A blog post by: Emily Sinclair of Busy Brains Coaching

One of the big barriers around ADHD support is cost, whether this is the cost of an assessment, needing to pay for medication privately or having to pay for equipment that will help you on a daily basis. In a time when we are constantly seeing cuts to any available support such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Access To Work, it can be heartbreaking for late diagnosed adults, who received no support their entire lives, to know where to start. Like every other healthcare issue, we rely on medical professionals to be able to advise and support us. However, as many of us know, this isn’t always the case and knowledge around ADHD is continuing to evolve.

Using AI to help with your ADHD falls into the broader category of using technology to support your ADHD. There are lots of ways to do this. One of the massive benefits of using AI is that there are many which are completely free! While we all know the problems with the healthcare systems in terms of waitlists and access to medication, and the day-to-day challenges that come with ADHD, it’s great to know that there is something completely free that can help. 

Ethics around using AI

Ways To Use AI for ADHD

There is no shortage of ways to use AI. But remember, the main reason I’m recommending it is to help with executive function challenges. If you find you’ve hit a wall in a project or task or find yourself in a productive lull in the day, this is where AI can come in handy. 

Everyday AI

Some of us are already using AI and may not even be aware of it! It is now incorporated into social media, emails and even fitness apps. One more accessible version of AI that a lot of people are familiar with is Alexa. Alexa is a really fantastic way to incorporate technology into your daily life to help manage your ADHD. Some examples of ways I use it include; a morning routine which tells me how long my commute to work will be everyday (to help with my time management), verbally tell me about appointments or anything I’ve put into my calendar (this is a game changer – I never have to remember anything) and a remind me when to get ready for bed (again to help my time management and start my routines). 

If you’re completely new to AI

AI Recommendations (including prices)

If you are trying some out and paying, it’s worth setting a reminder in your calendar of the subscription date so you avoid forgetting about ones you aren’t using and continue to pay for them. As mentioned, there is no shortage of AIs to use to help you manage your ADHD, from generic ones to more specifc ones to help support with things like scheduling. 

• ChatGPT (free to use, premium paid 20 per month) – the original AI which all servers operate from. 
• Gemini – Google’s AI, very user friendly and accessible. Incorporated with G-Suite (Google Workplace) to work with all apps, Google Calendar, Google Meet etc. Not as intuitive as ChatGPT but a really great starting point if you’re not familiar with AI. 
• Copilot – Microsoft’s AI which is incorporated with all Microsoft systems. It can take meeting minutes from Teams, it can link with Loop and help you manage your day-to-day, it can summarise e-mails. Works really well if your workplace is operating on Microsoft systems, but similarly to Gemini, not as intuitive as ChatGPT. 
• Gamma (free to use, premium) – an amazing AI to help you make PowerPoint presentations. Whether you are in a time 
• Goblin Tools (free to use, premium $5/month) – A suite of simple tools designed for neurodivergent users.Will help with things such as; magic to-do: breaks down tasks into step-by-step actions, mood tracker, time estimator, tone checker, and more
• Motion($19/month)- automatically builds your daily schedule by combining your tasks, meetings, and deadlines. Helpful for ADHDers who struggle with planning or time blindness.
• Reclaim.ai  (Free (limited), Pro plan ~$10/month) – Smart calendar assistant that finds time for habits, tasks, and routines based on your availability. Ideal for structuring your day and maintaining consistency.
• Akiflow ($24/month) Combines your calendar and to-do list. Prioritises tasks, sets reminders, and blocks time—great for staying focused and on track.
• Readwise Reader ($8/month) – Helps you manage reading overload by saving, summarising, and highlighting articles and PDFs. Useful for ADHDers who struggle to retain information.
• Freedom ($8.99/month) Blocks distracting websites and apps across all devices. Great for reducing impulsive switching between tasks.
  

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