Guide
The 5 best AI chatbots right now
There's no single best AI chatbot. Each of the big ones is best at something different, and the free plans are all good enough to start with. Here's which one to use for what, based on official product pages and independent benchmarks, reviewed every month.
Our picks
Five chatbots, each the best choice for a different kind of use.
Best all-rounder
1. ChatGPT by OpenAI
The most widely used AI chatbot, and the easiest place to start. It handles everyday questions, writing, analysis, images and voice conversations in one app. OpenAI is now rolling out its newest model, GPT-6, to everyone in ChatGPT.
- Strong at almost everything, with the biggest range of features
- New "Intelligent UI" answers can include visuals and interactive elements
- Voice mode for hands-free conversations
Watch out: Free-plan limits are tighter on the newest model at busy times.
Price: Free plan; paid plans from about $20/month (varies by country)On: Web, iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac
Best for writing and coding
2. Claude by Anthropic
A thoughtful, careful assistant that is especially strong at writing, analysing long documents and coding. Independent benchmarks from Artificial Analysis currently rate Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5.5 as the most capable AI models available.
- Top-rated model quality in independent benchmarks (October 2026)
- Natural, well-structured writing and editing
- Handles very long documents and complex coding tasks
Watch out: The free plan has lower usage limits than some rivals; heavy users will want a paid plan.
Price: Free plan; Pro from $20/month, Max plans for heavy useOn: Web, iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac
Best for Google users
3. Gemini by Google
Google's assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, Android and other Google apps, so it can help where you already work. Paid plans add Gemini 3 Pro, Deep Search and a creative studio for images and video.
- Works directly inside Google apps
- Strong image and video creation tools
- Google AI Plus plan is available in more than 160 countries
Watch out: The most advanced features and higher limits need a paid Google AI plan.
Price: Free plan; paid Google AI plans (prices vary by country)On: Web, Android, iPhone, Google apps
Best for research with sources
4. Perplexity by Perplexity AI
An AI answer engine that searches the web and replies with numbered sources you can click to check. Best when you need current information and want to see where it came from.
- Every answer cites its sources
- Good for up-to-date questions, research and comparisons
- Lets you choose between several leading AI models on paid plans
Watch out: Answers are only as good as the web pages it finds, so check the sources for anything important.
Price: Free plan; paid Pro plan (prices vary by country)On: Web, iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac
Best free alternative
5. Le Chat by Mistral AI
The assistant from Mistral, Europe's leading AI company. Its free plan includes access to Mistral's latest models, chat, web search and creation tools, making it a strong no-cost alternative.
- Generous free plan with the latest Mistral models
- European company; Mistral also offers private deployments for businesses
- Student discount for verified students
Watch out: Fewer extras (integrations, plug-ins) than ChatGPT or Gemini.
Price: Free plan; paid plans available, with a student discountOn: Web, iPhone, Android
Also worth knowing
Good options for specific situations.
Best for Microsoft Office users
6. Microsoft Copilot by Microsoft
Microsoft's assistant, built into Windows and Microsoft 365. Handy if you live in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, where it can draft documents and presentations for you.
- Built into Windows and Microsoft 365 apps
- Drafts Word documents and PowerPoint decks from a prompt
Watch out: The best Office features need a Microsoft 365 subscription, and availability varies by country.
Price: Free version; advanced features with Microsoft 365 plansOn: Windows, Web, iPhone, Android
Best open model you can run yourself
7. DeepSeek by DeepSeek
A Chinese AI lab whose chatbot is free to use and whose models are released openly for anyone to download. Its latest model, DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash, improves text and agent performance and adds native multimodal support.
- Free to use
- Models are released openly, so companies can run them on their own servers
Watch out: As with any service, think about what data you share; companies with strict data rules often run the open models themselves instead.
Price: FreeOn: Web, iPhone, Android
How to choose
- Just starting out? Try ChatGPT. It does almost everything well.
- Writing, long documents or code? Claude.
- You use Gmail and Google Docs all day? Gemini.
- Need current facts with sources? Perplexity.
- Want a strong free option? Le Chat.
Most people end up using two: one everyday assistant and one for research.
How we choose and keep this list up to date
We look at what each chatbot is actually best at, using the makers’ official pages and independent comparisons such as Artificial Analysis (benchmark scores for quality, speed and price) and LMArena (rankings from people comparing answers side by side). We don’t list exact prices, because they differ by country and change often; each card links to the official pricing page.
AI moves fast, so we review this list every month and after any major launch. The date on each card shows when it was last checked. Think we’ve missed something? Tell us.