The best AI tools right now (2026)

The top 20 of 362 matching tools in the ShipRadar directory, for anyone who wants the most useful AI tools, starting with the easiest to use. Updated Oct 14, 2026.

How this list is made: tools are pulled from ShipRadar's directory and ranked by traction on their source (GitHub stars, Hugging Face likes, Hacker News points, Product Hunt votes) plus freshness. Well-known tools are included as editor's picks. Read the methodology.

1. 1

   Let your AI agents paint big arrows, boxes and text on your screen

   Lets an AI helper draw arrows and notes right on your screen, so it can point at what it means.

   🤖 Automation & AI Helpers · 419 traction · Visit ↗

2. 2

   Whiteboard (YC W26)

   A free code editor that helps programmers plan software before writing it.

   ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 424 traction · Visit ↗

3. 3

   dsh-our-free-model

   A plugin for the DeepSeek Harness coding tool that gives free access to models like DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and Kimi K3, with no sign-up.

   🧠 For Developers · 14,068 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

4. 4

   universal-modder

   Lets programmers use Claude to mod PC games.

   ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 7,394 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

5. 5

   AIHOT

   Free code for running your own AI news site. It finds trending topics and writes a daily report by itself. You pick the sources. Needs a programmer to set up.

   🤖 Automation & AI Helpers · 7,505 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

6. 6

   magpie

   A Mac menu-bar app for programmers to switch which AI model their coding tools use.

   ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 11,494 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

7. 7

   Reladraw

   A way to make diagrams by writing simple text, where you decide what goes where.

   ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 415 traction · Visit ↗

8. 8

   AI search for every photo and every frame of video on macOS

   Search your Mac's photos and videos by describing what's in them, like 'dog on a beach'.

   🎬 Video · 183 traction · Visit ↗

9. 9

   jev-chat-jarvis

   Reads a chat before you reply, warns you about tone and risk, and suggests replies. You always press send. On Android.

   📈 Productivity · 7,713 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

10. 10

    HN.watch

    Every Hacker News post turned into a short video, if you'd rather watch than read.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 226 traction · Visit ↗

11. 11

    Made an open-source Lego AI generator

    A free project that uses AI to design Lego builds. Needs some setup to run.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 170 traction · Visit ↗

12. 12

    coucou

    A small Mac and iPhone app that shows what your AI coding tools are doing. For programmers.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 5,116 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

13. 13

    shaders

    Ready-made animated, glowing visual effects that web designers can drop into a website. You'll need someone who builds sites.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 4,755 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

14. 14

    Mini-AGI

    An experimental AI model that keeps learning, trained on a normal gaming graphics card.

    🧠 For Developers · 277 traction · Visit ↗

15. 15

    aurelio-finance

    A free personal finance app with an AI advisor. Track your net worth, investments and debts on your own computer, so your money data stays private.

    💼 Business & Money · 3,359 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

16. 16

    An experimental pattern-first DAW that supports MCP

    Experimental music software that AI assistants can control.

    🎧 Music & Voice · 83 traction · Visit ↗

17. 17

    Pi pod

    Runs the Pi coding helper safely on your own server.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 121 traction · Visit ↗

18. 18

    Share your AI Setup, Learn from others

    A site where people post the AI tools and setups they use. Nice for nosing around.

    🤖 Automation & AI Helpers · 251 traction · Visit ↗

19. 19

    answer-me-with-html

    Makes an AI answer hard questions with one tidy, readable web page instead of a wall of text.

    ⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 3,301 GitHub stars · Visit ↗

20. 20

    Jevman

    AI decision models playing Pac-Man. Pure fun.

    🧠 For Developers · 81 traction · Visit ↗

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