In 2026, using a single AI tool is like using a single programming language. You can do it, but you're leaving massive productivity on the table.
Here's my current stack and why each tool earns its spot.
The Stack
Claude (Primary reasoning engine)
- Use for: Architecture decisions, complex refactoring, code review, debugging gnarly issues
- Why: Best reasoning of any model. When I need to think through a system design or untangle spaghetti code, nothing else comes close.
- Limitation: Rate limits hit hard during intense sessions
Cursor (IDE integration)
- Use for: Inline completions, quick edits, chat-in-editor
- Why: The tab-complete flow is unbeatable for velocity. Having AI right in the editor removes the context switch.
- Limitation: Can be overly eager with suggestions
ChatGPT (General purpose)
- Use for: Quick questions, brainstorming, documentation lookup, non-code tasks
- Why: Fastest response times, good at breadth. My "Google replacement" for most things.
- Limitation: Reasoning depth falls short on complex problems
GitHub Copilot (Autocomplete muscle memory)
- Use for: Boilerplate, repetitive patterns, test generation
- Why: It's trained on code. For pure code completion it still has the best pattern matching.
- Limitation: No chat, limited context window
Gemini (Fallback + long context)
- Use for: Processing long documents, fallback when others are rate-limited
- Why: Massive context window. When I need to analyze a 50k-token codebase, Gemini handles it.
- Limitation: Less precise than Claude on reasoning tasks
The Problem: Managing It All
The biggest pain point isn't any individual tool. It's managing five different rate limits, five different reset windows, and knowing which tool to reach for at any moment.
I wasted weeks figuring this out through trial and error before finding TokenBar. It sits in my macOS menu bar and shows real-time usage across all my AI providers. The pace intelligence feature tells me if I'm burning through limits too fast.
My workflow now:
- Check TokenBar before starting deep work
- Route tasks to the right tool based on current capacity
- Never get surprised by a rate limit mid-task
It's $4.99 one-time, local-first, no telemetry. Worth every penny.
How I Route Tasks
IF task needs deep reasoning → Claude
IF task is in-editor coding → Cursor
IF task is quick question → ChatGPT
IF task is boilerplate → Copilot
IF Claude is rate-limited → Gemini
IF everything is hot → Take a break (seriously)
This sounds overthought but it's become automatic. Like knowing when to use a screwdriver vs a drill.
The Cost
| Tool | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Claude Pro | $20 |
| Cursor Pro | $20 |
| ChatGPT Plus | $20 |
| Copilot | $10 |
| Gemini Advanced | $20 |
| TokenBar | $4.99 (one-time) |
| Total | ~$90/mo |
Is $90/month a lot? Yes. Does it save me 20+ hours/month? Easily. The ROI is absurd if you value your time at anything above minimum wage.
What does your AI stack look like? Still all-in on one tool or have you gone multi-provider too?
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