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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- My 2025 AI spend hit $1,665 throughout instruments and upgrades.
- $300 in agentic coding instruments did years of coding in days.
- Adobe was half the invoice, then I reduce it down drastically.
As we hurtle via 2026, the fourth yr of generative AI’s new wave of instruments and functions, we’re nonetheless attempting to get a deal with on the expertise’s ever-expanding function in our lives. The emergence of agentic AI in 2025 took the sport to a wholly new stage.
Main the pack has been the rise in agentic coding instruments. These instruments, resembling Gemini Jules, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex, are able to writing whole applications and merchandise. I put each Codex and Claude Code to the take a look at, creating 4 plug-in add-on safety merchandise for WordPress utilizing Codex, in addition to a full-featured iPhone app utilizing Claude Code.
Additionally: I ended utilizing ChatGPT for all the things: These AI fashions beat it at analysis, coding, and extra
I take advantage of different AI instruments, too. In truth, I’ve added a couple of new ones to the lineup this yr. On this article, I’ll present you the AI instruments I entered the yr with, the merchandise I stored, the merchandise I added, the merchandise I dumped, and any which might be presently on the chopping block.
Have in mind two elements as you learn over this end-of-year accounting. First, I nonetheless use most of the free AI instruments I’ve reviewed right here on ZDNET. And second, although I assessment their merchandise, I pay for all the professional variations of those instruments out of my very own pocket. That means, you understand the AI corporations haven’t any affect over what I am telling you.
Paid AI instruments I started the yr with
- Time interval: January via Could
- Instruments used: Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Adobe Artistic Cloud
- Cumulative spend by the top of Could: $500
This yr, I began with Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, and Adobe Artistic Cloud.
Midjourney ($10/mo): Midjourney is the primary generative AI instrument I ever paid for, beginning in early 2023. Its glorious picture creation capabilities helped me with lots of my tasks, starting from social media posts for my spouse’s e-commerce web site to supporting pictures for my album covers and music web site.
Additionally: How AI helped get my music on all the foremost streaming companies
ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): As I began utilizing OpenAI’s chatbot extra ceaselessly, I upgraded to the Plus tier. Early on, you wanted the Plus tier to entry the info analytics options that I discovered enormously useful. At present, the Plus tier offers entry to some agentic coding instruments, considerably extra capability than the free tier, and higher-end considering fashions.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s mother or father firm, filed an April 2025 lawsuit in opposition to OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in coaching and working its AI techniques.)
Adobe Artistic Cloud ($69.99/month): I have been an Adobe buyer for many years. Though Photoshop has lengthy had small AI-like options, it wasn’t till 2024 or in order that generative AI considerably enhanced Photoshop’s capabilities. Adobe added AI options to Illustrator and different instruments as nicely. Firstly of 2025, I started categorizing my month-to-month Artistic Cloud invoice as an AI expense.
Additionally: One of the best AI chatbots: I examined ChatGPT, Copilot, and others to seek out the highest instruments now
This put my month-to-month AI expense at $100 from January till the top of Could. Cumulative AI expense from January via Could was $500. Of that, $350 was Adobe.
Paying for API calls
- Time interval: June via August
- Instruments used: Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Adobe Artistic Cloud
- Instruments added: ChatGPT API
- Cumulative spend by the top of August: $835
In June, I arrange a self-hosted server to maintain observe of articles I learn on the web. That is my private alternative for Mozilla’s Pocket. One function of the instrument, referred to as Karakeep, is that it makes use of OpenAI’s API to do key phrase evaluation on the articles. I discover this enormously useful as a result of automated key phrase tagging generally is a large time saver.
Organising that server with Karakeep concerned importing and cataloging roughly 21,000 articles, which took a couple of months. OpenAI costs for its API calls primarily based on the token use (an analog for processing energy used).
Additionally: Tips on how to arrange your personal article archiving service – and why I did (RIP, Pocket)
In June, I used $10 price of GPT-5 processing. July was my large import month, so I used one other $20. And I spent one other $5 on processing in August. Apparently, the few articles I have been including to my archive every week have not hit the billing threshold since my final cost in August.
All instructed, I spent $35 on API calls in 2025, particularly between June and August.
I used to be nonetheless paying $100 per 30 days for Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, and Adobe, which introduced my year-to-date AI expense by the top of August to $835. Of that, $560 was Adobe.
Vibe coding, half 1
- Time interval: September and October
- Instruments used: Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Adobe Artistic Cloud, ChatGPT API
- Instruments added (and dropped): ChatGPT Professional
- Instruments added: Notion AI
- Cumulative spend by the top of October: $1,234.90
In September, I began tinkering with vibe coding. Vibe coding is the follow of permitting an AI agent to jot down code for you, beneath your supervision. OpenAI had enabled its Codex vibe coding instrument for customers of the $20/month ChatGPT Plus plan.
I made a decision to offer it a spin, testing it by having it make some enhancements to my WordPress-based open-source safety product. I used it for about 5 hours, which demonstrated to me the ability of this instrument. However then ChatGPT reduce me off.
Additionally: I did 24 days of coding in 12 hours with a $20 AI instrument – however there’s one large pitfall
It seems the Plus tier throttles your Codex utilization. I used to be in a position to do a couple of longer runs, however needed to wait days in between runs for the throttle to reset. Even so, I calculated that I accomplished the equal of about 20 days of hand-coding time in solely 12 hours.
However I needed to see if I might do extra. I had a couple of quiet days with no large deadlines, so I made a decision to up my spend to the $200/month Professional tier of ChatGPT. This allowed me to have nearly limitless use of Codex with out throttling.
In 4 days, I constructed 4 particular person add-on merchandise for my WordPress safety plugin. Beforehand, I had been constructing solely about one add-on per yr, so I thought of that to be 4 years of labor in 4 days. Nicely definitely worth the $200.
I are typically very cautious about my companies spend, so as soon as I accomplished the challenge, I turned off the $200/month Professional tier and went again to the $20/month Plus tier. I did should make an replace to my code utilizing Codex, however the Plus tier was adequate to make some fast fixes.
In September, I additionally added Notion AI to my record of AI instruments. I had some very particular work I needed it to do inside my Notion database, notably with robotically constructing databases primarily based on lists of knowledge. The Notion AI Enterprise tier added $20/month to my bills, with billing starting in October.
Additionally: I bought 4 years of product improvement achieved in 4 days for $200, and I am nonetheless surprised
I had paid that $200 for the Professional tier of ChatGPT Codex in September, which changed the $20 for ChatGPT Plus for simply that month. I used to be nonetheless paying $80 in September for Midjourney and Adobe. That introduced September’s AI expense to $300.
In October, I used to be again to paying $120 per 30 days for Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Notion AI, and Adobe, which introduced my year-to-date AI expense by the top of October to $1,235. Of that, $700 was for Adobe.
Vibe coding, half 2
- Time interval: November
- Instruments used: Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Adobe Artistic Cloud, ChatGPT API, Notion AI
- Instruments added: Claude Code Max 5x
- Cumulative spend by the top of November: $1,455
After releasing my collection of articles about vibe coding with Codex, I heard again from a number of coders. They needed to know why I had not but checked out Claude Code. Whereas Codex is OpenAI’s product, it is Claude Code that seems to have captured the creativeness of most programmers.
Additionally: Tips on how to set up and configure Claude Code, step-by-step
I mentioned why on this article, the place I additionally showcased the full-featured iPhone app I constructed with Claude Code. Primarily, Claude Code is each cheaper than Codex and was initially extra accessible, because it operates throughout the terminal app relatively than in a GitHub repository.
So, in November, I made a decision to enroll in Claude Code’s $20/month Professional plan. As with Codex, I used up the plan’s AI token capability in a matter of hours. So, I upgraded from Claude Professional to Claude Max. It seems there are numerous Max plans, primarily based on utilization. I signed up for the Max 5x plan, which is $100/month.
Over 17 days, throughout which I used Claude Code for a couple of hours a day on 11 of these days, I created a full-featured, pretty highly effective, and extremely custom-made iPhone app that solved a real-world downside I’ve with managing my 3D printing filament within the Fab Lab.
Additionally: 10 issues I want I knew earlier than trusting Claude Code to construct my iPhone app
I’ve determined to maintain paying the $100/month Claude Code payment for an additional month or two. I need to create native Mac and Apple Watch variations of my iPhone app. Keep tuned, as a result of I am going to take you alongside on that journey, too.
In November, I paid $120 for Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, Notion AI, and Adobe. I nonetheless have the OpenAI API service going, however now that each one the majority processing is completed, it hasn’t incurred any new payments. Then, I added Claude Code’s Max 5x plan for $100. That made November’s AI expense $220.
As of the top of November, my year-to-date AI expense was $1,455. Of that, $770 was for Adobe.
Ratcheting down Adobe expense
- Time interval: December
- Instruments used: Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT API, Notion AI, Claude Code
- Instruments dropped: Adobe Artistic Cloud
- Instruments added (and dropped): Canva and Leonardo AI
- Instruments added: Adobe Images plan, Google AI Professional (for Gemini)
- Cumulative spend for the entire yr: $1,605
In December, I began engaged on my “Best AI image generators” article, which will probably be printed quickly. I additionally determined it was time to handle the Adobe expense. Totally half of my general AI expenditures has been paying for Artistic Cloud. Whereas I take advantage of Photoshop extensively, I barely contact the opposite instruments.
Additionally: I like Photoshop, however Canva’s free Affinity instruments gained me over (and saved me cash)
Initially, my plan was to make use of Canva and the newly free Affinity graphics instruments to complement my Artistic Cloud use. However I discovered the generative options within the Affinity program to be, no less than for now, underwhelming. And that is sort.
I did spend $20 for one month of the Canva Marketing strategy. This allowed me to check Canva for my article, in addition to to check Leonardo AI (which comes with the Canva Marketing strategy). Neither rocked my world. So as soon as testing was achieved, I cancelled that plan.
Then, there’s Photoshop. I ought to point out that I have been utilizing Photoshop for many years and have main muscle reminiscence. I might be extremely productive in Photoshop. Certain, I might use free or cheaper various instruments. I simply do not need to sacrifice the proficiency and alacrity with which I take advantage of the instrument. I made a decision to maintain Photoshop, however ditch the Artistic Cloud. That modified my Adobe spend from $70/month to $20/month.
Additionally: I examined the brand new ChatGPT Pictures – it is a beautiful enchancment, and enormously enjoyable
Adobe has a bizarre program of generative credit. They cost you primarily based on how a lot AI you utilize. You probably have the $70/month Artistic Cloud plan that I simply dropped, you get 4,000 credit. That is adequate for all however essentially the most intensive customers.
Alternatively, in the event you select their $20/month Images plan — which I simply switched to — you get solely 25 generative AI credit. I actually assume that is sort of stingy, however Adobe has at all times had pretty restrictive month-to-month plans. They solely permit their apps to be loaded on two machines at a time, so for these of us who want to leap between three or 4 machines, they’ve a “see ya, wouldn’t want to be ya” coverage.
You should buy 2,000 extra credit for $10/month utilizing the Adobe Firefly Customary plan. If I take advantage of up my generative credit, I am going to merely pay so as to add extra credit, no less than for the months once I want them.
I additionally added the $20/month Google AI Professional plan. This was so I might take a look at out Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Professional for my articles. I attempted Nano Banana Professional on the free plan. It solely allowed me to generate two pictures.
Additionally: I have been testing AI content material detectors for years – these are your greatest choices
It seems Nano Banana Professional is superb, particularly in the case of changing objects in a picture.Nevertheless, with ChatGPT’s new ChatGPT Pictures function, simply launched this week, ChatGPT Plus is ready to do a few of what made Nano Banana Professional stand out.
I am going to proceed to pay for Gemini’s AI Professional plan for an additional month or two to check it additional. Until one thing actually stands out about it, I am going to in all probability drop it early subsequent yr.
In December, I am now paying $30 per 30 days for Midjourney and ChatGPT Plus, plus an extra $20 for Notion AI. I nonetheless have the OpenAI API service going, however there aren’t any new costs. I am additionally nonetheless utilizing and paying for Claude Code’s Max plan, which prices $100. I changed Adobe’s $70 plan with a $20 plan (however I am conscious I would want so as to add one other $10/month for AI credit at any time). No further generative credit score plans have been bought in 2025. Then I added (and dropped) Canva’s $20 plan. Lastly, I added Google’s $20 AI Professional plan.
Whew! That made December’s AI expense $210. My year-to-date AI expense for 2025 was $1,665. Of that, $790 was Adobe.
My AI finances
Would I spend this a lot if I weren’t writing opinions for ZDNET? Most likely not. I am fairly frugal concerning the companies I subscribe to for my very own private use.
Alternatively, I additionally put quite a lot of consideration into something that might save me time. If I had a coding challenge I needed to undertake, I in all probability would have signed up for Claude Code anyway. Nearly undoubtedly, I’d have purchased into ChatGPT Plus, only for the evaluation options. I even used it to verify my math on this article, which took the AI 5 minutes and would have in all probability taken me no less than an hour.
Additionally: I examined the brand new ChatGPT Pictures – it is a beautiful enchancment, and enormously enjoyable
I am on the fence about Midjourney. I can generate the graphics I must help my spouse’s enterprise utilizing ChatGPT. Nevertheless, Midjourney is so off-the-chain artistic that I can deploy it anytime I’ve a brand new challenge for which I want artistic imagery. And, at $10/month, it is pretty cheap.
I am additionally on the fence about Notion AI. Despite the fact that I take advantage of Notion always, I do not use Notion AI all that a lot. Alternatively, once I do use it, it is available in significantly clutch. Moreover, it has saved me sufficient time on that one database challenge to cowl the price of its use for all the yr.
I actually ought to have dropped the massive Adobe expense a lot earlier — $70 is loads to spend every month. Whereas $20 for Photoshop continues to be pricey, I view it as an nearly unavoidable expense as a result of how tightly built-in Photoshop is into my workflow.
So, it is actually all the way down to among the experimental bills. I favor personally buying the plans I am evaluating, so you understand that no firm is influencing my ZDNET protection. However I additionally do not like paying for them longer than I’ve to.
So, yeah, I spent a bit greater than $1,600 on AI bills. If I had lowered my Adobe plan earlier, that may have been nearer to roughly $1,200. And if I hadn’t spent on the coding instruments, that may have been nearer to $900.
Is it price it? Nicely, clearly, as fodder for article content material, certain. Nevertheless, when it comes to productiveness, I have to additionally say sure. These numerous AI instruments definitely saved me hours. For those who have a look at it when it comes to price versus hourly fee, the AI instruments have undoubtedly paid for themselves. They undoubtedly helped me save time.
As for you, I like to recommend budgeting your AI instrument bills. My spouse, who can also be my enterprise companion, opinions our accounts each day. This helps us handle any sudden prices, and is our first line of protection in opposition to fraudulent costs. I flip off month-to-month bills as quickly because it’s clear I am not utilizing them, even when I believe I would flip them again on later.
Additionally: Gemini vs. Copilot: I in contrast the AI instruments on 7 on a regular basis duties, and there is a clear winner
And since time is so tight for me, I typically do the psychological calculus of attempting to determine if the time financial savings is price extra, or whether or not it might be higher to avoid wasting the cash. Proper now, provided that I work just about seven days per week, the time financial savings advantages I am getting versus the price of AI instruments appear to be definitely worth the value. For now.
What about you? What number of AI instruments are you presently paying for, and the way do you determine which of them are price maintaining? Have agentic coding instruments, picture turbines, or note-taking assistants meaningfully modified your workflow or productiveness? Do you observe your AI spending? Have you ever dropped or downgraded any instruments as soon as the novelty wore off? Lastly, do you assume the time financial savings from AI justify the continued prices in your personal work? Share your expertise and ideas within the feedback beneath.
You’ll be able to observe my day-to-day challenge updates on social media. You should definitely subscribe to my weekly replace publication, and observe me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Fb at Fb.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, on Bluesky at @DavidGewirtz.com, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
