I’ve curated a list of 20 must-have AI tools tailored for startups and solo devs. These span development, content creation, sales, automation, and design—everything you need to hack your way to profitability. I’ve grouped them by category for easy navigation. Let’s dive in!AI Development Tools: Code Smarter, Not HarderThese tools turn you into a one-person dev army, handling everything from code generation to debugging.
- Cursor – This AI-powered code editor boosts your coding speed with smart autocompletion, natural language edits, and agentic AI for tackling complex tasks. Perfect for indie hackers juggling multiple hats.
- GitHub Copilot – Your virtual pair programmer that suggests code completions, answers queries in chat, and supports various languages. It cuts down on boilerplate code, letting you focus on innovation.
- Lovable – A chat-based no-code platform for building web apps. Use natural language to create features, edit visually, and leverage community templates—ideal if you’re not a full-time coder.
- Bolt.new – Generate entire full-stack apps from a single prompt, including deployment. Great for rapid MVPs when you need to test ideas quickly.
- v0.dev – Turns text prompts into React components with Tailwind CSS. It’s a game-changer for frontend devs wanting production-ready UI without starting from scratch.
- Replit AI (Ghostwriter) – Integrated into Replit, this offers real-time code generation, debugging, and explanations. Excellent for collaborative projects or learning on the fly.
AI Content & Media Creation: Craft Killer Marketing MaterialContent is king, but creating it doesn’t have to be a chore. These tools handle visuals, writing, and more.
- Kling AI – Generate videos and images from text or existing media. Use it for eye-catching social posts or demo videos to hype your product.
- Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) – An advanced image generator for 4K visuals with spot-on details like textures and text. Pro-level graphics without hiring a designer.
- Midjourney – Creates stunning, artistic images in consistent styles. Build a cohesive brand aesthetic for your landing pages and marketing.
- ChatGPT Plus – The go-to for brainstorming, research, and writing with GPT-4 access. Analyze data or draft blog posts like this one in minutes.
- Claude Pro – Handles in-depth writing tasks, like long-form content or document reviews, with massive context windows for nuanced outputs.
- Canva AI – Enhances designs with AI-generated templates, copy, and customizations. Non-designers rejoice—professional visuals at your fingertips.
AI Sales & Marketing Automation: Find and Convert Customers EffortlesslyNo more manual outreach; let AI handle the hustle.
- Apollo.io – Access a huge lead database with AI prospecting and email automation. Target the right users and nurture them into paying customers.
- Lemlist – Personalizes cold emails with AI sequences, tone tweaks, and custom content. Boost your open rates and conversions without sounding spammy.
- Perplexity AI – A research powerhouse for real-time insights and citations. Use it for market analysis or ideation to stay ahead of trends.
AI Workflow Automation: Streamline Your OperationsAutomate the boring stuff so you can focus on building.
- n8n – Build custom workflows connecting apps visually or with code. Self-host for privacy and flexibility in your indie setup.
- Make.com – No-code automation with robust error handling and data tools. Perfect for integrating your tech stack seamlessly.
AI Design & Prototyping: From Idea to Prototype in HoursDesign isn’t just for designers anymore—these tools make it accessible.
- Figma AI – Generates layouts, content, and prototypes collaboratively. Speed up your design process for websites and apps.
- Framer AI – No-code site builder with AI for interactive elements and translations. Launch polished sites without coding everything.
- Notion AI – Turns your workspace into an AI-powered hub for drafting, summarizing, and Q&A. Keep your projects organized and collaborative.