12 Best AI Tools for Small Business to Boost Growth in 2025

1. Marlie AI

For owner-run and multi-location service businesses, a missed call is more than a missed opportunity; it is lost revenue. Marlie AI answers that pain point with a 24/7 AI phone assistant that makes sure no call goes unanswered. It picks up in under two seconds with a natural, human voice, making it indispensable for towing services, locksmiths, and emergency plumbers.

Marlie AI is engineered to perform like a highly efficient receptionist. It books jobs directly on your calendar, captures customer details, schedules appointments, and can even process payments over the phone. Intelligent spam filtering keeps robocalls from wasting your time, and the platform is consistently rated among the best AI tools for small business owners focused on lead capture.

Key Features and Use Cases

Marlie AI is purpose-built for real-world service professionals. It is not just about answering calls; it converts conversations into booked revenue.

• Intelligent call handling: The system is trained on your business information so it can answer common questions, qualify leads, and schedule service calls. An HVAC company can flag urgent no-heat emergencies for priority scheduling.
• Seamless human handoff: Callers can press 0 or say "agent" to route directly to your team whenever a human touch is needed.
• Cost-effective scalability: Pay-as-you-go pricing fits seasonal businesses with fluctuating call volume.
• Automated communication: Follow-up texts confirm appointment details or share secure payment links to reduce no-shows.

Why It Stands Out

Clients report a 20 to 60 percent increase in booked jobs and save 10 to 15 hours of administrative work each week. Setup is quick with no extra hardware required. For a deeper dive into the impact on service businesses, explore our guide to virtual receptionists for small business.

Pros: Instant pickup with a friendly voice, books jobs, screens spam, handles payments, smart transfer to humans, and pay-as-you-go pricing at $0.25 per minute.

Cons: Pay-as-you-go pricing can add up for extremely high call volumes, and the platform is optimized for businesses with up to 50 locations.

Pricing: Plans start at $49 per month plus $0.25 per minute. A 14-day free trial is available.

Website: https://www.marlie.ai.

2. OpenAI - ChatGPT

ChatGPT has become indispensable for small businesses. Paid plans unlock powerful features that help teams draft marketing copy, analyze customer feedback, create business plans, and automate research at scale.

The Team plan provides a shared workspace with data controls so business information is not used for model training. Custom GPTs and advanced data analysis features let you design assistants for specific workflows.

• Best for: Content creation, brainstorming, data analysis, and workflow automation.
• Pricing: Plus plan at $20 per user per month. Team plan at $25 per user per month (billed annually) with secure workspaces and admin controls.
• Pros: Fast setup, broad integrations, and a large library of user-built GPTs.
• Cons: Per-user pricing can add up for larger teams, and advanced features continue to evolve.

Website: https://openai.com/pricing.

3. Microsoft 365 with Copilot

If your team lives in Microsoft 365, Copilot is a powerhouse addition. It plugs directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to summarize emails, build presentations, or create data visualizations with natural language prompts.

Responses are grounded in your company data, and the service inherits Microsoft's compliance and security standards. For companies invested in Microsoft tools, Copilot turns everyday software into an intelligent work partner that helps you increase business efficiency.

• Best for: Businesses already using Microsoft 365 for documents, communication, and data.
• Pricing: Requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription plus a $30 per user per month Copilot add-on.
• Pros: Deep integration with familiar apps, enterprise-grade security, and grounded responses.
• Cons: Total per-user cost can be high, and a Microsoft 365 subscription is required.

Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/pricing/enterprise.

4. Google Workspace with Gemini AI

For teams embedded in Google's ecosystem, Gemini AI is integrated into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It drafts emails, summarizes data, and supports image generation without leaving your workflow.

• Best for: Google Workspace teams that want AI assistance without new software.
• Pricing: Included in Business Standard plans and above starting at $12 per user per month. Price increases are expected in 2025.
• Pros: Bundled AI in familiar tools with strong admin controls and predictable pricing.
• Cons: Upcoming price changes require budget planning, and timing may vary by account.

Website: https://workspace.google.com.

5. Shopify App Store

Shopify's App Store delivers a vast ecosystem of AI-powered apps for ecommerce merchants. From product recommendation engines to automated chatbots and SEO helpers, there is a tool for every storefront.

• Best for: Ecommerce automation, marketing personalization, and customer service.
• Pricing: Many apps offer free plans or trials, with paid tiers typically ranging from $5 to over $100 per month.
• Pros: Direct integration with Shopify admin, large selection of tools, and low-friction setup.
• Cons: Quality varies by vendor, so review ratings closely. Multiple app subscriptions can add up.

Website: https://apps.shopify.com.

6. Zapier

Zapier evolved from simple automation into an AI-enabled workflow hub. It connects more than 6,000 apps and lets you build automations with or without code. AI steps can summarize emails, route support tickets, or draft social content automatically.

A new lead in your CRM can trigger a Zap that drafts a personalized follow-up email and schedules it for delivery. Zapier is the connective tissue for small business tech stacks, and you can automate business processes without hiring developers.

• Best for: Workflow automation, system integration, and eliminating repetitive tasks.
• Pricing: Free plan with limited tasks. Paid plans start at $19.99 per month billed annually, scaling with task volume.
• Pros: Huge ecosystem of integrations, intuitive builder, and fast experimentation.
• Cons: Costs can rise with heavy usage, and some partner AI integrations have opaque pricing.

Website: https://zapier.com.

7. HubSpot

HubSpot grew from marketing automation into an AI-enabled CRM. It unifies marketing, sales, and service tools with AI features for content creation, predictive lead scoring, and customer support automation.

AI features live inside existing workflows. Service teams can deploy chatbots and knowledge bases, a critical part of modern AI call center software. The unified platform reduces tool sprawl and maintains consistent customer data across departments.

• Best for: Unifying sales, marketing, and service operations with AI support.
• Pricing: Free tier available. Starter plans begin at $20 per month billed annually, with Professional tiers unlocking advanced automation.
• Pros: Single source of truth for customer data, strong community, and large marketplace of integrations.
• Cons: Professional and Enterprise tiers can become expensive, and some plans require onboarding fees.

Website: https://www.hubspot.com.

8. AWS Marketplace

AWS Marketplace is a curated catalog for deploying production-ready AI inside your AWS environment. You can find secure chatbots, summarization tools, and industry-specific agents that inherit AWS security and compliance controls.

• Best for: SMBs already on AWS or needing enterprise-grade security and scale.
• Pricing: Varies by vendor with usage-based, subscription, and contract options. AWS infrastructure fees apply.
• Pros: Centralized procurement, rapid deployment, and hardened security posture.
• Cons: Complexity can overwhelm teams not familiar with AWS, and infrastructure charges add to software costs.

Website: https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace.

9. AppSumo

AppSumo is a marketplace for discovering discounted or lifetime deals on emerging software, including AI tools. It is a low-risk way to experiment with new technology without expensive monthly subscriptions.

• Best for: Testing new AI tools on a budget and securing lifetime licenses.
• Pricing: Lifetime deals typically range from $39 to $99 or more as a one-time payment.
• Pros: Low cost of entry, 60-day refund window on most offers, and active community reviews.
• Cons: Vendor quality and long-term support vary, so vet deals carefully.

Website: https://appsumo.com.

10. G2

G2 is not an AI tool but an essential research platform. It offers peer reviews, buyer guides, and comparison grids tailored to small business AI categories so you can evaluate software based on real-world feedback.

• Best for: Researching, comparing, and selecting AI software informed by user reviews.
• Pricing: Free for buyers to browse reviews and comparisons.
• Pros: Wide coverage of AI vendors with side-by-side comparisons and authentic user pros and cons.
• Cons: Sponsored placements can influence visibility, so always confirm details on vendor sites.

Website: https://www.g2.com.

11. Capterra

Capterra serves a similar role to G2 with a sharp focus on small business needs. Its categories, comparison matrices, and user reviews simplify the process of shortlisting AI-powered software for chatbots, automation, and marketing.

• Best for: Discovering and comparing AI solutions tailored to SMB requirements.
• Pricing: Free to browse and evaluate tools.
• Pros: Easy-to-scan pricing tiers, vendor filters, and comparison charts with plenty of SMB voices.
• Cons: Some listings are vendor-managed or sponsored, so cross-check claims with additional sources.

Website: https://www.capterra.com.

12. Canva Magic Studio

Canva Magic Studio packs AI writing, image, and video tools into a single, user-friendly design platform. It empowers small teams to produce on-brand social content, ads, and sales collateral without advanced design skills.

• Best for: Marketing teams and entrepreneurs producing on-brand visual assets quickly.
• Pricing: Free plan with limited AI credits. Pro plan starts at $14.99 per user per month. Teams plans start at $29.99 per month for up to five people.
• Pros: Combines design, document, and AI features in one platform with strong collaboration tools.
• Cons: Teams pricing increased recently, and some AI features can be inconsistent when under heavy demand.

Website: https://www.canva.com/magic/.

Top 12 AI Tools: Feature Comparison

Use this comparison table to match each tool with the outcomes, value, and audiences it serves best.

Choosing the Right AI Mix for Your Business

Integrating AI does not mean adopting every new tool. The goal is to make strategic, targeted choices that solve your most pressing challenges. The best AI tools for small business automate repetitive tasks, unlock new efficiencies, and protect revenue around the clock.

Start with a single pain point. If you are losing jobs because calls go to voicemail, an AI phone agent such as Marlie AI delivers immediate impact. If content creation drains hours each week, generative tools like ChatGPT or Canva Magic Studio can reclaim that time.

Build Your AI Toolkit Step by Step

• Audit your workflow: Identify the tasks that drain time, from customer intake to content scheduling or lead follow-up.
• Start with one core tool: Choose a solution that addresses the biggest bottleneck, whether it is a phone agent, CRM, or automation hub.
• Measure impact: Track metrics before and after implementation so you know how many calls, leads, or hours you are saving.
• Integrate and expand: Use platforms like Zapier to connect tools and create seamless, automated workflows across your stack.

Final Thoughts on AI Implementation

AI does not replace human expertise; it amplifies it. The objective is to free your team from repetitive tasks so you can focus on strategic growth, customer relationships, and skilled work.

Whether you operate a single-location locksmith business or manage a multi-location home services brand, the right AI combination gives you a competitive advantage. Start small, solve a specific problem, and scale with confidence.

For a deeper look at content automation opportunities, explore these AI content generation tools to see how modern systems support marketing teams.

Ready to ensure you never miss another high-value customer call? Discover how Marlie AI delivers professional phone coverage 24/7 so your business captures every lead and keeps revenue growing.