Most AI tools offer generous free plans as companies compete for users, with ChatGPT's free version providing most functionality but with usage limits. For heavy users, the $20/month paid plans for tools like ChatGPT and Claude offer unlimited access, with one AI expert calling it "probably the best $20 a month I can spend on anything" compared to other subscriptions like Netflix. The recommendation is to start with free versions until you hit usage limits, then consider upgrading based on your financial situation and how much value you're getting from the tools.