Royalty Free Pixabay ImageOverview
There are several free AI platforms online. I’m exploring them using the
free options only. I have not purchase any subscriptions yet.
Below are my personal results and tips along with my opinions as to which I like
best for each task. My goal is to see what you can reasonably do for free, and when
it makes sense to upgrade. Results are not scientific.
Writing:
ChatGPT
This is the tool I use the most for writing, blogging & webpage design.
It’s great for:
- Rewriting my own articles for better flow and clarity.
- Turning an outline or even just a title into a full draft.
- Fixing grammar and adjusting tone (casual, friendly, or professional).
- Generating HTML and CSS that I can adapt into this website.
The rounded boxes used on this very page were created by ChatGPT and have been adapted into my template for use in the entire blog area of the website. In fact, I have learned several new tidbits about HTML and CSS that were generated by ChatGPT generated. This was an unexpected benefit.
Pros
- Strong at structure and readability.
- Helpful suggestions and quick edits.
- Good at matching a style if you paste a sample.
Cons
- Free plans can be slower at busy times.
- Daily or session limits may stop long tasks.
- Facts may be outdated; you still need to verify.
Paste a paragraph you wrote and say, “Match this style.” Add: word count, audience level, and key points.
CoPilot
I also tried CoPilot. It was easy to use but I didn't
like the results. It generated 3 different choices for each item I asked it to
rewrite. Each was correct and worded differently. However, but the overall tone and
wording just wasn't right. In my use case, I want to use the content on my website
it would often generate text that sounded to technical or too cerberal for my target
audience. I wanted to keep things on my website easy enough for anyone to
understand.
Image Generation:
ChatGPT
First I tried image generation on the ChatGPT. It was
extremely slow for me. A simple cartoon request (text prompt only, no photo
uploaded) took almost a day, and some of my requests never finished. It
may work faster on a differnt day or on a paid plan. I'm guessing that the system
may have been overloaded at the time. This was a complete bust. I may
try revisit this one again in the future to see if I can get a decent
result.
CoPilot
I used Microsoft Copilot for free image generation with
mixed results. Making simple cartoons from uploaded family photos worked
well and finished in a minute or two depending on complexity. My niece loved
her cartoon portrait that I posted on Facebook.
However, when I tried to create a network diagram from a text
prompt, the layout looked good but Copilot kept repeating one mistake, even
after I rephrased the prompt many times. Copilot simply couldn't grasp what
I wanted. I ended up using an image editor to manually correct the mistake
before I could use it.
Gemini
My best results by far, were with Google Gemini. I
put in my description and receive an image in seconds. Then I made changes to a
couple elements and tried again. Every image was spectacular. They almost looked
real. I would definately use Gemini again for creating images. It's great for fun,
fast results.
Paid image/video models exist and are usually better and faster—but some can be expensive. For one-off projects, try the free tier first to see if it meets your needs.
Current Events:
For breaking news and trending topics, Grok has been the
best in my tests. It’s trained to pay attention to posts on X (formerly
Twitter), so it often feels more up-to-date on headlines and public
reactions. Nearly all news outlets are on X and therefore Grok.
Pros
- Strong at summarizing fast-moving news and commentary.
- Good for reading a variety of quick opinions.
Cons
- Social media sources can be biased or incomplete.
- You still need to check original, reliable sources.
Ask for “multiple viewpoints” and “sources to verify” as part of the same prompt.
Self-Hosted LLMs:
I tried running local models for experimentation and website summaries. I
can’t recommend them for most people yet. When I asked for a summary of a
local author’s website, the model attributed the author’s original work to
someone else. This was a deal killer for me.
- Llama 2: Feels outdated now. I probably won't use it anymore.
- Llama 3.1: Much better than 2, but still missed important details in my tests.
- Version 4: I have not made this attempt. It's VERY large and I am not sure I have a GPU that's sufficient to make the attempt. Once I do, I will update this article accordingly.
Why Run Locally?
- Privacy: Your content stays on your own machine and won't be used for training purposes. This is a strong selling point if your dealing with confidental or your own copyrighted materials.
- Offline work: It can be used even if you have no internet or internet is limited.
- Customization: You can add your own documents.
Why It’s Hard
- Hardware need: Using just your CPU-only can be slow; NVIDIA GPUs with at least 8GB+ VRAM help considerably.
- Model size: Larger LLM will consume use more RAM/VRAM and disk space. We recommend at least 32 Gig of RAM, but even more is recommended.
- Quality: Self-Hosting may still lag behind top hosted models that run on MUCH larger systems with hundreds of servers and GPU's. A home user or small business simply can't afford that much hardware.
If you care most about privacy and can handle the setup, local models can be
worth it. For everyday accuracy and speed, hosted AI is usually easier.
(For more background, see my related post #34.)
My Recommendations
| Tool | Best For | Speed (Free) | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open AI ChatGPT | Writing, editing, structure | Less than 30 seconds for blog posts | Always proof-read and verify everything | Great for drafts & rewrites, check sources |
| Microsoft Copilot | Simple images & cartoons | 1-2 minutes per image | Good for casual art | Complex diagrams may need edits |
| Google Gemini | Image Generation | Seconds | Good quality art | Must be PG |
| Grok | Breaking news & trends | Fast | Varies by source | Ask for sources; expect bias |
| Llama (local) | Privacy & offline tests | Varies by hardware | Mixed; can hallucinate | Memory hog; complex setup |
General Tips for Better Results
- Be specific: Say the audience (e.g., “high school level”), length, and tone.
- Provide examples: Paste a paragraph of your style to match.
- Chunk big tasks: Free plans have limits—work in sections.
- Verify facts: Ask for sources and check them yourself.
- Save prompts: Keep your best prompts in a doc for reuse.
- Respect privacy: Avoid sharing sensitive data with online models.
- Expect filters: Image tools block some content; rephrase if needed.
When to Consider Paying
- You need faster results and fewer rate limits.
- You want higher-quality image or video generation.
- You rely on current, cited information for work or school.
- You value priority support and advanced features.
Always try the free tier first. If it saves you time or prevents mistakes, a
paid plan can be worth it.
