So many AI tools, but which ones actually matter in 2025

It’s 2025. Your browser tabs are groaning. You’ve got seven AI tools bookmarked, four newsletters screaming “TOP 10 TOOLS YOU’RE MISSING,” and every second LinkedIn post sounds like it was written by ChatGPT wearing a finance bros’ Patagonia vest.

There’s a tool for writing tweets, summarizing meetings, designing pitch decks, deep-faking your face into a Ted Talk, and turning a PDF into a PowerPoint with zero context and somehow Comic Sans.

It’s overwhelming to say the least! So let’s cut through the fluff. Here’s a practical, roundup of AI tools that actually matter right now, the ones that’ll save you time, make you look sharp, and help you get back to building what matters.

1. For research - Perplexity.ai

Think of it as ChatGPT with manners and receipts.

Instead of guessing, Perplexity gives you answers with sources, so you can click through and verify. It’s Google for people who don’t want to fall into a Reddit rabbit hole every time they look something up.

Best for:

• Startup founders doing market research
• Writers who want real citations
• Anyone tired of the “as an AI language model…” energy

2. For Images: Midjourney / DALL·E 3 / Ideogram

Need a killer visual for your landing page? AI image tools are now scary good and actually useful.

• Midjourney = artsy, stunning, but Discord-based
• DALL·E 3 (via ChatGPT) = more literal, better for web-ready stuff
• Ideogram = best if you need actual text in the image (like fake product mockups or poster designs)

Best for:

• MVP mockups
• Pitch deck visuals
• Trying to explain your idea with fewer words and more “vibes”

3. For Presentations: gamma.app

Still dragging boxes around in PowerPoint? Please don’t. Gamma builds decks from text prompts. You write what you want to say, it gives you slides that actually look decent.

Bonus: it even builds narrative structure, not just “title + bullets + stock photo of a handshake.”

Best for:

• Investor updates
• Quick idea pitches
• People who hate design but still need to look like they tried

4. For Writing: ChatGPT (with GPT-4)

The writing OG. Still undefeated! If you know how to prompt it right.
Use it for outlines, rewrites, short form, long form, emails, bios, landing page copy, the works.

But remember: it’s not magic. You’ll still need to think and edit, unless you want your copy to sound like it came straight out of a pitch deck generator from 2017.

Pro tip: Tell it what to not to say. You’ll dodge the cringe AI lingo that makes everyone scroll faster.

5. For Sales & Outreach: Clay + Lavender + Instantly

If you’re doing outbound (and let’s be honest, you probably are), these tools are your secret weapons:

• Clay = AI-powered lead scraping + enrichment (find your niche buyer persona fast)
• Lavender = email coaching that actually makes you sound like a human
• Instantly = automates cold outreach at scale, without getting you spam-foldered into oblivion

Best for:

• Early-stage founders doing sales themselves
• Freelancers looking to scale outreach
• People who want to avoid writing “hope this finds you well” ever again

How to use these tools to your advantage?

Here’s the real kicker: most tools are better together. You don’t need a “perfect” tool. You need a workflow.

Try this simple AI stack:

• JDoodle for building quick landing pages
• Perplexity for research
• ChatGPT for writing
• Gamma for pitching
• Midjourney or DALL·E for visuals
• Lavender or Instantly to start selling

In a day, you’ve got a working MVP, a sales email, and a decent-looking deck, no devs, no designers, no delays.

Key Takeaways

The ones that save you time, reduce friction, and help you ship. It’s not about having 37 apps with “.ai” in the domain. It’s about finding the few tools that actually move your idea forward, fast.

So stop chasing every shiny new plugin on Product Hunt. Pick a stack. Ship something. Test it. Learn.

And if you need a landing page for all this? You already know where JDoodle fits in.

FAQs

1. Do I need all these AI tools to start a business?
Nope. You just need the ones that save you time and help you test ideas faster. This blog helps you skip the hype and pick what actually works.

2. Are these tools beginner-friendly?
Yes. Most of the tools mentioned (like JDoodle, ChatGPT, and Gamma) are built to be used without any technical skills. If you can type, you can build with them.

3. Can I use these tools to build a full MVP?
Absolutely. You can research your market, write copy, design visuals, build a landing page, and pitch - all using AI tools. It’s never been easier to test an idea quickly.

4. Are these tools free?
Many have free tiers or trials. You might hit limits on usage or export features, but they’re usually enough to get started and validate your idea before paying a dime.