Best Free AI Tools in 2026: 12 Verified Picks

Plenty of apps call themselves free, then hide the useful parts behind a paywall or send you to an unofficial download mirror. This guide covers 12 free AI tools we have checked against their official websites and stores, with honest pricing labels.

Comparison at a glance

Name	Pricing	Platforms
Canva	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
Adobe Firefly	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
Bing Image Creator	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
ChatGPT	Free Plan	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Claude	Free Plan	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Google Gemini	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
Ideogram	Free Plan	iOS, Web
Leonardo.Ai	Free Plan	iOS, Web
Microsoft Copilot	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web, Windows
Microsoft Designer	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
Perplexity	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web
Photoroom	Free Plan	Android, iOS, Web

How we chose these free AI tools

Every pick is listed in the Welcome Free Tools directory, where an editor checks the official website or official app-store page before a listing goes live. We link only to official sources, never to download mirrors or modified APKs. Pricing labels describe what you get without paying, and where a paid plan or in-app purchases exist, we say so.

"Best" here means a strong fit for most people looking for a free option, not a paid ranking. No listing in this article is sponsored.

1. Canva

Online graphic design tool with templates for social posts, presentations and documents; free plan available.

You can create social media graphics, presentations, posters, flyers, invitations, documents, logos, short videos and more by choosing a template and changing the text, colours, photos and elements. Canva includes a library of graphics and photos, lets you upload your own images and fonts, and supports sharing designs with others for comments or editing. Designs can be downloaded as images, PDFs or videos, or shared by link.

Canva has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Large library of templates for many formats
• Drag-and-drop editing in the browser and mobile apps
• Upload your own images and fonts
• Team sharing and commenting
• Download as image, PDF or video

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Canva

Canva listing and official links · Official website

2. Adobe Firefly

Adobe's AI image generator and editor; the free plan includes a monthly allowance of generative credits.

Firefly works in the web browser and has mobile apps. Signing in with a free Adobe account gives a limited number of generative credits each month, and paid Adobe plans include more credits and extra features. Adobe states that its own Firefly models are trained on licensed and public-domain content, which makes it popular with designers who care about usage rights.

Adobe Firefly has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Text-to-image generation
• Generative fill to add or remove objects
• Text effects and design variations
• Free monthly generative credits with an Adobe account
• Web and mobile apps

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Adobe

Adobe Firefly listing and official links · Official website

3. Bing Image Creator

Free AI image generator from Microsoft that turns text prompts into pictures; requires a free Microsoft account.

It runs in the web browser at bing.com and is also available inside the Bing and Microsoft Copilot apps for Android and iOS. A free Microsoft account is needed to create images. Generation speed and daily limits can change, and Microsoft applies content rules to what can be created.

Bing Image Creator has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Create images from a text prompt
• Several image options per prompt
• Works in the browser and Bing/Copilot apps
• Free with a Microsoft account
• Content safety rules applied by Microsoft

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Microsoft

Bing Image Creator listing and official links · Official website

4. ChatGPT

AI assistant from OpenAI for writing, answering questions, analysis and more; free plan with usage limits.

You interact with ChatGPT by typing or speaking in natural language. It can help draft and edit text, explain topics, brainstorm ideas, summarise documents, answer questions, help with programming and translate between languages. Depending on your plan and region, it can also work with uploaded files and images, search the web and create images. The free plan gives access with usage limits, and paid plans offer higher limits and additional…

ChatGPT has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Natural-language chat by text or voice
• Writing, summarising and translation help
• Programming assistance
• File and image understanding on supported plans
• Free plan with usage limits; paid plans available

• Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
• Developer: OpenAI

ChatGPT listing and official links · Official website

5. Claude

AI assistant from Anthropic for writing, analysis, coding and research; free plan with usage limits.

Claude can help with writing and editing, summarising long documents, analysing information, answering questions, brainstorming and programming. You can upload documents and images for it to work with, and organise related conversations and files into projects. The free plan provides access with usage limits, while paid plans offer higher limits and access to additional models and features.

Claude has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Writing, editing and summarising help
• Document and image uploads
• Programming assistance
• Projects to organise related chats and files
• Free plan with usage limits; paid plans available

• Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
• Developer: Anthropic

Claude listing and official links · Official website

6. Google Gemini

Google's AI assistant for writing, planning, brainstorming and questions; free with optional paid plans.

You can ask Gemini questions, get help writing and editing text, plan trips, brainstorm ideas, summarise information and get help with code. It can understand images you share and, with your permission, connect to other Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive and Google Maps to help with tasks that use your own information. A Google account is required. Basic use is free, and paid Google plans unlock more capable…

Google Gemini has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Writing, planning and brainstorming help
• Image understanding
• Optional connections to Google services such as Gmail and Drive
• Available on web, Android and iOS
• Free use with optional paid Google plans

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Google

Google Gemini listing and official links · Official website

7. Ideogram

AI image generator known for clear, readable text inside images; free plan with limited daily generations.

You write a prompt, choose a style and aspect ratio, and Ideogram produces several images. It runs in the web browser and has an iOS app. A free account includes a limited number of generations, while paid plans add more generations, private images and extra editing tools. On the free plan, images may be public by default.

Ideogram has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Text-to-image generation
• Strong typography and readable text in images
• Style and aspect ratio options
• Free plan with limited generations
• Web and iOS app

• Platforms: iOS, Web
• Developer: Ideogram

Ideogram listing and official links · Official website

8. Leonardo.Ai

AI image and video generation platform with many art styles; free plan with a daily token allowance.

It works in the web browser and has a mobile app. A free account receives a daily allowance of tokens for generating images, and paid plans provide more tokens, faster generation and private creations.

Leonardo.Ai has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Text-to-image with many models and styles
• Image upscaling and editing tools
• Short AI video generation
• Free daily token allowance
• Web and mobile app

• Platforms: iOS, Web
• Developer: Leonardo Interactive

Leonardo.Ai listing and official links · Official website

9. Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, writing, learning and everyday tasks; free to use with a Microsoft account option.

Copilot can answer questions, help write and rewrite text, brainstorm, explain topics, summarise web pages and help plan everyday tasks. You can talk to it by voice as well as by typing, and it can understand images you share. Copilot can be used for free, and signing in with a Microsoft account keeps your conversation history. Some advanced features and integration with Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and Excel…

Microsoft Copilot has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Chat by text or voice
• Writing and summarising help
• Image understanding
• Available on web, Windows, Android and iOS
• Free use; some features require paid Microsoft plans

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Windows
• Developer: Microsoft

Microsoft Copilot listing and official links · Official website

10. Microsoft Designer

Free AI design app from Microsoft for images, social posts, invitations and photo edits; requires a Microsoft account.

It also includes AI photo editing features such as removing backgrounds, erasing objects and restyling images, depending on your region and plan. Designer works in the web browser and as mobile apps, and needs a free Microsoft account. Some features and higher limits are tied to paid Microsoft plans.

Microsoft Designer has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Generate images and designs from a description
• Templates for posts, invitations and cards
• AI background removal and photo editing tools
• Free with a Microsoft account
• Web and mobile apps

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Microsoft

Microsoft Designer listing and official links · Official website

11. Perplexity

AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and shows sources for its answers; free plan available.

You can ask follow-up questions in the same thread, focus searches on particular types of sources, and upload files to ask questions about them. Collections let you organise research by topic. The free plan includes standard searches with limits on advanced features, and a paid plan provides more advanced searches and access to additional AI models.

Perplexity has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• Direct answers with cited sources
• Follow-up questions in the same thread
• File uploads for questions about documents
• Collections to organise research
• Free plan with optional paid plan

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Perplexity AI

Perplexity listing and official links · Official website

12. Photoroom

AI photo editor for product photos, background removal and AI backgrounds; free plan with limits.

It is available as apps for Android and iOS and in the web browser. The free plan covers core editing with some limits, such as a watermark or export restrictions on certain features, while the paid plan removes those limits and adds batch editing.

Photoroom has a free plan you can keep using at no cost; paid plans add more features or higher limits.

Highlights:

• AI background removal
• AI-generated backgrounds and shadows
• Templates for marketplace and social photos
• Free plan with limits
• Web, Android and iOS

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
• Developer: Photoroom

Photoroom listing and official links · Official website

Which free AI tools should you choose?

• On a Windows PC? ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot have an official Windows version.
• Using a Mac? ChatGPT and Claude have an official macOS version.
• On Android? Canva, Adobe Firefly, Bing Image Creator and ChatGPT have an official Android version.

How to download free software safely

Free software is only a good deal if you get the real thing. Repackaged installers, cracked "premium" versions and modified APK files are a common way to spread adware and malware.

• Download from the developer's official website or an official app store such as Google Play, the Apple App Store or Microsoft Store.
• Check the address bar: the domain should match the developer's official site.
• Skip download buttons inside ads, and any page that asks you to turn off your antivirus.
• Be wary of anything that promises paid features for free; that usually means an unofficial build.

Every listing on Welcome Free Tools links only to official sources. See how we verify official sources.

Final thoughts

You do not need to pay to get good AI tools. Start with Canva and Adobe Firefly, and check each pricing label before you sign up so there are no surprises later. Browse every verified listing in this category.

Frequently asked questions

Are these AI tools really free?

Yes, you can use every option here without paying. Canva, Adobe Firefly, Bing Image Creator, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Ideogram, Leonardo.Ai, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Designer, Perplexity and Photoroom have a free tier, with optional paid upgrades or in-app purchases.

Which of these AI tools work on iPhone and iPad?

Canva, Adobe Firefly, Bing Image Creator, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Ideogram, Leonardo.Ai, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Designer, Perplexity and Photoroom have an official version for iPhone and iPad, according to their official sources.

Where can I download these AI tools safely?

Only from each developer's official website or an official app store. Every listing on Welcome Free Tools links to official sources only, so the links in this guide point to the real thing.