I have been following some of the best AI chatbots space ever since ChatGPT made a stunning debut in 2022.
While ChatGPT may have made chatbots mainstream, it’s no longer the only player in town. In fact, I chat with several of them on a daily basis to tackle my personal and professional tasks.
And I must say, not all chatbots are smooth operators. Some give you exactly what you need, while others leave you shouting, “That’s not what I meant!” (Been there, trust me.) With so many options popping up, it’s tough to know which ones are truly worth your time.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide. As someone who spends far too much time exploring these tools, I’ve rounded up the best AI chatbots of 2025–the ones that impressed me with their smarts, usefulness, and ease of use. And the best part? They’re free to start experimenting.
Whether you’re a business owner trying to get a bot to handle customer queries faster, a student looking for help simplifying complex topics, or a professional searching for a tool to make your job easier, there’s a chatbot out there designed just for you.
*These AI chatbots are listed alphabetically and come with free trials or freemium options and include chatbot builders too. I have included their starting price for easy comparison.
There are 240+ AI chatbots available in the market-ranging from general-purpose tools like ChatGPT to specialized enterprise chatbots. So, what sets the best chatbots apart? From my research and hands-on testing, it boils down to a few essential qualities:
To start, I turned to G2’s AI Chatbots category page, grid reports, and product reviews to create an initial list of contenders. I focused on platforms with web-based accessibility, ensuring they’re easy to use for students, marketers, developers, and small business owners alike. Plus, I prioritized tools offering freemium plans or free trials so users could experiment without commitment.
My experience with chatbots has shown me that evaluating AI chatbots is trickier than it seems. Their capabilities are vast, and their applications often depend on what we want from them. What worked brilliantly for me might not work for someone with a different ask. So, I kept it practical and focused on what matters to most users while acknowledging that no single test can cover everything.
Testing AI chatbots isn’t just about casual conversations. It’s about assessing how well they meet real-world needs. With tools serving varied purposes, I focused on the following key aspects to ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation:
After extensively testing and analyzing numerous AI chatbots for days, I realized the best chatbots are those that go beyond simple responses to become true problem-solving companions. The ones that made this list impressed me with their ability to handle diverse tasks.
It includes general-purpose AI chatbots and platforms that help build AI bots for business use. While they are not perfect and match all the criteria I set out to check them against, each of these AI assistants brings a distinctive edge, offering a balance of innovation, adaptability, and real-world practicality.
* This data was pulled from G2 in 2024. The product list is ranked alphabetically. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
Before using these AI chatbots, hear from our legal expert on how to use gen AI tools like AI chatbots and the resulting content safely and legally.
I’ve been using ChatGPT since the day it debuted, and in my opinion, it’s the best free AI chatbot out there–both based on my own tests and what G2 reviews say. This OG chatbot revolutionized how we interact with AI, and what I love most is how incredibly easy it is to access and use.
Once you sign in, it’s as simple as typing what you want to know or choosing one of the prompts provided. And just like that, your conversation begins.
Straightforward UI of ChatGPT
Over time, I’ve used ChatGPT for all kinds of tasks—writing blog posts, brainstorming ideas, analyzing data for my content, generating social media images, planning a house party, and even dabbling in coding to tweak my site. And honestly, it’s done a great job on all of them.
ChatGPT’s response to one of my prompts
While the responses look very generic at the first attempt, adding more details to the follow-up prompts often brings us the desired results.
The free version runs on GPT-3.5 but also offers access to multimodal LLMs like GPT-4o mini and GPT-4o, which gives you a taste of advanced AI without paying a dime. It should be noted the GPTs rank consistently in the top positions in the LLM leaderboard. I really liked how I could jump between two conversations. It felt like the bot genuinely “remembered” where we left off, making interactions seamless and natural.
The memory feature on ChatGPT was also helpful, allowing me to set custom instructions for how I wanted the bot to respond. One feature I loved is its ability to take inputs in different formats, like images and CSVs, which opens up so many possibilities for creative and analytical work.
Options to update memory and add custom instructions on ChatGPT
Of course, there are some downsides. The free version can’t fully browse the Internet, and I found the limits on using advanced models and image generation to be extremely annoying. Sometimes, it hallucinates and stubbornly insists it’s right even when it’s not–trust me, it’s a little infuriating! Plus, access to newer features like SearchGPT and voice mode is locked behind the paid Plus plan.
Wondering if upgrading to ChatGPT Plus can save you the hassles? Read our review to find out if ChatGPT Plus is really worth it and make an informed decision
That said, ChatGPT remains a powerful and reliable tool for a variety of tasks, especially considering it’s free. I believe it has set a really high standard for any free AI chatbot in the market.
OpenAI may use your messages and chats to train and improve their model when using ChatGPT free and Plus plan.
"Whenever I'm facing writer's block or seem to be short in time to complete multiple tasks, it comes in great help to give me ideas and or help me organize tasks, and even finish emails."
- ChatGPT Review, Sam C.
"One reason for which I find ChatGPT frustrating is that it can't give me information in real-time or keep me updated on current events since it doesn't have internet access. This limitation means it can't fully answer questions about recent happenings. While ChatGPT can mimic human-like responses well, it sometimes struggles to grasp the intricacies of certain subjects, resulting in answers that may not fully meet my needs or be entirely accurate."
- ChatGPT Review, Vaibhav S.
Claude by Anthropic quickly became one of my favorite chatbots for its natural and human-like conversations. Compared to other AI tools, including ChatGPT, Claude feels more thoughtful and engaging, avoiding the generic tone or, as it is called, “AI speak” that we often find in other chatbots.
The UI of Claude
Accessing Claude is simple, just like ChatGPT. The free version primarily runs on the Claude Haiku model. Occasionally, it provides limited access to advanced models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet or Opus.
You can see from its response how Claude’s output is much better in terms of writing style.
Claude's response to one of my prompts
Another feature that I absolutely loved was Claude Artifacts, which are content or tools you create with Claude that can be shared with the community. I had a blast creating them. For example, I’ve used it to design things like mini-calculators and even small interactive tools. The UI of artifacts is another highlight–I loved how I could switch between the finished product and the underlying code with just a click.
Claude’s Artifacts UI to see code and output side-by-side
Claude also let me set conversation styles, making it feel like I’m customizing the bot to match my workflow or tone.
Options to customize response style on Claude
But there are some frustrations. The free version downgrades models mid-conversation when you hit usage limits, which can disrupt the flow. Worse, you can’t send any messages when you hit the cap–you’re forced to wait for a few hours to regain access, which is pretty annoying. Also, Claude cannot browse the web, so for any analysis or input on current events, you’ll need to copy and paste the relevant text or content into the chat.
Still, Claude’s conversational flow and context retention make it feel less like a chatbot and more like a collaborative partner. Also, Anthorpic doesn’t use your inputs to train its models unless you give permission or if it's marked by their team for safety.
"What's most useful about Claude is the AI's ability to flow more naturally. I like that responses feel more like human-to-human conversation. Another thing I like about Claude is that its responses are contextual and engaging. I also like it tries to give accurate responses and acknowledges its limitations when it doesn't know something."
- Claude Review, Scott J.
Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard) may have entered the AI chatbot game a bit later than ChatGPT, losing some first-mover advantage. However, I believe its latest version is a strong competitor to ChatGPT and Claude, offering unique features that make it stand out.
Gemini’s interface
I absolutely loved the fact that it can access real-time data via Google Search. I’m also a huge fan of the “Double-check with Google” feature. When you click on it, the chatbot highlights sourced information in green and unsourced data in orange. With this, you can really know whether something might be hallucinated or inaccurate. This makes it one of the best AI chatbot for research.
Fact-checking feature on Gemini
Free image generation with Imagen was another aspect I liked. While Gemini does mention usage limits, I don't think I ever hit them or saw an error message.
Generating pictures with Imagen 3 model on Gemini
Gemini can write, create content, code, and do everything ChatGPT does. However, a major drawback is the lack of support for adding files for conversations. I couldn’t upload files, be it word or CSV, for analysis as I could with ChatGPT or Claude, which felt restrictive.
Also, Gemini doesn’t offer much in the way of customization for tone, style, or responses except via prompts. I found this restrictive since I wanted some control over how the bot responded to me. The free version runs on Gemini Flash 1.5, one of the fastest AI models available, but a paid plan is required to access the advanced Pro model and features like file upload.
Overall, it's a good ChatGPT alternative, albeit with some limitations.
"It can access and process information from the real world through Google Search to keep its responses consistent with search results."
- Gemini Review, Ankita P.
"It doesn’t give consumers extra options so they can alter the UI to suit their organizational or personal preferences."
- Gemini Review, Frank O.
Now, Gleen AI is not an AI chatbot, but it’s a platform that allows you to create your own chatbot specifically for customer support. I found it to be incredibly useful for online businesses of all sizes.
AI settings on Gleen AI to add training data for custom AI chatbot
What really impressed me was how easy it was to set up and train my chatbot. The interface is super user-friendly, even for someone who isn’t particularly tech-savvy. I could pull in data from multiple sources, like websites, and files from tools like Slack, Discord, and Notion or from a Shopify store, and train the model with those data. I could also customize it with my own rules, and add it to the website. It felt like building a custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) model, but much simpler.
Options to customize the AI chatbot on Gleen AI
And the chatbot answers are straightforward, with links to the support documentation too. I could get data on the total number of AI chats, average response time, upvoted and downvoted queries, or those escalated to human agents through their dashboard. I could easily see how this tool can transform customer support by delivering quick, accurate responses 24/7 for reptitive queries.
The free version only allows only one chatbot and 50 AI conversations, which I felt was quite restrictive for any online business. And the paid version might be pricey.
Additionally, Gleen AI’s effectiveness also heavily depends on the quality and breadth of the data you provide–if your documentation or knowledge base isn’t well-organized, it may not perform as expected. Some customer support professionals also need more features like in-depth dashboards and notifications to be improved.
Finally, this tool is clearly designed for businesses, so individuals or teams looking for a general-purpose chatbot may find it too niche.
"A great assistant in the field of e-commerce! It is easy to set up - just provide a link to the store, and the bot will study all the available information and then communicate with potential customers. This is definitely a huge plus."
- Gleen AI Review, Bogdan P.
"They are a bit expensive compared to alternatives."
- Gleen AI Review, Andrew D.
Google Cloud Dialogflow, offered as part of Google Cloud, was a new discovery for me while researching AI assistants. I found it similar to Gleen AI as a platform to build conversational AI bots for customer support.
I have to admit, getting started with Dialogflow wasn’t exactly intuitive. Google uses very specific terms like intents (what the bot should do for specific queries) and entities (key details within a query) to train the AI bot, and understanding these concepts took me some time.
The UI of Dialogflow
Once I got the hang of it, though, I could see the potential. I could access a number of pre-built templates for AI agents to get started quickly. I also liked that Dialogflow supports both voice and text interactions in multiple languages. This flexibility is a great feature, especially for global businesses.
Templates for AI bots on Dialogflow
However, using the platform wasn’t the smoothest experience. The website was noticeably slow at times, which made the setup feel more tedious than it should have. Also, better support documentation could have made my life easier. After a point, I couldn’t customize the pre-built templates.
Dialogflow stuck when creating AI agent from template
Despite these challenges, Dialogflow is a powerful platform to build your AI bots once you get past the initial learning curve. I would say it’s ideal for developers or technical teams that need highly tailored bots capable of handling complex workflows.
Google offers a free trial of Dialogflow for Google Cloud users to test before committing
"The entire concept of how you can build a voice bot or a chat assistant in a few easy simple steps. The continuous training and machine learning aspects are worth mentioning too."
"While pre-built agents can be helpful for quick development, advanced users may find certain constraints in tailoring the pre-built agents to highly specific use cases."
- Google Cloud Dialogflow Review, Pradeep J.
Kore.ai is another tool to build your own virtual agents for support with its Automation AI platform. I found it to be a pleasant surprise in terms of user experience. Everything felt intuitive and seamless right from the start.
As soon as I signed up and entered the trial, I could begin setting up my chatbot with minimal friction. The platform guided me through each step, from naming the custom AI bot to adding use cases, with clear instructions, as you can see below.
Setting up AI chatbot using Kore.ai platform
If I skipped the steps, I could use the setup guide provided on the dashboard to build my chatbot. One feature I liked was the ability to style and customize the bot. I could tweak everything from the welcome screen to the chat window design and buttons, and the platform offered a real-time preview of how the bot would look as I made changes. This made the process not only easy but also enjoyable, even for someone without a technical background.
The setup guide for AI chatbot on Kore.ai platform
To train the bot, we need to add our documentation or provide website links and also details on the cases for small talk, alerts, dialogs with customers, and more that we need from the chatbot.
Kore.ai provides free tokens for LLM, or we could directly connect to our own LLM account using application programming interface (API) keys to add generative AI capabilities. This automates many tasks, like building dialog or flow for training the bot. I found it quite useful. Kore.ai also has a marketplace with readily available bots and integrations that we could use.
I did encounter some challenges. Figuring out the model training and configuration part was a little difficult for me as a non-technical person. I felt the need for a developer’s help to get this done. The platform also lags at times.
"The latest version of the platform now integrates Generative AI in all the possible ways, making it even easier for us to create chatbots and flows."
- Kore.ai Review, Mohit G.
"Sometimes, it can lag for a bit. It would've been very helpful if the natural language processing (NLP) settings were more basic."
- Kore.ai Review, Srinivas Khoushik M.
Out of all the chatbots and tools mentioned here, I must say Microsoft Copilot stands out for its accessibility. I could start chatting without even signing in via the web link, a refreshing change compared to most other tools.
You can also access it via the Bing search engine or Microsoft Edge browser. I had to sign in with a Microsoft account only when I wanted to create an image or have a voice chat.
CoPilot uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 model alongside Microsoft’s proprietary model. And since its powered by OpenAI’s model, I could do whatever I could do with GPT, like generate content, code, and images, albeit with some limitations.
Chatting with Copilot without signing in
A standout feature for me was how Copilot shared its sources to the information on our chats. Every time it answered a question, it included links to the sources it pulled the information from. This transparency is invaluable, especially when you need to verify the accuracy of the response or dive deeper into the details.
Copilot citing source links when sharing information
I also had fun creating images, and it seemed like one of the easy-to-use free AI image generators. Another plus that many users note is the integration with other Microsoft products if you have Microsoft 365 subscription or Windows.
Creating images with Microsoft Copilot
By default, Microsoft uses your data for training purposes unless you actively disable it. To their credit, a disclaimer about this appears at the start of every new chat, so you’re aware of how your data might be used.
The biggest downside is the limits on conversations for free users. I hardly had 4 conversations before I got this message.
Error message on Microsoft Copilot
While it does reset after an hour, this interruption mid-chat was frustrating. Also, I could not upload any files to use in our conversation. For these reasons, the free version is better suited for casual conversations or light daily tasks rather than any heavy or continuous use.
"Copilot reduces the mundane daily tasks, like writing the agenda for a meeting or summarising the outcome of virtual meetings. I use it every day. It helps research a subject with much more specific and targeted results than leaving it up to a search engine. Once you learn a bit about how to write good prompts, it's very easy to use, particularly when it's integrated into all of Office 365 tools and when it's part of your organization, and it has access to all internal documents."
- Microsoft Copilot Review, Craig B.
"Loading times can sometimes take way too long, and sometimes the answer can get repetitive for complex questions. The chat on the browser only goes up to 4 prompts, so to go any further, the page has to be refreshed, and the context is lost."
- Microsoft Copilot Review, Neeraj V.
While these seven AI chatbots stood out during my tests, they’re not the only best ones worth mentioning. Depending on your needs, other general-purpose AI chatbots like Perplexity, Meta AI, built on Llama 3, and You.com are also great to test out.
If building your own chatbot is the goal, other AI chatbot builders like Tidio, Moveworks, and Workhub Workbot are also good options.
Do you feel like you have too much to research before finding the best AI chatbot for your needs? This comparison table makes it easier for you.
|
AI chatbot |
Free plan/free trial |
Best for |
|
ChatGPT |
Free version with limitations on image generation, access to models like GPT-4o, and other advanced features |
Best for tasks like content creation, conding, answering questions, brainstorming ideas, planning, tutoring, data analysis, and casual conversations |
|
Claude |
Free version with limitations on access to models like Sonnet 3.5 and advanced features |
Best for engaging conversations and creative tasks |
|
Gemini |
Free version on Gemini Flash 1.5 model |
Best for general-purpose tasks and fact-checking |
|
Gleen AI |
Free version to build 1 AI chatbot trained on up to 500 URLs or documents and limited to 50 conversations |
Best for building custom customer support AI chatbot |
|
Google Cloud Dialogflow |
Free trial available |
Best for building multi-channel AI chatbots |
|
Kore.ai |
Free trial available |
Best for building enterprise chatbot solutions |
|
Microsoft Copilot |
Free version with limits on performance and features |
Best for casual conversations without signup or sign-in |
An AI chatbot is software powered by artificial intelligence that mimics human-like conversations. It uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to understand and respond to user queries.
Chatbots are used for various purposes, including customer support, content creation, brainstorming ideas, coding, tutoring, planning, and even automating workflows in businesses.
The best AI chatbot depends on your needs. For general-purpose tasks, ChatGPT and Gemini are great options. For creative tasks, Claude performs well. Microsoft Copilot is easily accessible. ChatGPT, Cluade, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are also free to use.
For businesses, Kore.ai, Gleen AI, and Dialogflow are top contenders for building best AI chatbots for websites.
Some of the best ChatGPT alternatives are Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. Each of these alternatives caters to different needs, whether it’s creative brainstorming, sharing real-world data, or helping with work tasks.
Microsoft CoPilot and ChatGPT both use OpenAI’s GPT-4 model but cater to different needs. CoPilot is accessible without signing in via Bing or Edge, but its free version has stricter conversation limits.
ChatGPT, however, is the best AI chatbot for coding, content creation, data analysis, and image generation. With more flexibility in input formats and creative use cases, ChatGPT is better suited for personal and professional tasks, while CoPilot is the go-to for Microsoft ecosystem users.
Gemini sets itself apart with real-time internet access via Google Search and fact-checking, making it ideal for those needing accurate information. It is one of the best AI chatbot for research. Its larger context window allows for extended conversations, and the “double-check with Google” feature ensures transparency.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, is more versatile. While it doesn’t browse the internet in the free version, it supports multiple input types and excels in creative and analytical tasks. It is also one of the best AI chatbots for coding. If source accuracy is your priority, go with Gemini. For an all-around solution, ChatGPT remains a reliable choice.
AI-powered chatbots rely on large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT or Google’s Gemini. They process and understand text using natural language processing (NLP) and respond based on patterns and training data.
Some AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, may use your data to train models unless you opt out. Others, like Claude, don’t use inputs for training without explicit permission. Always review the chatbot's privacy policy.
Chatbot costs vary widely. Free plans are available on tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, but advanced features or enterprise solutions can range from $20/month to thousands annually, depending on customization and scalability needs.
Identify your needs—whether general-purpose use, creative tasks, or business applications. Compare tools based on features, pricing, ease of use, and free trial availability.
After spending countless hours testing, chatting, and occasionally laughing at AI quirks, I can confidently say that AI chatbots have come a long way. Whether it’s ChatGPT for everyday tasks, Claude for natural and engaging conversations, or Gleen AI for building business-focused bots, there’s something out there for everyone.
As someone who’s always looking for ways to save time, and be more productive, these AI chatbots have genuinely impressed me. Sure, they’re not perfect, and free versions often come with limits. But even with their quirks, they’ve become invaluable tools for work and play.
If you’re just starting out, start with the free versions, test what works for you, and see how these AI chatbots can fit into your daily life. And who knows? You might just find your new favorite digital companion. Happy chatting!
Want some more tools for productivity? Check out our guide on the best free writing tools, tried, tested, reviewed, and backed by G2 reviews.
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