Free plans compared
Best Free AI Tools for Small Business Marketing (2026)
Small teams use AI to plan posts, cut short videos, build simple websites and answer customer questions. Free plans let you test before you spend. Pick one task that costs you time today, and try one tool on it for a week before adding more.
Disclosure: some Visit links may be affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details come from official pricing and product pages, last reviewed 2026-10-15; this is not a hands-on test. Confirm current limits with the provider.
What to check before you choose
- Which marketing task costs you the most time?
- Does the free plan cover your posting or content volume?
- Can you keep your brand voice and review before publishing?
- Does it connect to the platforms you post on?
How we chose: tools listed here have an active product, a free plan or free tier, and pricing we could confirm from the provider. Retired or paid-only tools are left out automatically.
Quick comparison of free plans
| Tool | Free plan | No card needed | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durable | Free lets you build and share a preview with a limited CRM. | — | Web |
| Buffer | Free plan: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, API with 1 key and 3,000 requests/month. | — | Web, API |
| Metricool | A continuing Free plan includes a limited brand and monthly publishing capacity with an AI assistant. | — | Web |
| Canva | Free includes limited AI use. Pro and Business expand tools and allowances; AI Pass is an additional paid option on eligible plans. | — | Web |
| Tidio | A Free core plan is available. Every account starts with 50 one-off Lyro conversations; paid Lyro access is needed to refresh the AI allowance monthly. | — | Web |
| Creatify | Creatify has a recurring limited Free credit allowance with watermarked videos and restricted tools. | Yes | Web |
| OpusClip | Free plan lets you post one clip per day with no credit card; exports are up to 1080p, captions carry a watermark, and exported MP4s and media expire after 3 days. | — | Web |
| Captions | The Free plan has no AI usage credits. Max and Frontier add AI capacity; access to the basic editor does not mean free generative video. | — | Web |
The tools, in detail
AI business website builder with CRM, marketing tools, SEO and GEO features, and paid publishing options.
Best for: Website generation and CRM
Free plan: Free lets you build and share a preview with a limited CRM. Paid plans unlock business publishing and additional features; a free preview is not a full production plan.
Key features
- Website generation
- CRM
- SEO and GEO tools
- Marketing assistance
Social media workspace with scheduling, content ideas, analytics, engagement, and AI-assisted writing.
Best for: Post scheduling and Content idea library
Free plan: Free plan: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, API with 1 key and 3,000 requests/month. Paid plans are billed per channel: Essentials $5/month, Team $10/month; paid plans include a 14-day trial.
Key features
- Post scheduling
- Content idea library
- AI writing assistance
- Analytics
Limits to know
- A continuing Free plan is available. Paid pricing depends on connected channels; scheduling, analytics, and collaboration limits vary.
Plan social posts, draft copy with an AI assistant, and inspect publishing and analytics across connected accounts.
Best for: Metricool suits creators and teams coordinating a content calendar with basic performance review.
Free plan: A continuing Free plan includes a limited brand and monthly publishing capacity with an AI assistant. Network eligibility, analytics history, reports, team approvals and add-ons vary by plan. Check the current AI and channel conditions; free scheduling does not mean every connected network or report is included.
Key features
- Content calendar
- AI social copy assistant
- Post scheduling
- Social analytics
Limits to know
- Free brands, publishing and history are limited
- Some networks and team features require paid access
Visual creation suite with templates, collaborative editing, and AI tools for writing, images, video, and design.
Best for: Template-based design and AI writing
Free plan: Free includes limited AI use. Pro and Business expand tools and allowances; AI Pass is an additional paid option on eligible plans.
Key features
- Template-based design
- AI writing
- AI image tools
- Video editing
Limits to know
- AI copy and images still need factual and visual review; export formats and assets may require paid access.
Customer-service workspace with Lyro AI, live chat, ticketing, and customer-conversation automation.
Best for: Lyro AI agent and Live chat
Free plan: A Free core plan is available. Every account starts with 50 one-off Lyro conversations; paid Lyro access is needed to refresh the AI allowance monthly.
Key features
- Lyro AI agent
- Live chat
- Ticketing
- Conversation flows
Generate product ad-video drafts from URLs or scripts, with AI avatars, templates, and creative variants.
Best for: Creatify suits marketers preparing short product-ad drafts and comparing creative directions.
Free plan: Creatify has a recurring limited Free credit allowance with watermarked videos and restricted tools. Paid plans expand usage and advanced workflows. Some AdFlow or Agent operations may exceed the entire free allowance, so check the specific operation before starting.
Key features
- Product URL to ad video
- Script-led video generation
- AI avatar videos
- Creative templates
Limits to know
- Free exports are watermarked
- Advanced workflows can require more credits than the free plan supplies
AI video clipping and editing workspace for reframing long videos, adding captions, and preparing social clips.
Best for: AI clip selection and Video reframing
Free plan: Free plan lets you post one clip per day with no credit card; exports are up to 1080p, captions carry a watermark, and exported MP4s and media expire after 3 days. Starter ($15/mo) and Pro ($29/mo) remove the watermark.
Key features
- AI clip selection
- Video reframing
- Animated captions
- Social publishing
Limits to know
- Free entry access and trials have limited credits and export options. Paid plans expand capacity; a virality score is a prediction, not a guaranteed outcome.
Video editing app with captions, traditional editing, AI generation, and automated enhancement on eligible plans.
Best for: Video captions and Timeline editing
Free plan: The Free plan has no AI usage credits. Max and Frontier add AI capacity; access to the basic editor does not mean free generative video.
Key features
- Video captions
- Timeline editing
- AI video generation
- Audio enhancement
Quick decision guide
- Want to avoid entering a card? Creatify.
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which AI marketing tool should a small business try first?
Start with the task you repeat most, such as scheduling posts or turning one video into short clips, and test one tool on it.
Should I publish AI content without editing?
No. Review facts, claims, tone and any customer-facing promises before publishing.
Which tools for small business marketing here need no credit card?
Based on the official pages we reviewed, Creatify is listed as not needing a credit card to start. Confirm at sign-up, because plans change.
How current is this list?
Tool details were last reviewed 2026-10-15 from official pages. Free plans change often, so check the linked pricing page before you rely on a limit.