how to choose ai writing tools

How To Choose AI Writing Tools That Are Easy To Use

How to choose AI writing tools that are easy to use for older adults. I prefer using ChatGPT most of the time myself, but we will learn about others that you can consider to use as your personal writing assistant.

Affiliate Disclosure 

Amazon + Wealthy Affiliate + Friends

You will never find any affiliate links in any of my step-by-step guides on any of my websites, I feel that my guides are to educate you, not push products & services at you.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this website may be affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support 65 Plus Life and Boomer Biz HQ so I can continue creating free resources for older adults.

Amazon Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any Amazon links used throughout this website may earn a commission when you purchase through them.

Wealthy Affiliate Disclosure: I am also a proud affiliate of Wealthy Affiliate. If you choose to join their platform through my referral link, I may earn a commission. I only recommend Wealthy Affiliate because it has personally helped me build websites and create income online, and I believe it can help other older adults learn these skills too.

Thank you for supporting my work — it truly means a lot.

Jeff

What Exactly Are AI Writing Tools

AI writing tools are software applications that use artificial intelligence—specifically Large Language Models (LLMs)—to help you create, edit, and optimize written content.

In 2026, these tools have moved beyond simple “autocorrect” to become sophisticated partners that can understand context, tone, and complex instructions.

Types of AI Writing Tools

Most tools fall into one of these four categories based on their primary “strength”:

  • General Assistants: Versatile chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. They are excellent for brainstorming, outlining, and drafting everything from emails to essays.
  • Polishing & Editing Tools: These focus on refinement. Grammarly and ProWritingAid fix grammar and style, while Wordtune and QuillBot help you rewrite sentences for better flow.
  • Marketing & SEO Tools: Designed for businesses and bloggers. Jasper, Copy.ai, and Writesonic offer templates for ads and social media, while tools like Surfer SEO and NeuronWriter ensure your content ranks well on search engines.
  • Creative Writing Tools: Specialized for novelists and screenwriters. Sudowrite and Novelcrafter help with world-building, character development, and expanding sensory descriptions in fiction.


how to create digital planners in canva
how to create digital planners in canva

Popular Tools in 2026

  • Best for Workflow: ChatGPT (with Canvas) — Allows you to edit text directly in a side-by-side window, making it feel more like a collaborative editor.
  • Best for Natural Voice: Claude — Widely praised for having a more “human” and less robotic writing style.
  • Best for Professional Teams: Jasper — Includes “Brand Voice” features so the AI learns to write exactly like your company’s existing content.
  • Best for Research: Perplexity — Acts as a bridge between a search engine and a writer, providing cited sources for every claim it makes.

Now you are more familar with the artificial intelligence tools available to use, next we will discuss how best to choose the tools for you.

How To Choose AI Writing Tools

Choosing the right tool depends entirely on what you spend most of your time writing. You might be looking for a long-term “writing partner” rather than just a quick fix.

In 2026, the best way to choose is to match the tool’s logic to your task.

Here is a framework to help you decide:

1. Identify Your “Writing Persona”

Most users fall into one of these four categories. Which one sounds most like you?

  • The “Blank Page” Fighter (Creative/General): You need help starting.
    • Best Tools: ChatGPT or Claude
    • Why: These are “Reasoning Engines.” They are best for brainstorming, outlining, and shifting tones.
  • The Content Scaler (Marketing/Business): You need to write 10 blog posts, 20 ads, and 5 newsletters yesterday.
    • Best Tools: Jasper or Copy.ai.
    • Why: They use “Templates.” You don’t have to learn how to prompt; you just fill in a form (Product Name, Audience, Goal) and they do the rest.
  • The Academic/Researcher (Student/Technical): You need facts, citations, and structural integrity.
    • Best Tools: Perplexity or Paperpal.
    • Why: They prioritize “Sourcing.” Perplexity cites every sentence it writes, reducing the risk of making things up (hallucinations).
  • The Polisher (Professional/Editor): You’ve already written the text; you just want it to be perfect.
    • Best Tools: Grammarly or Wordtune.
    • Why: These live inside your browser or Word doc. They don’t just fix typos; they suggest ways to make your “clunky” sentences sound elegant.

Jeffs Checklist

Ask yourself these four questions to narrow it down:

  1. Where do I write? If you write in Google Docs, look for a tool with a Chrome Extension (like Grammarly). If you prefer a standalone workspace, look for Claude.
  2. How much do I care about SEO? If you are writing for the web, choose Writesonic or Surfer AI—they have built-in keyword checkers.
  3. What is my budget? * Free: ChatGPT/Gemini/Claude (Basic versions).
    • Mid-range ($10–$20/mo): Grammarly Premium, ProWritingAid.
    • Professional ($40+/mo): Jasper, Anyword (Built for teams).
  4. Is privacy a concern? If you are writing sensitive company data, look for “Enterprise Grade” tools like Writer or Microsoft Copilot, which promise not to train their models on your data.

Jeffs Recommendation

If you’re just starting out, I suggest a “Dual-Tool” approach:

  • Use a General Assistant ChatGpt, Gemini, or Claude to build your ideas and drafts.
  • Use a Polisher (like Grammarly) to catch the final errors.

Lets Compare AI Tools

ChatGPT

The Creative Swiss Army Knife

ChatGPT is generally considered the most “flexible.” If you want to write a poem in the style of a pirate or brainstorm 50 catchy headlines, it excels.

  • Pros: It has the most features. With Canvas, you can highlight specific sentences and tell the AI to “make this shorter” or “add an emoji,” making it feel like a true collaborative editor.
  • Cons: It can sometimes use “AI-isms” (words like delve, tapestry, or embark) more often than the others, which can make its writing feel a bit generic if not prompted carefully.

Gemini

The Research Powerhouse

Gemini’s superpower is its connection to the real world and your personal files.

  • Pros: It has a massive context window. You can upload a 1,000-page document or 2 hours of video, and it can answer questions about specific details buried in the middle. It also integrates directly into Google Docs and Gmail, so you can draft a reply without leaving your inbox.
  • Cons: Its writing can feel a bit more “clinical” or dry. It prioritizes speed and facts over flow and “soul.”

Claude

The “Human-Sounding” Writer

Claude has become the favorite for professional writers because its prose feels the most natural and least “robotic.”

  • Pros: It is excellent at nuance. If you give Claude a long, messy transcript, it is the best at turning it into a polished article that sounds like a human wrote it. It also has a very high “honesty” threshold—it’s more likely to say “I don’t know” than to lie to you.
  • Cons: It is more “conservative” with its safety filters and lacks some of the flashy tools like native image generation that ChatGPT and Gemini offer.

Which one should you pick?

  • Choose ChatGPT if you want the most “bang for your buck” with features like image generation (DALL-E), voice mode, and the most versatile creative writing.
  • Choose Gemini if you are a “Google Person.” If you live in Drive, Docs, and Sheets, the seamless integration and the ability to summarize massive amounts of research data are unbeatable.
  • Choose Claude if quality of prose is your #1 priority. If you are writing a book, a long-form essay, or sensitive business communications, Claude’s tone is usually the most sophisticated.

AI Writing Tool Example

Choosing AI Tools For Affiliate Marketing

Choosing AI tools for an affiliate marketing website for seniors requires a balance between power and simplicity. Since you are just starting out, your goal is to reduce the technical “grunt work” (like formatting and coding) so you can focus on sharing your unique perspective and building trust with your audience.

Here is a detailed guide on how to choose your “AI Stack” for 2026.


Phase 1: Choosing Your “Home Base” (Website Builder)

In 2026, you no longer need to learn how to code. You should look for a builder that includes AI Site Generation, which builds the layout, menus, and placeholder images based on a simple description.

  • Top Choice for Seniors: Hostinger AI Website Builder
    • Why: It is an “all-in-one” solution. You describe your site (e.g., “A blog for retirees looking for the best travel gear”), and it generates the entire site in minutes.
    • Senior-Friendly Feature: It has a “drag-and-drop” editor that is much less cluttered than WordPress.
  • The “One-Click” Alternative: Readdy AI
    • Why: It is specifically designed to build income-generating affiliate sites with one prompt. It even helps suggest where to place your affiliate links.
  • The Big Name: Wix ADI
    • Why: Highly reliable with great customer support if you get stuck.

Phase 2: Choosing Your “Content Creator” (Writing Tool)

For affiliate marketing, you need content that ranks on Google and convinces people to buy.

  • Best for Product Reviews: Koala AI
    • How it works: You give it an Amazon link, and it writes a full, SEO-optimized product review with “Pros and Cons” and “Key Features.”
    • Why it’s good for you: It handles all the formatting (headers, bullet points) automatically.
  • Best for “Human” Voice: Claude
    • How it works: You talk to it like a person. You can say, “Claude, I just tried this new coffee maker and loved how easy the buttons are to see. Can you help me turn these thoughts into a friendly blog post?”
    • Why it’s good for you: It has the most natural, least “robotic” writing style, which is crucial for building trust with other seniors.
  • Best for SEO Success: Surfer SEO (with AI)
    • How it works: It tells you exactly which words to use to get your article to the top of Google.
    • Why it’s good for you: It provides a “Content Score.” If your score is green (e.g., 80/100), you know your article is ready to publish.

Phase 3: Choosing Your “Polisher” (Editing Tool)

Never publish raw AI text. You need a tool to make sure it sounds professional and error-free.

  • The Essential Tool: Grammarly (Premium)
    • Why: It doesn’t just fix spelling; it helps with clarity. For a senior-focused site, clarity is king. It will tell you if a sentence is too long or confusing.
  • The Style Helper: Hemingway App
    • Why: It’s free and simple. It highlights “hard to read” sentences in red. If you see red, simplify it.

What to look for

When testing these tools (always use the Free Trial first!), ask yourself these three questions:

  1. Is the Font Large and Clear? Some advanced “pro” tools have tiny text and complex menus. If it feels “busy,” skip it.
  2. Does it have “Direct WordPress/Hostinger Export”? You want a tool where you can click “Publish” and have the article go straight to your site without copying and pasting.
  3. Is there a “Humanize” button? Look for tools that let you set the tone to “Empathetic” or “Conversational.”

“Beginner Stack” for You:

  1. Website: Hostinger AI (Simple, cheap, all-in-one).
  2. Writing: Claude (For your main articles) + Koala AI (For quick product reviews).
  3. Editing: Grammarly (To keep things professional).

Helpful Boomer Biz Pages For Seniors

Jeff Shares

how to choose AI writing toools
Jeffs Step-by-Step Guides For Older Adults

Choosing AI writing tools as a senior beginner is less about finding the “most powerful” engine and more about finding a tool that doesn’t get in your way.

In 2026, the best tools for you are those that prioritize accessibility and help you bypass the “tech-fatigue” that often comes with starting an online business.

Prioritize “Voice-to-Text” Capabilities

If typing for long periods is tiring or if you find it easier to explain a product than to write about it, look for tools with advanced dictation.

  • The Tool: Wispr Flow or Otter.ai.
  • Why: These aren’t just transcription tools; they are “Thought-to-Paper” assistants. You can speak naturally (stutters and “umms” included), and the AI will rewrite your speech into a polished, professional blog post. This is a game-changer for maintaining a consistent writing schedule without physical strain.

Look for “Visual Simplicity” over “Feature Density”

Many AI tools (like Jasper or Copy.ai) can be overwhelming because they have dozens of buttons and sidebars.

  • The Tip: Choose a tool with a “Zen Mode” or a clean interface like Claude or Lex.
  • Why: Lex, for example, looks just like a blank piece of paper. You type a few words, and if you get stuck, the AI suggests the next sentence. This “low-friction” environment helps you focus on your affiliate strategy rather than learning a complex software dashboard.

Use the “Slider” Test for Tone

In affiliate marketing, trust is your only currency. If an AI sounds too “salesy,” your audience will leave.

  • The Tool: ParagraphAI.
  • Why: It features simple sliders for “Formal vs. Informal” or “Friendly vs. Assertive.” Instead of learning how to write complex “prompts,” you just move a slider to “Friendly” to ensure your product reviews sound like advice from a neighbor rather than an ad.

 

Screen Magnification and High Contrast

Not all AI interfaces play well with browser zoom settings.

  • The Tip: Before paying for a tool, zoom your browser to 150% or 200%.
  • Why: Some modern “sleek” apps break their layout when you enlarge the text. Grammarly and Microsoft Copilot are excellent at this because they follow strict accessibility standards, ensuring you can actually see what you are editing without straining your eyes.

Start with “Template-Based” Tools

Starting from a blank chat box (“What do you want to write today?”) can be the hardest part.

  • The Tool: Writesonic or Koala AI.
  • Why: These tools provide a “Fill-in-the-Blanks” approach. They ask: What is the product? What are the top 3 benefits? Who is the audience? Once you answer those, the AI builds the article. It’s like having a guided interview that results in a finished blog post.

Thank you for reading ” How to Choose AI Writing Tools,”

Jeff/ Boomer Biz HQ

Affiliate Disclosure 

Amazon + Wealthy Affiliate + Friends

You will never find any affiliate links in any of my step-by-step guides on any of my websites, I feel that my guides are to educate you, not push products & services at you.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this website may be affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support 65 Plus Life and Boomer Biz HQ so I can continue creating free resources for older adults.

Amazon Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any Amazon links used throughout this website may earn a commission when you purchase through them.

Wealthy Affiliate Disclosure: I am also a proud affiliate of Wealthy Affiliate. If you choose to join their platform through my referral link, I may earn a commission. I only recommend Wealthy Affiliate because it has personally helped me build websites and create income online, and I believe it can help other older adults learn these skills too.

Thank you for supporting my work — it truly means a lot.

Jeff

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “How To Choose AI Writing Tools That Are Easy To Use

  1. Hello!

    This was such a helpful breakdown — thank you! I’ve looked at tons of AI writing tools but often get overwhelmed by all the options, features, and confusing terminology. Your focus on ease of use rather than just bells and whistles really made me rethink what’s most practical, especially when you’re juggling content creation with everything else in life. It was great to see the real questions we should be asking (like how intuitive the interface is or whether training/support is included) instead of just chasing the “best” label.

    I’m curious — when you test these tools, do you find that some are better for specific tasks (like email writing vs blog content), or is there usually one that handles everything pretty well? And for beginners who are intimidated by AI, do you have a first step or feature you’d suggest they focus on so they don’t get lost in all the choices? This definitely gave me a clearer way to approach choosing tools that actually fit my workflow!

    Angela M 🙂

    1. Hello Angela

      What i do myself since AI is pretty new to us all is experiment with several of the tools in this article. By taking your time using each one that interests you the most you can narrow down which one is the best choice for you. 

      I prefer ChatGPT because I can use my own personality and experience with this specific tool, Gemini is another good one by Google for facts and statistics. It sound more technical than personal, but it is a great one for researching for information and resources.

      I hope this helps

      Jeff

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)