.
Avoid: like all assistants — double-check the important facts.
Checked: 2026-07
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DeepL
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: the most natural translator on the market, with DeepL Write to polish your texts.
Who it's for: emails in another language, documents to translate, texts to refine.
Jo's verdict: unbeatable for translation that "sounds right." Simple, instant, no account needed for short texts.
Avoid: important legal documents without a human proofread.
Checked: 2026-07
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Descript
IntermediateFree (basic version)
What it is: you edit a video or podcast by correcting the text of the transcript, just like in a Word document.
Who it's for: podcasters, creators who find editing software too complicated.
Jo's verdict: brilliant for cutting out ums and pauses by editing text. A genuinely fresh idea.
Avoid: very complex video projects — it aims for simplicity, not cinema editing.
Checked: 2026-07
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Duolingo Max (Duolingo)
BeginnerPaid (Duolingo free)
What it is: the AI-powered version of the language app: it explains your mistakes and lets you chat with a virtual conversation partner.
Who it's for: anyone learning a language who wants to practice speaking without stress.
Jo's verdict: a good way to dare to speak without fear of judgment. The free app is already great to get started.
Avoid: thinking the app replaces real conversations — it's practice, not a teacher.
Checked: 2026-07
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ElevenLabs
IntermediateFree (limited trial)
What it is: ultra-realistic AI voices: turn a text into natural voiceover, in dozens of languages.
Who it's for: content creators, teachers, and anyone who wants to listen to their documents instead of reading them.
Jo's verdict: strikingly realistic. Useful, but a "bonus" tool — not a priority to get started.
Avoid: imitating someone's voice without their consent — it's illegal and against everything Jo stands for.
Checked: 2026-07
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Gamma
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: you type your topic and it builds a complete, good-looking presentation (or document, or web page) automatically.
Who it's for: anyone who dreads PowerPoint: nonprofits, freelancers, students, trainers.
Jo's verdict: the fastest shortcut between an idea and a presentable deck. Genuinely handy.
Avoid: delivering it as-is without reviewing — always adjust the text to your reality.
Checked: 2026-07
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Gemini (Google)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: Google's assistant, built into Gmail, Docs and Android — handy if you already live in the Google world.
Who it's for: Gmail/Google Docs users who want AI without switching tools.
Jo's verdict: the most convenient if you're already on Google. Very good with images and search.
Avoid: piling up assistants at the start — pick ONE and learn its habits.
Checked: 2026-07
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Grammarly
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: a smart writing assistant for English: it catches mistakes, clunky phrasing, and helps you write more clearly.
Who it's for: anyone writing in English (work emails, studies, international work).
Jo's verdict: very useful in English, and it goes well beyond a simple spellchecker with its tone and clarity suggestions.
Avoid: leaning on it for anything sensitive without reviewing — it suggests, you decide.
Checked: 2026-07
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HeyGen
IntermediateFree (limited trial)
What it is: it creates videos where a talking avatar reads your text, in many languages — no camera, no filming.
Who it's for: trainers and communicators who want "presenter" videos without filming themselves.
Jo's verdict: impressive, but the "avatar" effect shows. Useful for internal content, not for deceiving anyone.
Avoid: making an avatar say things that mislead people — that's Jo's red line.
Checked: 2026-07
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Khanmigo (Khan Academy)
BeginnerPaid (low price)
What it is: an AI tutor from Khan Academy that does NOT give the answer: it guides the student with questions so they understand.
Who it's for: students, parents, and anyone who wants to learn rather than just copy an answer.
Jo's verdict: exactly the Jo spirit: it teaches you to think rather than doing it for you. Rare and precious.
Avoid: expecting flawless lessons in other languages — the tool is designed mainly for English.
Checked: 2026-07
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Le Chat (Mistral AI 🇫🇷)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: the French AI assistant from Mistral. Fast, flawless in French, with data hosted in Europe.
Who it's for: those who prefer a French/European solution, especially for work.
Jo's verdict: France's pride — very solid day to day, and a real sovereignty/GDPR argument.
Avoid: nothing in particular — same fact-checking rule as the others.
Checked: 2026-07
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Loom
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: you record your screen and voice, and it makes a shareable video — with an AI-generated summary and titles.
Who it's for: anyone who explains things remotely (colleagues, clients, family) without a meeting.
Jo's verdict: replaces dozens of emails with one clear little video. The AI summary is a real plus.
Avoid: recording confidential info without checking who can see the link.
Checked: 2026-07
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Make (🇪🇺)
AdvancedFree (basic version)
What it is: a visual automation tool (European) more powerful than Zapier: you connect apps with detailed scenarios.
Who it's for: those who've caught the automation bug and want to go further, with European hosting.
Jo's verdict: richer than Zapier, but more technical. A good sovereignty choice if you're ready to learn.
Avoid: jumping straight to it — start with Zapier to grasp the logic first.
Checked: 2026-07
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Midjourney
IntermediatePaid (trial possible)
What it is: the AI image generator most famous for the beauty of its output: you describe a scene in words, and it produces an often stunning image.
Who it's for: creators, communicators, curious minds who want artistic visuals without knowing how to draw.
Jo's verdict: the most beautiful output on the market, but reserved for those willing to spend a bit of time (and money) on it. Not the first reflex for beginners.
Avoid: thinking one try is enough — you need to rephrase several times. And watch the usage rights depending on your plan.
Checked: 2026-07
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NotebookLM (Google)
IntermediateFree
What it is: you give it YOUR documents (course notes, contracts, notes) and it answers only from them — it can even turn them into a podcast-style audio summary.
Who it's for: students, revisers, and anyone who has to digest a pile of documents.
Jo's verdict: stunning for revising and understanding your own documents. Fewer made-up answers, because it relies on your sources.
Avoid: uploading confidential company documents without permission.
Checked: 2026-07
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Notion AI (Notion)
IntermediatePaid (Notion free)
What it is: the AI built into Notion, the notes and organization tool: it summarizes your pages, writes, tidies up and finds info in your own documents.
Who it's for: people who already manage projects, notes and to-dos in Notion and want to save time.
Jo's verdict: excellent IF you already live in Notion. Otherwise, don't overhaul your whole system just for the AI.
Avoid: migrating everything to Notion at once — start small, with a single space.
Checked: 2026-07
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Otter
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: it listens to your meetings and automatically writes up minutes, with the key points.
Who it's for: people who go from meeting to meeting and never have time to take notes (especially in English).
Jo's verdict: a real time-saver in English. In other languages, the transcription is decent but less perfect.
Avoid: recording people without warning them — always let them know before you start transcribing.
Checked: 2026-07
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Perplexity
IntermediateFree (basic version)
What it is: an AI search engine: you ask a question, it answers with cited sources — that's the big plus.
Who it's for: people looking for reliable info who want to be able to verify where it comes from.
Jo's verdict: the right "search" reflex: the sources are clickable, you can verify. Exactly the Jo spirit.
Avoid: stopping at the summary without ever clicking the sources for important topics.
Checked: 2026-07
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Photoroom (🇫🇷)
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: a French app that cuts out your photos and creates clean product visuals in seconds (white background, styled background, retouching).
Who it's for: small shops, online sellers, makers who photograph their products.
Jo's verdict: France's pride for product visuals: simple, fast, effective right from your phone.
Avoid: expecting flawless studio results on very complex objects — check the cutout.
Checked: 2026-07
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Remove.bg
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: you drop in a photo, it removes the background in one click. That's it, and it's perfect.
Who it's for: everyone: profile photo, product to sell, simple montage.
Jo's verdict: the perfect example of a tool that does ONE thing and does it very well. One to keep in your favorites.
Avoid: nothing — it's one of the simplest and most honest on the Radar.
Checked: 2026-07
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Runway
AdvancedFree (limited trial)
What it is: an AI video creation studio: generate clips from text or images, special effects, advanced editing.
Who it's for: creators and curious minds ready to experiment with generative video.
Jo's verdict: impressive, but it's an enthusiast's tool, not a first step. Look at it to understand where AI video is heading.
Avoid: expecting a finished film in one click — it's a workshop, not a magic button.
Checked: 2026-07
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Suno
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: you describe a song (style, theme, lyrics) and it composes and sings a full track in seconds.
Who it's for: curious people, parents, creators who want a little personal song to have fun or add background music.
Jo's verdict: magical the first time. Use it for fun and experimentation, keeping a cool head about usage rights.
Avoid: reusing it commercially without checking the terms, and thinking you're a pro composer overnight.
Checked: 2026-07
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Synthesia
IntermediatePaid (trial possible)
What it is: an avatar video studio, geared toward training and business: you write a script, it produces a presented video.
Who it's for: companies and trainers who produce a lot of instructional videos.
Jo's verdict: very professional for training, but it's a tool for organizations, not individuals. Paid.
Avoid: getting it for a one-off use — it's built for regular production.
Checked: 2026-07
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Udio
BeginnerFree (basic version)
What it is: an AI music generator very close to Suno: you write an idea, it makes a sung song.
Who it's for: the same people as Suno — to compare and pick the one whose output you prefer.
Jo's verdict: an excellent Suno competitor. Try both, keep the one that sounds best to your ear.
Avoid: piling up music subscriptions — one is plenty.
Checked: 2026-07
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Zapier
IntermediateFree (basic version)
What it is: an "automation robot": it connects your apps to each other to do tasks for you (e.g. filing an attachment, sending a message).
Who it's for: freelancers and small teams who repeat the same steps every day.
Jo's verdict: a real time-saver once you get the hang of it. Start with ONE simple, useful automation.
Avoid: trying to automate everything at once — you'll get lost. One step at a time.
Checked: 2026-07
Visit the site →
No tools in this category yet — the Radar grows regularly.
How to choose your AI tool (without getting it wrong)
The first mistake is wanting to try everything. There are thousands of AI tools, and 90% will never be of any use to you. The right question isn't "what's the best tool?" but "what do I need, today, for a specific task?". Writing a clearer email, summarizing a document, cutting out a photo, revising for a course: each need maps to a small family of tools, and often just one is enough.
Jo's advice comes down to three words: one first. Choose a general-purpose assistant — ChatGPT, Mistral's Le Chat if you prefer French, or Gemini if you already live on Google — and learn its habits for two weeks before adding another. You'll make progress ten times faster than by hopping from one tool to the next. A tool you've mastered beats ten you've skimmed.
Then look at three things before committing: the real price (many tools are free to start, keep your money as long as free is enough), where your data goes (never trust sensitive information — health, banking, confidential documents — to a tool you don't know), and the language (some shine in English but disappoint in other languages). The Radar entries give you these markers for each tool, with Jo's honest verdict and the traps to avoid.
Finally, always keep your critical mind. An AI tool sometimes gets things wrong with total confidence. It replaces neither your judgment nor a professional when the stakes are high. The right method: the AI makes a first version, you check it and you decide. Truth before hype — that's the whole philosophy of the Radar.
Frequently asked questions
Which free AI tool should I start with?
ChatGPT's free version is the best starting point: you talk to it like a person, and it helps with emails, summaries, explanations. If you prefer a French solution, Mistral's Le Chat is free and excellent in French. One is enough to begin.
Do you have to pay to use AI?
No, not to get started. Most tools on the Radar have a free version that's more than enough. Only switch to paid the day you truly hit a specific limit — and the tool already saves you time day to day.
Is AI dangerous for my personal data?
It can be if you feed it anything and everything. Jo's rule: never share sensitive information (health, bank details, confidential company documents) with a mainstream tool. For everything else — writing, learning, organizing — the risk stays low. When in doubt, favor a European solution like Le Chat or Mistral.
How many AI tools should you use?
One at the start, truly. Choose a general-purpose assistant, learn it for two weeks, then add a specialized tool only when a concrete need appears (cutting out photos, translating, editing a video). Better one mastered tool than ten you've skimmed.
Can you trust what an AI says?
Not blindly. An AI can be wrong with great confidence. For anything important, check its answers — a tool like Perplexity, which cites its sources, is made for exactly that. The AI proposes, you check and you decide.