The Solo Worker’s AI Stack
As a solo worker or indie founder, you’re wearing every hat. AI can help, but only if you pick the right tools and use them deliberately.
This guide focuses on tools that actually save time - not tools that sound impressive in a demo.
Writing and Communication
| Tool | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (Plus) | General writing, brainstorming, quick research | $20/mo |
| Claude | Long-form content, reports, analysis | $20/mo |
| DeepSeek | Chinese content, cost-effective alternative | Free |
| Grammarly | Grammar and tone improvement | Free tier available |
My recommendation: Start with ChatGPT Plus. Add Claude if you write long-form content regularly.
Research and Information
- Perplexity Pro: Best for research with source citations
- Google Gemini: Deep Google integration, free tier is solid
- ChatGPT with browsing: Good enough for most use cases
Coding and Development
- Cursor: Best AI-powered IDE for solo devs
- GitHub Copilot: Solid, integrates with VS Code
- Claude Code: Great for larger code tasks and debugging
Automation
- Make (Integromat): Visual automation builder, excellent free tier
- n8n: Self-hostable, privacy-focused
- Zapier: Biggest app ecosystem, easiest to start
The Solo Stack
Here’s what I recommend for most solo workers:
- ChatGPT Plus for general tasks ($20/mo)
- Cursor for coding ($20/mo)
- Make for automation (free tier to start)
- Perplexity for research (free tier often enough)
Total: ~$40-60/month for a complete AI-powered workflow.
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. Prices and features may change. Check official websites for current information.
