My $0/month AI stack (and the 4 paid tools I cancelled)

Two months ago I looked at my software subscriptions and wanted to cry.

$237/month for tools I "needed."

Then I tried replacing each one with a free AI alternative. Most flopped. A few actually worked better.

Here's the swap list — the tools I kept, the ones I cancelled, and the exact replacements.

Cancelled: Notion AI ($10/mo)

Replaced with: ChatGPT free + Claude free

I was using Notion AI for quick summaries and rewrites. Turns out I was already using ChatGPT in another tab. Cancelled. No difference.

Cancelled: Jasper AI ($49/mo)

Replaced with: Claude free + my own prompt template

Jasper is great for marketing copy. But Claude free + a saved Google Doc with 10 prompt templates does 90% of what Jasper did for me. I cancelled Jasper 3 weeks ago and haven't missed it.

Cancelled: Surfer SEO ($89/mo)

Replaced with: Perplexity free + manual SERP analysis

Surfer's NLP optimization is real. But for a new site, the difference in rankings between "Surfer-optimized" and "well-researched and edited" is tiny. I use Perplexity free to research competitors, then write naturally.

Cancelled: ConvertKit ($29/mo)

Replaced with: Beehiiv free

I'm running a smaller list. ConvertKit's automation was overkill. Beehiiv's free tier has welcome sequences, forms, and recommendations — all I need at my stage.

Kept: Canva free

Still the best free design tool. The lead magnet I shared last week? Built entirely in Canva free. No complaints.

Kept: Buffer free

Schedules my social posts across 3 channels. Saves me 2 hours/week.

Kept: Google Drive + Docs

Free. Everywhere. Done.

The math

Before: $237/month

After: $0/month

Annual savings: $2,844

Did I lose anything? Honestly, no. The AI tools are good enough for the side hustles I'm building. If I scale to a real business, I'll re-subscribe to the ones that earn their cost back.

This week's experiment

I'm documenting how I built an AI micro-tool website in 7 days using only this free stack. Next Friday: full breakdown with real costs and (hopefully) earnings.

If you want to try the stack, I dropped the full list in the free AI Income Stack playbook.

What's a paid AI tool you cancelled (or want to)? Hit reply — I'm collecting swaps for a future issue.