Goblin Tools alternatives (free, tool by tool)

Quick answer: Goblin Tools is a free set of small AI tools for neurodivergent people. If you want something similar, each of its tools has a free alternative: our Task Breaker for Magic ToDo, the time estimate calculator for Estimator, What should I do next? for Taskmaster, and a copy-paste prompt for ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for every other tool. All listed below.

First: Goblin Tools is good

According to its About page (checked 17 October 2026), goblin.tools is "a collection of small, simple, single-task tools, mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult". It says it will stay free without ads or paywalls, sells low-cost mobile apps to cover running costs, and offers a paid Goblin Tools Pro for some advanced features. Most of its tools use AI models in the back end. If it works for you, keep using it.

When an alternative makes sense

You already use ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and want one-job tools inside it (the prompts below).
You'd rather nothing you type goes to an AI service. Our free tools run entirely in your browser and build a prompt you can choose to use.
You need things Goblin Tools doesn't focus on: a visual timer, a virtual body double, a time blindness test or printable planners.

Each Goblin Tools tool, and a free alternative

Goblin Tools	What it does (their words)	Free alternative
Magic ToDo	Break down todo items	ADHD Task Breaker
Formalizer	Text transformers for tone	Write a hard email (prompts)
Judge	Judging the tone of a message	Reply to messages you've ignored
Taskmaster	Focus on one task at a time	What should I do next?
Professor	Explain anything	AI study help prompts
Consultant	Help with a decision	Make a decision fast (prompts)
Estimator	Guess an activity's timeframe	Realistic time estimate calculator
Compiler	Turn a braindump into actions	Brain dump to action list
Chef	Recipes from what you have	Meal planning (prompts)

Tool names and descriptions from the goblin.tools homepage, checked 17 October 2026. Goblin Tools is not affiliated with ADHD AI Playbook.

The prompts (paste into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini)

Instead of Magic ToDo: ADHD Task Breaker
Builds a 3-step start and an AI prompt matched to your energy and time. No AI runs on our side, so it's instant and nothing leaves your browser. Open

Break this task into small steps I can start right now: [TASK]. Make the first step under 2 minutes and physical. Add sub-steps to any step that still feels big. Number them and keep each to one line.

Instead of Formalizer: Write a hard email (prompts)
Copy-paste prompts that rewrite a message to be more professional, warmer, shorter or firmer. Open

Rewrite this message so it sounds [MORE PROFESSIONAL / WARMER / MORE DIRECT / LESS ANGRY]. Keep my meaning and keep it about the same length. Then give me a version half as long. Message: [PASTE]

Instead of Judge: Reply to messages you've ignored
Prompts for reading and answering awkward messages without overthinking. Open

How might this message come across to the person reading it? Rate it as friendly, neutral or cold, point out any phrase that could be misread, and suggest one small edit. Message: [PASTE]

Instead of Taskmaster: What should I do next?
Paste your list and it picks one task for right now, based on energy, deadline and time. Pair it with the free virtual body double. Open

Here's my to-do list: [PASTE]. My energy is [LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH] and I have [TIME]. Pick ONE task for right now and tell me why in one line. Hide the rest until I say "done".

Instead of Professor: AI study help prompts
Prompts that explain a topic in plain English, then check you understood. Open

Explain [TOPIC] in 3 short paragraphs: plain English first, then an everyday example, then the one thing people usually get wrong. Then ask me one question to check I understood.

Instead of Consultant: Make a decision fast (prompts)
Prompts that shrink a decision to the 2 or 3 things that actually matter. Open

I'm stuck choosing between [OPTIONS]. Ask me up to 3 quick questions, one at a time, then recommend one option with a single-sentence reason and the first step to act on it.

Instead of Estimator: Realistic time estimate calculator
Turns your gut guess into a realistic calendar block by adding the hidden steps and a buffer. Also try the free time blindness test. Open

I need to [TASK]. My gut says [GUESS]. List the hidden steps (setup, travel, interruptions, wrap-up) and give me a realistic time range with a buffer.

Instead of Compiler: Brain dump to action list
Prompts plus a free printable brain dump sheet. For meeting or lecture notes, use Meeting notes → actions. Open

Here's a messy brain dump: [PASTE]. Turn it into: 1) actions with a clear next step, 2) dates to put in my calendar, 3) things I can let go of. Keep it short.

Instead of Chef: Meal planning (prompts)
Prompts for low-effort meal plans and recipes from what's already in the fridge, plus a free meal planner printable. Open

Here's what's in my fridge and pantry: [LIST]. Suggest 3 low-effort dinners I can make in under 25 minutes with no more than 6 steps each, and a short shopping list for anything missing.

Tired of pasting prompts? Set up a permanent "ADHD mode" with custom instructions so every chat breaks things down by default.

All our free tools

Nine free, no-sign-up tools on one page: free ADHD tools for adults.

FAQ

What is a good alternative to Goblin Tools?

If you want the same kind of help without leaving tools you already use, the closest free alternatives are: a task breaker for Magic ToDo, a realistic time estimate calculator for Estimator, a what-to-do-next picker for Taskmaster, and copy-paste prompts in ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for Formalizer, Judge, Professor, Consultant, Compiler and Chef. This page lists a free option and a prompt for each.

Is Goblin Tools free?

Its website says goblin.tools is free and will stay free without ads or paywalls. Mobile apps are sold at a low price to cover running costs, and some advanced features are in a paid Goblin Tools Pro subscription (checked 17 October 2026).

Goblin Tools vs ChatGPT: which is better for ADHD?

Goblin Tools is simpler: each tool does one job with no prompt to write. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are more flexible and can remember context in a conversation, but you have to know what to ask. The prompts on this page give you Goblin-style one-job tools inside the AI assistant you already use.

Is there a free alternative to Magic ToDo?

Yes. Our free ADHD Task Breaker turns a stuck task into a 3-step start plus a ready-to-paste AI prompt, with no sign-up. Or paste the Magic ToDo-style prompt on this page into any AI assistant.

Does Goblin Tools use AI?

Yes. Its About page says most of the tools use AI models in the back end, and that results can vary in accuracy, so you should judge them yourself.

Want 123 more prompts like these?

ADHD AI Playbook Pro: copy-paste prompts for starting, planning, email, focus and work, plus 15 printables and Notion and Sheets templates. US$19 with code LAUNCH19 until 31 Oct.

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General productivity information, not medical advice. Disclaimer.