Best AI Tools for Content

Content work spans research, drafting, visuals and optimisation. Most teams need two tools, not one.

By Michael · Updated 31 August 2026

How we compare these tools

  • Drafting quality
  • Visual support
  • SEO input
  • Publishing integrations

Positions reflect published information and listing data, not hands-on testing. Where a listing is featured or uses an affiliate link, that is labelled on the tool page.

Comparison table

ToolBest forPricingFree planScore
JasperMarketing teamsFree TrialNo4.2
SurferSEO specialistsFree TrialNo4.2
MidjourneyDesignersPaidNo4.6
GrammarlyWritersFreemiumYes4.6

The picks

Jasper logo

1. Jasper

AI writing platform for marketing teams focused on on-brand content, campaigns and SEO.

4.2(0)Free Trial
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Where it fits

Jasper is an AI writing platform aimed at marketing teams. It supports on-brand content generation, campaign workflows, SEO guidance and reusable brand voice settings, with templates for ads, emails, blog posts and landing pages. It offers a free trial rather than a permanent free plan.

Watch out for

No permanent free plan

Surfer logo

2. Surfer

SEO and content optimisation platform for research and search visibility.

4.2(0)Free Trial
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Where it fits

Surfer is an SEO and content optimisation platform that helps research keywords, plan content and optimise pages for search ranking. It offers a content editor with real-time scoring, SERP analysis and an AI writing assistant. A free trial is available with paid plans for full features.

Watch out for

No permanent free plan

Midjourney logo

3. Midjourney

AI image-generation platform for visual concepts, illustrations and artwork.

4.6(0)Paid
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Where it fits

Midjourney is an AI image-generation platform known for high-quality, stylistic visuals. It is used for concept art, illustrations, marketing imagery and mood boards, and runs through a web app and Discord. It requires a paid subscription for most use; there is no permanent free plan.

Watch out for

No free plan

4. Grammarly

Writing assistant for grammar, clarity, tone and spelling with AI-powered drafting and rewriting.

4.6(0)Freemium
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Where it fits

Grammarly is a writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling, clarity and tone, and offers AI-powered drafting, rewriting and idea generation. It works across a web editor, desktop apps, mobile keyboards and browser extensions. A free tier covers basic corrections with paid plans for advanced suggestions and generative AI.

Watch out for

Advanced suggestions need paid plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Most teams need two: a drafting tool (Jasper or Grammarly) and a visual tool (Midjourney or Canva). Add Surfer when SEO optimisation is a regular part of the workflow.

It can produce a strong first draft, but publish-ready content still needs editing for accuracy, tone and brand fit. Use AI to speed up drafting, not to skip review.

Use a tool like Surfer to align the draft with search intent and on-page factors, then edit for readability. Avoid publishing raw AI output unchanged.

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