The 3 AI Tools You Need to Build Apps and SaaS in 2026

Author

Eric Otten
February 06, 2026

I sat down and dissected exactly how I build profitable SaaS and apps.

And unlike 99% of gurus, I actually use 3 AI tools, but in a highly unconventional way.

I don’t just use AI to write code. I use it to come up with ideas, plan my execution, and market my products.

I have not been sponsored by any of these companies to include their names in this post.

1. Wispr Flow

This is by far the best transcription tool that I found.

In fact, I'm using it to write the words you're reading.

Not only is the UI better than the built-in Mac transcription, but it actually builds a dictionary of different words that you use, so it gets the spelling right every time.

Plus it integrates with the second tool called Cursor to be able to identify files in your codebase whenever you say them out loud.

I use Wispr Flow to write prompts to ask questions and solve problems.

2. Cursor

Cursor is an AI IDE.

It's a fork of Microsoft's VS Code and allows you to edit your code in a nice clean UI.

The main selling point is that AI agents powered by models like Claude Opus 4.5 can navigate your codebase and write to files.

I don't like terminal-based applications, which is why I stayed away from Claude Code. However, the Claude models can still be used in Cursor.

Pro Tip: Vim Extension

Use the Vim extension to be able to navigate through your files using keys on your keyboard.

Most of editing is not writing chunks of code, especially when you're using AI tools. It's about finding specific points in your codebase and tweaking them.

What Vim allows you to do is to find these specific points more quickly without having to move your hand over to your mouse, scroll and click.

Learn how to use it, and try it out for a week. I guarantee you, you'll never go back.

3. Nano Banana Pro

Nano Banana Pro is the best image model on the market.

If I want to make a logo for my app, banners, marketing material, then this is the go-to tool.

I interact with it using the Higgsfield app, which is a model aggregator that gives you access to a few different image models and has a clean UI. There's also no Gemini watermark.

Conclusion

I'd encourage you to play around with these tools because once you know what is possible, it opens your mind to more creative ideas.

I document my journey building SaaS products with AI on these platforms. Go ahead and give me a follow to stay up-to-date:

Yours truly,
Eric