A few weeks ago, I found myself in what I now call an "AI digital maze."
I was using Freepik, a paid tool that generates AI images. I had a clear prompt in mind: I wanted an image of a path that splits in two, with a signpost at each fork. Sounds simple, right?
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Well, not so much.
Freepik gave me several image options. Each looked sort of like what I asked for, but none quite hit the mark. One had a single path and two signs. Another had two signs but only one path. No worries, I thought. I’ll just ask it to edit the image. I wrote: “Divide the path into two paths, going in opposite directions.”
The result? It left the path exactly the same and deleted one of the signposts.
I spent the next hour tweaking prompts, trying different phrasings, and generally spiralling into frustration. Eventually, I gave up. Not because Freepik is a bad tool—I've seen it generate beautiful images for others. It just wasn’t a good fit for what I needed.
In the end, I returned to Canva and did what I call "AI-assisted image generation": I used AI to generate individual elements, then composed them myself. It worked a treat.
And it reminded me: choosing an AI tool is about finding what works for you. It’s not about choosing what's most advanced or what's most hyped. It’s a matter of choosing what helps you do your thing, your way.
Function over fancy: does it do what you need?
The tool you pick doesn’t need to be flashy—it needs to be useful.
Freepik didn’t work for me because it couldn’t handle the kind of edits I needed. It wasn’t that the tool was broken. It just wasn’t designed for my kind of workflow.
Before you commit to any AI tool, ask: what do I want this to help me do? Then test it with that task. Skip the demos and marketing videos. Try it with something real.
You can create stunning images with Freepik, but does it do what YOU need?
Ease of use matters more than you think
After Freepik, I went back to Canva. Not because it had more features, but because it felt intuitive. I knew where everything was. I could get results without the stress.
That matters. A tool you can't use easily is a tool you won't use often.
Look for clear instructions, helpful tips, and an interface that doesn’t overwhelm you. Bonus points if it has a strong help centre or community you can learn from.
Cost: don’t assume free is best
Here’s the irony: Freepik isn’t actually free.
Many AI tools operate on a freemium model, where you can try them for free but pay for higher-quality output, more credits, or faster speeds. Others offer free trials that renew automatically if you're not paying attention.
It’s worth asking:
What’s included for free?
What’s behind a paywall?
Am I paying for speed, quality or extra features?
Sometimes it’s worth paying for ease and speed. Sometimes it’s not. But you should always know what you’re getting.
In my case, I took advantage of Canva’s 30-day free trial to access all of its premium features. I wanted to see how much I actually used Canva and whether those paid extras made a difference. As it turned out, I used them a lot. Enough that I happily subscribed. The paid version saved me time, made everything smoother, and was still significantly cheaper than traditional photo editing and design tools I’d used in the past.
That said, I’m not saying everyone needs to pay for Canva—or any AI tool. I used the free version for years before upgrading, and it worked beautifully for what I needed at the time. The free version might be perfect for you, too.
The key is knowing what you actually need, and testing whether the free tier truly meets those needs before committing.
Privacy: know what you’re agreeing to
Know what you’re agreeing to before you sign up.
A hairdresser friend of mine was considering using an app to help clients preview new hairstyles. Useful idea! But I was wary.
Hair and makeup apps like Perfect365 make their privacy policies easy to find, and to their credit, they're clear: they collect your geolocation, birthdate, street address, and other personal details. They also share or sell that data to affiliates.
Other apps claim they collect nothing. Which sounds great, but... really? How are they processing your image, taking your payment, or storing preferences?
It’s worth digging into the privacy policy. Or at the very least, Googling: “[App name] privacy concerns.”
Depending on where you live, your legal protections vary. In Australia, you’re covered by the Privacy Act 1988, with potential updates on the horizon that may strengthen protections. In the EU, GDPR gives you strong rights around consent and data access. The UK follows a post-Brexit version of GDPR. In the US, it depends on the state—California leads with some of the strongest laws, but protections elsewhere can be limited.
If privacy is important to you, don’t skip this step.
Integration: does it fit where you already work?
One of the reasons I like Canva is that it fits into the workflow I already use. It saves to folders, exports in formats I like, and doesn’t force me to learn new software.
AI doesn’t always have to be a new destination. Sometimes it’s a helpful layer inside a tool you already use: Gmail, PowerPoint, Notion, Zoom, Canva.
The less switching you have to do, the more likely you are to stick with it.
Ask yourself these questions before choosing your next AI tool.
You’re not evaluating software. You’re choosing a helper.
When it comes down to it, you're not comparing features. You're looking for a partner that helps you think better, work faster, or create more confidently.
If a tool feels like a fight, it might not be wrong for everyone—but it’s probably wrong for you.
The best tool for you is one you enjoy using. One that makes you feel a little more curious, a little more capable. One that helps you do more of what you love.
Pick that one.
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