Introduction:
Let’s face it AI tools are everywhere right now. But while everyone’s talking about ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Copilot, there’s a whole world of lesser-known AI tools quietly crushing it in the background. Tools that save you time, boost your productivity, and (honestly) feel like magic once you start using them.
So if you're someone who loves finding hidden gems, here's a list of five underrated AI tools—some free, some paid—that deserve way more attention than they’re getting.
1. Magical: Type Less. Do More.
Use Case: Autofill repetitive emails, meeting notes, forms
Pricing: Free with Pro plans available
Ever found yourself typing the same thing over and over again in emails or support tickets? Magical is like a supercharged text expander—but smarter. It lets you create custom keyboard shortcuts for common phrases, but also pulls in real-time data from spreadsheets, CRMs, and more.
Instead of copy-pasting, imagine typing “/followup” and instantly generating a personalized follow-up email that includes the client's name, last order, and date of interaction. That’s Magical.
Why it’s underrated:
2. Tome: AI-Powered Storytelling
Use Case: Presentations and slide decks
Pricing: Free with premium upgrades
PowerPoint feels outdated. And Google Slides can be… meh. Enter Tome—an AI tool that creates visually clean, interactive presentations in minutes. You give it a prompt, and it drafts your entire deck—copy, layout, and visuals included.
Whether you're pitching a startup idea or explaining a complex topic at work, Tome helps you turn ideas into stories without wasting time on formatting.
Why it’s underrated:
3. Gamma: Your AI-Powered Docs & Decks
Use Case: Replacing Google Docs, Notion, and Slides
Pricing: Free with Pro features
Gamma is what happens when documents and presentations have an AI-native baby. Think of it as a writing space that thinks along with you. Need a quick pitch, client proposal, or workshop summary? Just give Gamma a prompt and watch it create a polished document or deck in seconds.
It’s surprisingly good at choosing the right tone and flow—so you end up editing less and sharing more.
Why it’s underrated:
4. Poe by Quora: AI Chat with Multiple Models
Use Case: Chat with GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and more—all in one place
Pricing: Free access with a paid Pro option
Poe is like an AI chat super app. Instead of switching between ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini across websites, Poe lets you talk to all of them in one interface. You can compare answers across models, create custom bots, and even follow bots created by others.
If you're someone who relies on AI for writing, brainstorming, or coding help, this centralized platform is a massive time-saver.
Why it’s underrated:
5. Perplexity AI: Smarter Than Google (Sometimes)
Use Case: Research, fast answers with sources
Pricing: Free with Pro plans for deeper features
If Google and ChatGPT had a baby, it’d look a lot like Perplexity. It's an AI search engine that gives you direct answers to your questions—backed with sources. Instead of sifting through SEO-heavy blog posts or Reddit threads, Perplexity just gives you what you need, right away.
It’s particularly useful for quick research, summaries, or staying updated on niche topics.
Why it’s underrated:
Citations included with every answer
Ideal for students, researchers, and lifelong learners
The “Copilot” mode enhances complex research queries
Honorable Mentions
Okay, okay—narrowing it down to five was tough. So here are a few bonus tools worth peeking at:
Descript: Podcast and video editing by editing text
Reclaim.ai: AI calendar assistant that auto-schedules your work
FlowGPT: A library of prompt templates for every AI model
Durable: AI website builder that sets up your business in 30 seconds
Final Thoughts
There’s no shortage of AI tools today but the ones that truly make a difference are the ones that solve real, everyday problems. Whether you're a student, freelancer, content creator, or just someone trying to work smarter, these underrated tools can level up your workflow in ways you didn’t expect