The Best AI Tools for Businesses in 2026

Which AI tools are there for businesses in 2026?

AI tools for businesses fall into six categories in 2026: AI assistants, copilots in existing software, AI agents, automation tools, content tools and data analysis tools. Below you can read per category which tools exist, what they do and what they cost.

The prices in this article come from the makers' official pricing pages, as of 6 October 2026. Dollar prices are US list prices. Euro prices are the prices shown in the Netherlands. Prices in your country may differ and usually exclude VAT. Where no amount is given for a tool, consult the maker's pricing page.

Which AI assistants are there for businesses?

The four AI assistants businesses use most are ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity. An AI assistant, also called a chatbot, answers a question or task in a chat window. You use it for one-off work such as writing, summarizing, research and analysis.

ChatGPT (OpenAI). The best-known AI assistant, with a free version and paid plans for individuals and teams. You can create your own GPTs: versions of ChatGPT with fixed instructions and knowledge files. Read more in what is ChatGPT.

Claude (Anthropic). Claude has a free version that lets you chat, search the web and create files. Pro adds projects and Claude Code, among other things. According to Anthropic the context window goes up to 1 million tokens, depending on the model, which makes long documents in one conversation possible. For teams there is a Team plan from $20 per user per month billed annually. Read more in what is Claude.

Gemini (Google). Gemini is Google's AI assistant. With Google AI Pro you also use Gemini inside Google apps such as Gmail and Docs. If your business works in Google Workspace, Gemini connects to that.

Perplexity. Perplexity is an AI search engine that gives answers with source citations, so you can check where a claim comes from. That makes it suitable for research and factual questions.

With every AI assistant, pay attention to the data usage settings, especially on a free account. Read what to arrange in AI and privacy.

Which AI copilots work in your existing software?

The best-known copilots are Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot and Notion AI. A copilot is an AI assistant built into software you already use, so you can use AI without switching programs.

Microsoft 365 Copilot. Copilot works inside Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. Copilot Chat is available at no additional cost with eligible Microsoft 365 plans. Microsoft 365 Copilot costs $30 per user per month, paid yearly. For smaller businesses there is Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: $21 per user per month paid yearly, with a promotional price of $18 through 31 December 2026. You also need a Microsoft 365 plan.

GitHub Copilot. GitHub Copilot is an AI aid for programmers in the code editor. There is a free version. Copilot Pro costs $10 per month and Copilot Business $19 per user per month.

Notion AI. Notion AI is part of Notion's plans. The Free and Plus plans contain a trial of the AI features. Full access, including AI meeting notes, is in Business for €19.50 per member per month.

Which AI agents are there for businesses?

Businesses have three routes to an AI agent: having a custom agent built, creating GPTs inside ChatGPT or building agents themselves in Microsoft Copilot Studio. An AI agent carries out tasks independently, has access to the systems you designate and knows the context of your business. Read the difference with an AI assistant in AI agent vs chatbot.

Custom AI agent (AI Agent B.V.). AI Agent B.V. builds AI agents on the customer's infrastructure. An AI agent implementation starts from €1,495 and custom software from €1,950, as a one-time project price on invoice. This route fits if you have no technical knowledge in-house and want to connect the agent to your own systems. Read how that price is built up in what an AI agent costs.

GPTs (OpenAI). A GPT is a version of ChatGPT with its own instructions and knowledge files. You use it inside ChatGPT. It is a quick way to capture a fixed way of working for yourself or your team.

Microsoft Copilot Studio. With Copilot Studio you build your own agents inside the Microsoft environment, including for external channels such as a website. You pay based on consumption in Copilot Credits: prepaid for $200 per pack per month or pay-as-you-go. You need an Azure subscription.

Which tools do you use for automation?

For automation, businesses mainly use Zapier, Make and n8n. These tools connect apps to each other and run workflows automatically, with AI steps as part of the workflow.

Zapier. Zapier itself states more than 9,000 app integrations. Paid plans include AI steps that extract data from text or generate text inside a workflow. The price rises with the number of tasks per month.

Make. Make works with a visual editor in which you build workflows with branches. You pay per credit. The Core plan includes 10,000 credits per month.

n8n. You can host n8n yourself with the Community edition, whose source code is on GitHub. Your data then stays on your own server. The Starter cloud version costs €20 per month for 2,500 executions. Self-hosting requires technical knowledge.

If you want to know which processes are suited to this, read about AI automation.

Which AI tools are there for content and marketing?

For content and marketing, Jasper, Copy.ai and Canva are well-known names. A general AI assistant also writes marketing copy. These tools add features for brand voice, teams and design.

Jasper. Jasper is an AI platform for marketing teams. The Pro plan costs $69 per seat per month, or $59 per month billed annually, and includes two Brand Voices. There is a seven-day free trial.

Copy.ai. Copy.ai positions itself as an AI platform for go-to-market teams, meaning sales and marketing. The Chat plan costs $29 per month, or $24 per month billed annually. There is no free plan. The team plans start at $1,000 per month.

Canva. Canva is a design platform with built-in AI features for images and text. See Canva's pricing page for the current plans.

Which AI tools are there for data and analysis?

For data analysis with AI, businesses mainly end up with Power BI with Copilot and with Tableau. Both let you ask questions of your data in plain language.

Power BI with Copilot (Microsoft). Copilot in Power BI creates report pages, summarizes reports and answers questions about your data. For that you need a paid Fabric capacity (F2 or higher) or Power BI Premium (P1 or higher). According to Microsoft's documentation, a Power BI Pro license alone is not sufficient.

Tableau (Salesforce). Tableau is Salesforce's data visualization platform with AI features. See Tableau's pricing page for editions and prices.

If you have a single spreadsheet you want to analyze, you can also upload it to an AI assistant such as ChatGPT or Claude and ask questions about it.

How do you choose the right AI tool for your business?

You choose the right AI tool by starting with the task you want to solve and then looking at the software your business already uses.

Start with the problem. Which task takes too much time and where do errors arise? Then find the tool that solves that one problem.

Connect to your existing software. If your business works in Microsoft 365, look at Copilot first. If you work in Google Workspace, look at Gemini first.

Start small. Begin with a free version or one paid account. After a month, assess whether the tool is used weekly and only then expand.

Calculate the cost per user. Multiply the monthly price by the number of users and by twelve months. Put that amount next to the hours the tool saves according to your own measurement.

Choose between assistant and agent. For one-off work such as writing and research, an AI assistant is enough. For ongoing processes such as handling customer questions, an AI agent fits better. A detailed selection guide is in choosing the right AI solution.

Do it yourself, learn it or have it built?

You have three ways to get AI into your business: set it up yourself, learn it with guidance or have it built.

Do it yourself. With ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Zapier you set everything up yourself and manage it yourself. The license costs are low and you invest your own time.

Learn with guidance. In a 1-on-1 AI training of 3 hours you learn to work with the tools that fit your work, from €449 excl. VAT. With AI coaching for entrepreneurs for €399 per month excl. VAT you keep your knowledge and tooling up to date on an ongoing basis.

Have it built. AI Agent B.V. builds an AI agent or custom software on your own infrastructure for a one-time project price. This fits when the task requires integrations with your own systems.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best AI tool for a small business? Start with one AI assistant: ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. If your business works in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, look at Copilot or Gemini, because they work inside your existing programs.

What do AI tools for business cost? As of 6 October 2026, ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro cost $20 per month and Google AI Pro costs €21.99 per month in the Netherlands. Microsoft 365 Copilot costs $30 per user per month, paid yearly. Zapier and Make have a free version.

Are there free AI tools for businesses? Yes. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini have a free version, as do GitHub Copilot, Zapier and Make. Free versions have usage limits. Review the data usage settings before you enter business data.

What is the difference between an AI tool and an AI agent? An AI tool such as ChatGPT responds to a question you ask. An AI agent carries out tasks independently, has access to the systems you designate and knows the context of your business.

Is Copilot included in Power BI Pro? No. According to Microsoft's documentation, Copilot in Power BI requires a paid Fabric capacity (F2 or higher) or Power BI Premium (P1 or higher). A Pro license alone is not sufficient.

Further reading?

Compare agent providers in comparing AI agents in 2026 or schedule a no-obligation call to go through your situation.