AI tools, tested on real NZ business work.
What each tool is good at, what it costs, where your data goes, and a starter project you can run this week.
Short answer
The right AI tool depends on the work and the software you already use. Microsoft 365 businesses usually start with Copilot, Google Workspace businesses with Gemini, and teams that write, analyse or code heavily often add ChatGPT or Claude. Automation platforms such as n8n, Make and Zapier connect AI to your other systems. Each guide covers fit, cost, data handling and a starter project.
Tool guides
ChatGPT
ChatGPT Business for NZ teams: NZ$ seat prices, data settings, connected apps and a one-week starter project.
ReadTool guideClaude
Claude for NZ teams: plan prices shown from NZ, training and data settings, the Xero connector and a first project.
ReadTool guideMicrosoft Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot in NZ: NZ$ licence prices, what free Copilot Chat lacks, where data goes, and a two-week pilot.
ReadTool guideGemini
Gemini in Google Workspace for NZ teams: which plan includes what, NZ$ prices, data handling and a Sheets project.
ReadTool guideNotebookLM (Gemini Notebook)
NotebookLM, now Gemini Notebook: source limits by plan, how Google treats uploads, and a policy notebook project.
ReadTool guideClaude Code
Anthropic’s coding agent: NZ plan prices, where your code goes, and a safe first internal tool to build this week.
ReadTool guideCursor
The AI code editor after its 2026 sale to SpaceX: new USD plans, Privacy Mode, NZ buying notes and a first project.
ReadTool guiden8n
n8n for NZ teams: per-run euro pricing, self-hosting in NZ, licence limits for agencies and a GETS tender watch.
ReadTool guideMake
Make (make.com) for NZ teams: credit pricing explained, AI costs, data zones and a ServiceM8 enquiry scenario.
ReadTool guideZapier
Zapier for NZ teams: USD task pricing, what AI steps really cost, data handling and a Xero overdue-invoice Zap.
ReadTool guideCopilot Studio
Copilot Studio for NZ teams: included versus metered agents, credit arithmetic, data location and a Teams pilot.
ReadTool guideGoogle AI Studio
Google’s free prototyping tool for Gemini: what free really costs in data, API prices in USD, and a first build.
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