The best AI tools for small business marketing
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Ranked on published features, free-plan limits and beginner ease (checked 14 October 2026). We have not benchmarked these tools hands-on, and commissions don’t affect rankings.
Small businesses rarely have a marketing team. AI can draft the first version of most marketing tasks, so you spend your time on what only you know: your customers. Here’s a free-first toolkit.
Decide in 30 seconds
- Write posts and emails → ChatGPT free
- Social graphics → Canva free
- Shorter, clearer copy → QuillBot
- Explainer video without filming → Synthesia
- Automate lead follow-ups → Make
Our top picks
ChatGPT
Who it’s for: Social posts, emails, ad ideas and product descriptions.
Worth knowing: Answers can sound confident and still be wrong. Check important facts.
Canva
Who it’s for: Posts, flyers and resizing one design for several platforms.
Worth knowing: Some assets and AI features require a paid plan; check usage rights.
QuillBot
Who it’s for: Making copy shorter and clearer in a few modes.
Worth knowing: Rewriting can change meaning. Review it and follow your school or work rules.
Visit QuillBot ↗ (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission)
Synthesia
Who it’s for: Product how-tos and welcome videos without filming.
Worth knowing: Free videos carry a watermark and paid plans use credits; check avatar and content rules.
Visit Synthesia ↗ (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission)
Make
Who it’s for: Sending new enquiries to a sheet, an AI summary or your inbox automatically.
Worth knowing: There is a learning curve, runs use credits and plans are listed in US dollars. Test every scenario before switching it on.
Visit Make ↗ (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission)
Side-by-side comparison
| ChatGPT | Canva | QuillBot | Synthesia | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Copy | Design | Rewording | Video | Automation |
| Free option | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan | 10 min/month, watermarked | 1,000 credits/month |
| Watch out for | Generic tone, facts | Licensing | Meaning drift | Watermark on free | Learning curve |
Pricing
| Tool | Free | Entry paid |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Free plan | Go: US$8/month |
| Canva | Free plan | Pro: US$180/year |
| QuillBot | Free plan | Premium: AU$12.49/month billed annually |
| Synthesia | 10 min/month (watermarked) | Starter: US$18/month billed yearly |
| Make | 1,000 credits/month | Core (priced by credits; check Make’s site) |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from official pricing pages (official pricing pages for ChatGPT, Canva, QuillBot (AUD), Synthesia and Make). Prices are shown as listed, in US dollars (USD) and Australian dollars (AUD). Australian prices, GST and app-store pricing can differ, and plans change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you pay.
How to get started
Write down your customer, offer and tone in three sentences and reuse them in every prompt.
Ask ChatGPT for a month of post ideas, then pick and edit the best.
Design matching graphics in Canva and resize for each platform.
Automate one repetitive task, like logging new enquiries, with Make.
How we chose
We picked tools with free plans that cover the main marketing jobs for a small business, using official product and pricing pages. We haven’t benchmarked them hands-on.
Copy with ChatGPT
Give ChatGPT your customer, offer and tone, then ask for 3 versions of a post or email. Edit in a real detail only you know. Don’t let it invent reviews, statistics or claims you can’t back up. Australian Consumer Law applies to misleading claims. Our prompt generator has a “Social media post” option.
Design with Canva
Canva’s templates cover posts, flyers and simple video, and you can resize one design for several platforms. Many premium templates and AI features need Pro (US$180/year). Check image licensing for commercial use.
Polish with QuillBot
QuillBot (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) can shorten and clarify copy using modes like Formal and Simple. Always reread the result. See Grammarly vs QuillBot.
Video with Synthesia
Synthesia (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) turns a script into a presenter video, handy for product how-tos and welcome messages, in 140+ languages and voices. Free: 10 minutes a month, watermarked.
Automate with Make
Make (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) connects apps like Gmail, Google Sheets and AI services on a visual canvas. For example, it can add each new website enquiry to a sheet and email you a summary. The free plan has 1,000 credits a month. Per Make’s affiliate offer at the time of writing, people who sign up through our link get the Core plan free for one month; confirm the offer on the sign-up page. See how to use Make and Make vs Zapier.
Privacy
Don’t paste customer lists or personal information into AI tools unless you’re sure how they’re stored. The Privacy Act may apply to the personal information you collect.
Who this isn’t for
- Businesses wanting AI to run marketing unattended: review everything before it’s published.
- Regulated claims (health, finance) that need professional review.
Our verdict
Start free with ChatGPT and Canva, add QuillBot for polish, Synthesia for video and Make once you have a repetitive task worth automating. See also the best AI tools for small business.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free AI tool for small business marketing?
ChatGPT and Canva cover most needs for free: copy and graphics. Add others as you grow.
Can AI write my social media posts?
It can draft them. Edit each post so it sounds like you and only makes claims you can back up.
Is Make free?
Yes. Make’s free plan includes 1,000 credits a month.
Can I use Canva designs commercially?
Usually, but check the licence for each template, image and element.
Is AI marketing copy legal in Australia?
The same rules apply as for any copy. Avoid misleading claims under Australian Consumer Law, and check AI-written facts.
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Prices are shown as marked: US dollars (US$) and Australian dollars (AU$). Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.