In the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence, we’ve all heard about the big players like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. But the real magic often lies in the underrated and lesser-known tools—the “secret” ones that quietly boost productivity, supercharge creativity, and streamline coding without the hype.
These hidden gems aren’t always viral on social media, but they’ve become indispensable for power users in 2026. Here are some of the best secret AI tools worth trying right now. Most offer free tiers or trials, so you can experiment without commitment.
1. NotebookLM (by Google) – Your Personal Research and Podcast Assistant
This underrated Google tool turns your documents, notes, PDFs, or web links into an interactive knowledge base. Upload sources, and it generates summaries, study guides, timelines—and best of all, AI-generated podcasts featuring two hosts discussing your content in a natural, engaging way.
Why it’s a secret gem: While everyone uses Gemini for chat, NotebookLM excels at deep, personalized research and learning. It’s perfect for students, researchers, or anyone who wants to absorb complex info quickly.
Try it: notebooklm.google.com
2. Cursor – The AI-Native Code Editor
Cursor is basically VS Code reimagined with AI at its core. It understands your entire codebase, suggests multi-line edits, refactors code intelligently, and even debugs like a senior developer.
Why it’s underrated: Developers rave about it once they try it, but it’s still flying under the radar compared to GitHub Copilot. In 2026, it’s saving teams hours daily.
Best for: Programmers who want an AI teammate, not just autocomplete.
Try it: cursor.com
3. Fathom – AI-Powered Meeting Notetaker and Summarizer
Fathom records your Zoom/Teams/Google Meet calls, transcribes them accurately, and generates concise summaries, action items, and highlights. It even creates shareable clips.
Why it’s a hidden gem: Unlike Otter.ai or Fireflies, Fathom feels more magical and integrates seamlessly without needing bots in meetings.
Try it: fathom.video
4. Granola – Smarter Meeting Notes with Context
Granola combines your spoken words with AI to create beautifully formatted, context-aware notes. It understands industry jargon and turns chaotic meetings into polished summaries.
Why it’s secret: It’s newer and less marketed, but users swear it outperforms bigger names for professional note-taking.
Try it: Search for Granola AI or check affiliate links from productivity creators.
5. Recall – Your Personal AI Memory for Everything
Recall captures your screen, audio, and activity to create a searchable timeline of your digital life. Ask it questions like “What did I research last week about AI agents?” and get instant answers.
Why it’s underrated: Privacy concerns keep it low-key, but for power users, it’s a game-changer for never forgetting anything.
Try it: getrecall.ai
6. Tavily – The Underrated Research Powerhouse
Tavily is an AI search engine focused on accuracy and depth, especially for technical or complex topics. It combines real-time web search with smart synthesis.
Why it’s a secret: Often compared to Perplexity, but many say Tavily delivers better, more precise results for research-heavy work.
Try it: Integrate via API or check standalone versions.
7. Lindy AI – Build Custom AI Agents Without Code
Lindy lets you create autonomous agents for tasks like email management, research, scheduling, or data analysis. It’s like having mini-AI employees.
Why it’s hidden: No-code agent builders are exploding, but Lindy stands out for ease and power.
Try it: lindy.ai
8. Goblin Tools – Niche AI for ADHD and Executive Dysfunction
This quirky suite includes tools like “Magic ToDo” (breaks tasks into steps), “Estimator” (time guesses), and “Formalizer” (rewrites text politely).
Why it’s a secret gem: Super niche but life-changing for many—especially those with ADHD or executive function challenges.
Try it: goblin.tools
9. n8n – Open-Source Workflow Automation on Steroids
n8n is like Zapier but fully self-hostable and AI-powered. Automate anything with nodes, including AI actions like summarization or generation.
Why it’s underrated: Free, powerful, and extensible—perfect for tinkerers and businesses avoiding vendor lock-in.
Try it: n8n.io
10. Perplexity Pages – Turn Research into Shareable Pages
Perplexity’s Pages feature lets you build beautiful, shareable web pages from your queries—great for reports, newsletters, or knowledge bases.
Why it’s slept on: Everyone uses Perplexity for search, but Pages turns it into a content creation powerhouse.
Try it: perplexity.ai
Final Thoughts
The best AI tools in 2026 aren’t always the most famous—they’re the ones that solve specific problems elegantly. Start with NotebookLM or Cursor if you’re new to these hidden gems; they’re free to try and deliver instant value.
Which of these have you tried? Or do you have your own secret favorite? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear about more underrated tools!
Stay curious, experiment often, and let AI work for you. The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed yet.