I’ve put dozens of AI writing tools to the test — here’s a deep dive into my favorite AI writing generators and who I think they’ll be most useful for.

From brainstorming ideas, creating outlines, repurposing content — AI can make your job as a writer a whole lot easier.

Artificial intelligence is not going to do your best work for you, of course. We know there’s (thankfully?) still work to be done in replicating the weirdness and wonder of human creativity. But AI can take some of the work off your plate, so you can focus on exactly that: creating.  

However, with the ever-growing list of AI software and tools on the market — all promising to help you generate, streamline, and automate your writing process — it can be tricky to figure out which ones are worth your time (and money). 

Which is where I come in. I’m a productivity nerd who loves testing out new tools, and I’ve put dozens of AI writing assistants to the test in the hope of working smarter, not harder. 

My ultimate goal is to remove the admin and repetition from my to-do list as a writer so I can focus on what brings me joy. (The creating part, as you may have guessed.) 

In this article, I’ll take a deep dive into my favorite AI writing generators and who I think they’ll be most useful for.

The AI writing tool landscape: why choosing the right one matters

A couple of years ago, AI writing tools felt experimental — even niche. Fast forward to today, and it seems like everyone has launched one. From Google Docs to Notion to every app with a ‘magic’ button, AI writing is no longer a shiny feature — it’s table stakes.

But here’s the thing: while many tools use the same underlying models (like OpenAI’s GPT or Anthropic’s Claude), they’re not all built the same. The difference is in the workflows, the interface, and whether the tool actually helps you do your job better — or just adds another tab to your browser.

That’s why this list isn’t just a collection of the most popular apps. It’s a roundup of the tools I’ve personally tested and found useful as a writer and content creator. Tools that help me spend less time formatting, fiddling, or fighting writer’s block — and more time actually writing.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options out there, I hope this breakdown helps you find something that fits your workflow and your brain.

How I use AI in my work

At Buffer, our approach to AI is simple: it’s a tool, not a replacement. You’ll never find completely AI-generated content on Buffer’s blog, website, or the product itself — a human reviews everything. (You can read more about how we use AI on the content team here.) 

There are a plethora of ways to use AI tools in your content creation process, but here are some ways I’m using AI as a writer:

• Generate ideas
• Draft article outlines
• Rephrase paragraphs or phrases with a specific tone
• Generate