Recommended tools
How this calculator works
The calculator first estimates your monthly time savings by multiplying saved hours per week by 4.33 weeks and your hourly value rate. It then adds any additional monthly revenue the tool generates, such as faster client delivery or new service offerings. Net monthly gain is calculated by subtracting the tool's subscription cost from the combined time value and revenue. Annual ROI is computed by annualizing the net gain and comparing it against the annual subscription cost. The result helps you assess whether the tool pays for itself in hard financial terms, separate from softer benefits like quality or convenience.
What an hour of saved time is worth
Median freelance rates by discipline from the 2026 Jobbers Global Rate Index. Use the rate that matches your work as the hourly value input above — but only count saved hours you can actually convert into paid or high-value work.
| Discipline | Median freelance rate | Value of 10 hours saved / month |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriting / writing | $65/hr | $650 |
| UI/UX design | $75/hr | $750 |
| Software development | $85/hr | $850 |
| Data science / analysis | $95/hr | $950 |
Useful scenarios
- A freelancer deciding whether a paid AI writing or coding tool is worth the monthly fee.
- A creator estimating whether AI editing tools save enough production time.
- A small team comparing multiple AI subscriptions before renewing them.
FAQ
Should I include non-financial benefits?
Use the output as the financial baseline, then separately consider quality, speed, consistency, and creative range.
What hourly value should I use?
Use your billable rate if the saved time can become paid work. Use a lower internal value if the time only reduces admin effort.
How do I account for overlapping AI tools?
If you use multiple AI tools that serve similar purposes (e.g., two writing assistants), split your estimated time savings proportionally between them. Double-counting the same saved hours across tools inflates ROI and leads to over-subscribing.