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AI Stack Decision Checklist
Use this before buying another AI subscription. Score real workflow value, overlap, pricing risk, and exit cost.
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1. Define the job
The weekly workflow I need improved is:
The output must be publishable/useful in under minutes.
The tool must replace or reduce:
2. Test candidates on the same task
| Tool | Task result | Edits needed | Monthly cost | Keep? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3. Overlap audit
This tool does something my current stack cannot do.
I checked whether an included plan/tool already covers this job.
I checked cancellation, usage limits, and annual billing terms.
4. Buying rule
Buy only if: the tool saves time every week, replaces another paid seat, or produces a result you can directly monetize. Otherwise, stay on the free tier and revisit later.
Prepared by AIToolsEssentials · Updated 2026-08-25 · Research/strategy only, not implementation support.