Software pricing labels sound simple, but "free" can mean several different things. On this site every tool shows one of the labels below. Here is what each means and what to check.
Free
The tool can be used without paying, with no paid upgrade required for its core purpose. Free tools may be funded by advertising, donations or a larger company.
Check: how the product is funded, whether your data is used for advertising, and whether it is still actively maintained.
Freemium
A permanent free plan exists, plus paid plans with more features or higher limits. Most SaaS tools work this way.
Check:
- the exact limits of the free plan (words, minutes, projects, exports);
- whether free exports carry a watermark;
- whether important features — such as commercial use rights — are paid only.
Free trial
You can use the paid product for a limited time, after which you must pay or lose access. Some trials need a payment card up front and convert to a paid plan automatically.
Check: the trial length, whether a card is required, how to cancel, and what happens to your work when the trial ends.
Paid
There is no free plan. Some paid products offer a money-back guarantee instead of a trial.
Check: the refund terms, the contract length, and — especially for hosting and security software — the difference between the introductory price and the renewal price.
"Unknown" on our pages
When we have not yet verified a tool's current pricing, we show Unknown or "Check current pricing on the official website" instead of guessing. Pricing changes often, so every tool page also shows the date pricing was last checked.
The hidden costs to look for
- Per-seat pricing that multiplies as your team grows.
- Usage-based pricing (credits, tasks, operations) that grows with activity.
- Annual billing required for the advertised monthly price.
- Add-ons sold separately from the base plan.
- Currency and tax differences between the USA, UK, EU, India and Australia.
Use the pricing labels as a starting point, then confirm the details on the official pricing page before you buy. Browse all tools and filter by free, freemium or paid.
Tools mentioned in this guide
Grammarly
Writing Tools
Writing assistant for grammar, spelling, punctuation and clarity suggestions, with AI writing features and a browser extension.
Fliki
Video Tools
AI tool for turning text, scripts and ideas into videos with AI voiceovers.
Pictory
Video Tools
AI video tool for turning scripts and articles into videos and repurposing long recordings into short clips.
Hostinger
Website Tools
Web hosting provider offering shared, WordPress and cloud hosting, domains and a website builder.
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