Looking for ways to streamline your content creation process and create high-quality content? Discover the best AI apps for content creation changing the game for writers and content creators.
They will help you generate new ideas and create compelling content that engages your audience.
Content at Scale
An AI content generator for SEO long-form content creation and optimization that produces human-like content at speed
Ahrefs
An SEO tool that provides website analysis, keyword research and backlink tracking for digital marketers and content creators
Jasper
An AI-powered content generator that offers writers and bloggers the ability to generate content that is tailored to their brand and needs
Surfer SEO
An on-page optimization tool that analyzes search engine ranking factors and suggests improvements for website content
Midjourney
The latest in cutting-edge text-to-image AI generation that allows users to create custom, high-quality images for digital content based on text prompts
The best AI content creation tools are not just one tool, but a combination of them depending on what needs you have. For instance, an AI tool that is great at keyword research and generating ideas may not have all the elements of good AI writing tools, and vice versa.
There is a common misconception or expectation from some that AI tools today can do absolutely everything for content writers without any human intervention.
Although AI content creation tools have come a long way over the past few years alone, it still has further to go before it is fully autonomous. Some form of human guidance and optimisation is still required, particularly if you are using a combination of artificial intelligence tools to create content.
The benefits of using such content creation tools include streamlining and saving valuable time to undertake research and present content ideas to all forms of content creators, from professional copywriters to our everyday bloggers.
In just the first few months of 2023 alone, the pace of AI advancement was astonishing, with nearly daily announcements of the latest AI applications or the latest released features.
Here are some of them, along with some “older” AI tools, that continually improve as the technology advances on an exponential curve!
1. Content at Scale: The Best Long-Form AI Content Creation Tool
Content at Scale is an AI content generation tool for SEO long-form content creation and optimisation that produces human-like content at speed. It helps businesses improve their content marketing efforts making them more engaging and effective by automating and enhancing content writing and quality.
Overview
Best For
Price
OFFER
All-in-one long-form content writing / optimisation
From $250 to $1500 per month
20% more post credits through referral link
Key Features:
- Automated Content Creation: uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to create high-quality content at scale from relevant keywords. This can save businesses time and money while still producing high-quality content.
- Customisable Content: Users can customise the content created to fit their specific needs and requirements by amending suggested outlines. This can help ensure that the content produced is relevant and engaging for their target audience.
- SEO Optimisation: content is optimised for SEO which can help improve a website’s search engine rankings. It also offers helpful suggestions to improve on-page SEO even further.
- Scalable Solutions: able to handle large-scale needs, making it ideal for businesses that require a high volume of written content.
- Built-in Plagiarism Scan: able to run an article through a plagiarism scan (integrated with Copyscape), once the article is written and optimised
Pricing:
The below highlights the current pricing plans for Content at Scale, but custom plans are also available for businesses with more specific needs.
Pros:
- High-Quality Content: delivers well-researched, informative, engaging, long-form content designed to attract and retain readers.
- Automated Content Creation: process can save businesses time and money while still producing high-quality content. Content creation is not limited each month to a maximum word count.
- Customisable Content: Users can customise the content created by Content at Scale to fit their specific needs and requirements.
Cons:
Limited Revisions: provides a limited number of complete revisions for each article, which may not be sufficient for businesses that require extensive modifications or changes to their content.
Personalised Consultations: does not provide personalised consultations or strategy sessions, which may be a drawback for businesses that require more guidance and support in their content marketing efforts.
Limited Time on Market: on the market only a short time (since the second half of 2022). Therefore issues (if any) with the platform will need to be worked through with initial users.
My Take:
Best-in-Class: although new to the market in 2022, Content at Scale combines functionality from several other AI-powered content creation tools covering content writing, SEO optimisation and plagiarism scans in one platform.
Requires human optimisation: though it does streamline processes for content marketers, like all current AI-powered solutions, human editing and optimisation are still needed.
Good value compared to hiring content writers: despite its high-end price point compared to other AI content creation tools, Content at Sclae’s automation in long-form content writing can generate a lot of time and cost savings for content marketers, writers and bloggers.
2. Ahrefs: The Best Overall AI SEO Tool
Ahrefs is a popular SEO tool that provides users with a comprehensive suite of tools to improve their website’s search engine rankings. It provides solutions for keyword research, competitor analysis, site audit, rank tracking, and backlink analysis.
Overview
Best For
Price
OFFER
Those with SEO experience & established websites
From $79 to $799 per month
Two months free on annual plan
Key Features:
- Keyword Explorer: helps identify high-volume keywords with low competition via thousands of keyword ideas, including metrics for search volume, keyword difficulty score, and click-through rates.
- Site Explorer: analyse website backlink profile, top organic search traffic, and traffic value estimates.
- Content Explorer: Search for top-performing content in any niche or topic and analyse its backlink profile and social metrics. This helps users identify content gaps on their websites and suggest new content ideas.
- Rank Tracker: Track website ranking positions and monitor SERP features, including featured snippets and local packs.
- Site Audit: Identify and fix technical SEO issues, improve site speed, and optimise on-page elements that may impact a website’s search engine rankings.
Pricing:
Ahrefs offers a variety of pricing plans, as shown below. More details on the extra features of each plan can be found here. The pay annually option gives users two months of free use (effectively a 17% discount).
Pros:
- Comprehensive SEO toolset: offers a range of features that cover all aspects of SEO, making it a one-stop solution for businesses.
- Large dataset: uses a proprietary algorithm to provide up-to-date data on keyword rankings, backlinks, and search traffic.
- User-friendly interface: the tool’s intuitive interface and clear visualisations make it easy to use for both beginners and experienced SEO professionals.
- Regular updates: it is constantly adding new features and updating its database to ensure it stays ahead of the competition.
- Backlink Analysis: it is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. It can help users identify link-building opportunities and track their backlink profile over time.
Cons:
- High price point: Ahrefs is a premium tool, and its pricing plans may be too expensive for small businesses or individuals starting out with SEO. It currently offers no free trials or discounts.
- Limited credits per month: With all the plans, a maximum of 500 credits are applied to usage, and once exceeded, an additional fee is required for extra credits.
- Steep learning curve: While the tool’s interface is user-friendly, features may require SEO expertise or experience to use effectively.
- Limited integration options: It does not integrate with as many third-party applications as some of its competitors, which can be a drawback for businesses that rely on multiple tools for their marketing stack.
My Take:
- Expensive for beginners: Ahrefs offers a lot to users, but its full feature value is in the higher price ranges, unsuitable for those starting out. Even on its Lite subscription, the value gain for beginners at that price point is better spent elsewhere.
- Free tools for beginners: offers a free Webmaster Tool that provides website owners limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit.
- Good value for the more experienced: at the higher price plans with all of the features available to the user, Ahrefs does become an all-in-one SEO solution for established businesses and websites. It’s robust and comprehensive database for keyword research (and more), makes it one of the best SEO toolsets on the market that money can buy… and you will undoubtedly need to pay for it!
3. Jasper: The Best AI Writing Tool
Jasper is one of the well-known (and well-used) content writing tools. It is an innovative AI copywriting tool that uses natural language processing to generate high-quality, SEO-optimized content for businesses of all sizes.
Overview
Best For
Price
OFFER
Individuals and small businesses starting out
From $40 to $82 per month
Two months free on annual plan
Key Features:
- Flexible: popular AI writing tool for all forms of content like social media posts, blog posts, emails, etc., with customisable content briefs to ensure that content meets user requirements
- Automated Content Creation: saving time and resources for content marketing efforts for businesses from content creators to bloggers and social media marketers.
- High level of Integration: integrated with popular 3rd party applications like WordPress, HubSpot, and optimisation tools like Surfer SEO & Grammarly, as well as plagiarism scans (via Copyscape)
Pricing:
Jasper’s AI content writer offers pricing plans based on the number of words each customer requires, starting at $40 per month for 35,000 words.
Prices vary per below, with additional features and custom pricing available for enterprise customers. A saving of 17% is possible with an annual plan subscription (effectively giving users two months free).
Pros:
- Flexible: popular AI writing tool for all forms of content like social media posts, blog posts, emails, etc., with customisable content briefs to ensure that content meets user requirements
- Automated Content Creation: saving time and resources for content marketing efforts for businesses from content creators to bloggers and social media marketers.
- High level of Integration: integrated with popular 3rd party applications like WordPress, HubSpot, and optimisation tools like Surfer SEO & Grammarly, as well as plagiarism scans (via Copyscape)
Cons:
- Lack of human creativity: AI-generated content may lack the creativity and nuance of human-written content. Some users may prefer a more hands-on approach to content creation and editing.
- Extra Costs: some additional features and integrations are unavailable on the Starter plan. Such integrations at higher-level levels may also require separate 3rd party subscriptions.
- Limited Monthly Word Count: Content creation is limited to a maximum word count each month
My Take:
- One of the best AI Content Writing Tools: Jasper has been around for a while (formerly “Jarvis”), and is a well-known entity as an AI content creation tool, making the writing process a lot faster.
- Versatile but costs can mount up: content writing tools like Jasper are greatly beneficial when used in conjunction with other content creation tools. It has this capability but only achieves this at higher price levels, with additional costs for 3rd party subscriptions.
- Need to use a series of tools: if streamlining your process is the primary goal, other solutions are available (like Content at Scale). Nevertheless, Jasper does offer some great benefits, particularly for those beginning their content marketing careers and wishing to accelerate their writing process with an AI writing tool.
4. Surfer SEO: The Best Affordable AI On-Page SEO Tool
Surfer SEO is a comprehensive on-page optimisation tool that analyses search engine ranking factors to suggest improvements for website content.
Overview
Best For
Price
OFFER
Individuals and small businesses starting out
From $59 to $239 per month
Two months free on annual plan. Free 7 day trial.
Key Features:
- Content Editor: provides users with data-driven insights to help optimise their content for search engines. It can help identify keyword opportunities, analyse competitors’ content, and provide suggestions for improving content.
- Keyword Research: tool can help users identify high-volume keywords with low competition. It can also provide insights into the search intent behind specific keywords.
- Site Audit: tool can comprehensively audit website pages and suggest improvements for technical SEO issues.
- Free tools: includes free content outline generator and Keyword Surfer, a Chrome extension that provides volume, cost per click, and other competitor keyword analysis without leaving Google’s search engine page.
Pricing:
Surfer SEO offers a variety of pricing plans, starting at $59 per month for the Basic plan. A number of higher-priced plans, with extra features and higher usage limits, also cater for large businesses.
Like Jasper, Surfer SEO offers a 17% discount on their annual plan subscription (effectively giving users two months free). They also offer a 7-day free trial.
Pros:
- Data-Driven Insights: Surfer SEO provides users with data-driven insights to help improve their website’s search engine rankings.
- Comprehensive On-Page optimisation: The tool covers all aspects of on-page SEO, including content optimisation, keyword research, and technical SEO.
- User-Friendly Interface: The tool has an easy-to-use interface with clear visualisations that make it accessible to both beginners and experienced SEO professionals.
- Regular Updates & 3rd Party Integrations: Surfer SEO is constantly adding new features and updating its algorithm to stay ahead of the competition, including integrations with Google Docs, WordPress, Jasper and Semrush.
Cons:
- Price Point: Surfer SEO is a premium tool, and its pricing plans may be too expensive for small businesses or individuals. However, it is still more affordable than other SEO tools (like Ahrefs).
- Limited Features Compared to Other SEO Tools: While Surfer SEO provides a comprehensive suite of tools for optimising content for search engines, it may have fewer features than other premium SEO tools on the market (like Ahrefs comprehensive backlink analysis).
My Take:
- Great for Individuals and Small Businesses: along with its free tools, Surfer SEO offers a lower price point than other premium SEO tools, representing good value and functionality for those content creators starting out.
- Great Visualisations: its suggested improvements to articles during the writing process based on data-driven comparisons to competitor websites is a great way to learn what works best from a search optimisation perspective.
- Convenient 3rd Party Integrations: Surfer SEO is a logical addition with integrations to popular tools a content creator would use (like Google Docs and WordPress).
5. Midjourney: The Best AI Image Generator
Midjourney is an AI image generator that can create stunning images from text prompts. It is still under development and available to early adopters via Discord and has already generated some amazing images, including landscapes, portraits, and even abstract art.
Overview
Best For
Price
OFFER
Anyone wishing to generate AI art/images/designs
From $10 to $60 per month
Free trial with limited number of generated images [Update: 31 March 2023 – Midjourney has recently suspended its free trial version until further notice.]
Key Features:
- AI-generated images that are tailored to user specifications
- Customisable image styles, colours, lighting and layouts, with the ability to control the content of the image, such as the subject, the setting, and the mood
- Text-to-image generation but also the ability to generate images based on another image
Pricing:
Midjourney’s pricing plans vary but are affordable given what they can produce. There is a free trial with a limited number of images able to be generated, but their paid plans and extra features are well worth considering, particularly for large businesses. [Update: 31 March 2023 – Midjourney has recently suspended its free trial version until further notice.]
Pros:
- Saves time and resources by automating the image creation process
- Generates high-quality, customised images that meet user specifications
- Opens the ability to “create art” for the wider public, limited only by their ability to describe the image they want to see
Cons:
- AI-generated images may lack the creativity and nuance of human-designed images, though the flexibility and variety of possible text prompts by users narrows the gap
- Some users may prefer a more hands-on approach to image creation and editing, particularly traditional artists
- Limited customisation options compared to human-designed images, with only those proficient in “prompt engineering” able to create stunning images
My Take:
- Inspires creativity: the ability to see an image created that you saw in your mind’s eye is enticing. Inspiration from other creators’ work provides excellent opportunities to learn and apply those skills almost immediately.
- Learning curve: although “prompt engineering” may seem daunting, a little time spent studying other images that draws your attention is a simple yet effective way to increase skills in the image generation sphere
- Ability to Use AI-generated images: Whether using such images for your website (as I have done), or selling AI art on a t-shirt or as a digital print, the potential uses create possibilities traditionally reserved for only the “artistic” among us.
Here are just a few simple examples I came up with while using Microsoft’s Bing Chat to give me images illustrating keyword research, content writing, content editing and generative AI art:
Then there are the more powerful examples from text-to-image generators like Midjourney (the first of which you will recognise on my homepage) and Dall-E:
To get an appreciation of just how far these image generators have come in a few short years, take a look at the following video from Matt Wolfe’s YouTube channel on what you can do with Midjourney (I highly recommend you follow him if you have an interest in the AI space).
AI Content Creation FAQ
How does AI help in content creation?
AI can offer content creators a range of advantages, such as improved data analysis capabilities for faster and more accurate insights, personalised content generation based on user interests or preferences, and other benefits.
AI-driven tools allow for faster and more accurate analysis of data, allowing writers to quickly identify trends and create relevant content that is tailored to their audience.
AI technology can be utilised to generate tailored content based on user preferences and interests, enabling the production of engaging and effective pieces with minimal effort.
What are AI tools for content writing?
AI tools for content writing are software applications that use natural language processing and machine learning to generate high-quality, original written content.
These AI tools can analyse text, identify patterns, and provide automated suggestions to improve the quality of a writer’s work.
They also help writers save time by automating mundane tasks such as spell-checking or formatting documents.
Additionally, some AI tools allow users to create personalised content tailored specifically to their audience’s needs.
How can AI help writers?
AI software tools can help writers increase their productivity and efficiency by generating content ideas, researching topics, and finding relevant information. It can also assist in organising data for easy analysis and understanding of the subject matter.
AI-powered writing assistants can provide automated feedback on grammar and spelling errors and suggest alternate words or phrases to improve clarity and accuracy.
Additionally, AI apps enable writers to produce more consistent quality work with fewer revisions by automatically applying industry standards such as style guides or templates.
Can AI apps for content creation replace human writers?
AI apps for content creation can help human writers by automating some of their tasks and providing them with new ideas and inspiration. However, they cannot replace human writers’ creativity, empathy, and intuition.
Are AI apps for content creation expensive?
The cost of AI apps for content creation varies depending on the features, capabilities, and pricing models. Some apps offer free trials or basic plans, while others require monthly or yearly subscriptions.
How can I choose the best AI app for content creation?
To choose the best AI app for content creation, consider your specific needs, goals, and budget, and compare the features, pricing, and user reviews of different apps like the ones above.
There are certainly more out there, which can be a minefield to discover and learn, but you will find varying combinations of them to suit your current and evolving future needs.
What types of content can I create with AI apps?
You can create a wide range of content types with AI apps, including blog posts, social media posts, product descriptions, landing pages, email marketing campaigns, and more.
How do I integrate AI apps with my content creation workflow?
To integrate AI apps with your content creation workflow, you can use API integrations, plugins, or extensions to connect your app with your content management system, email marketing software, or other tools.
What are some best practices for using AI apps for content creation?
Some best practices for using AI apps for content creation include providing clear and specific instructions, reviewing and editing the generated content, optimising for SEO and readability, and experimenting with different styles and tones.
Final Thoughts
There are many AI-powered content creation tools out there to assist content creators. One could argue it is very confusing, and there is too much choice given the pace of AI development in the last few years alone.
Some tools are falling behind, some are on the cutting edge (at present), and some are adapting to the evolving AI environment via creative plugins or integrations with other tools to help content creators streamline their processes.
- If cost is no problem, you might adopt both Content at Scale and Ahrefs as the premium tools of choice.
- If you wish to reduce costs, you might adopt both Jasper and Surfer SEO, which have the added benefit of integrating with each other.
- If you want to start out with even lower costs, you should adopt some of the free tools offered by some AI content creation software providers, but functionality will be limited.
- What are your most used AI content creation tools?
- How have you streamlined your entire content creation process?
- Do you have a specific AI Content Creation Tool you want me to review?
Let me know in the comments section below.
Author: Darrell Chau
Updated: 5 April 2023