Short answer: an AI stack audit is a structured inventory of every paid AI tool, what job it owns, how often it is used, and what it costs. The goal is not a prettier spreadsheet — it is fewer overlapping subscriptions.
What to capture for every tool
- Name and plan tier
- Monthly or annual cost
- Owner (person accountable for the spend)
- Weekly use hours (honest estimate)
- Primary job it owns
- Whether another paid tool already does that job
- Privacy or client-data constraints
- Cancellation risk (annual prepay, seats, contracts)
Free path
- Download the evaluation scorecard and score one real task per contender.
- Use the cost calculator to total monthly spend.
- Run a decision brief for any 2–3 tool shortlist.
- Check Pricing Watch before renewing anything annual.
When to use the Premium audit pack
Premium members get a fillable AI Stack Audit Template, a weekly checklist, an ROI calculator, and a full 67-tool decision matrix. Reply with a completed audit for a strategy-only keep/cut/trial recommendation within 48 hours. No account access required. 7-day free trial, then $12/month; code LAUNCH50 for 50% off the first paid month (new users).
Red flags
- Two paid tools own the same weekly job
- A tool has no owner
- No real task test in the last 30 days
- Annual prepay before a 2-week real-work trial
- Client data pasted into a tool with unclear training defaults