AI pricing report
What AI tools really cost: November 2026
We read the pricing pages of 470 AI tools ourselves. Here is what the free plans and the cheapest paid plans look like, by category.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026. Only tools whose prices we read on the vendor's own pricing page are counted.
Key numbers
- 71% have a free plan. 336 of the 470 tools we checked offer a free plan or free allowance. Most have limits, such as credits, watermarks or a cap on files.
- The typical cheapest paid plan is $20 a month. That is the median entry price on monthly billing across 198 tools that show a US dollar monthly price. Half of them start between $10 and $29.
- Paying yearly usually saves about 20%. That is the median saving across 176 plans that show both a monthly and a yearly price.
- 96 tools sell credits instead of a simple monthly plan. For these, the price alone does not tell you how much you can make, so read what a credit buys.
By category
"Typical entry price" is the median of each tool's cheapest plan on monthly billing, in US dollars. Shown only where at least 5 tools in the category list such a price.
What this means if you are choosing a tool
- Try the free plan first. Most tools have one, and it is often enough to see if the tool fits.
- Check what the free plan really includes. Watermarks, one-time credits and file limits are common.
- If you will keep using a tool, compare the yearly price. It is usually about a fifth cheaper.
- Browse free AI tools by category or compare two tools on tool vs tool.
How we made this report
Every number comes from tools labelled "verified" on AI RightFit: we read their plans and prices on the vendor's own pricing page. Tools shown only in another currency are counted for free plans but left out of the dollar figures. We have not tested the tools. Prices change, so check the vendor's page before you pay. See how we verify.
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