I Tested the 9 Best ChatGPT Alternatives in a Prompt-off

On November 30, 2022, I, like millions of others, tried ChatGPT for the first time, and wow, a computer that could write essays, explain quantum physics, and even crack jokes? Mind. Blown. It felt like AI had just leaped into the future overnight.

But as I kept using it, I started to wonder: Is ChatGPT really the best AI chatbot for everything I need?

Turns out, it’s not that simple. While ChatGPT is powerful, it’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not the only option out there. There are a number of good ChatGPT alternatives. Some specialize in research, others are built for coding, and some are designed specifically for marketing and productivity. The more I explored, the more I realized that depending on the task, a different AI might actually be a better fit.

Over the past two years, I’ve explored a number of generative AI tools listed on G2  for work, side projects, research, and (I'll be honest) late-night philosophical debates. Along the way, I found several ChatGPT alternatives that, in some cases, outshone OpenAI’s bot in unexpected ways.

Whether you prioritize creativity, coding, research, or real-time data, there’s an AI here that might just work better for you.

What makes the best ChatGPT alternatives? 

If you’ve used ChatGPT, you already know why it’s so popular. It’s super-easy to use, understands natural language, and (mostly) gives useful answers. There are no complicated prompts and no learning curve. I just chat, and it responds.

But if you’re searching for an alternative, you’re not just looking for another chatbot. You’re looking for something better. Maybe ChatGPT feels too generic for your task. Maybe you need something more integrated into your workflow or real-time information instead of outdated responses. Maybe you’re looking for an AI that boosts productivity rather than just answering questions. Or perhaps you’re wondering, is my data even safe?

Based on my experience testing AI chatbots, here’s what actually makes a ChatGPT alternative worth your time. 

• It outshines ChatGPT in a key area. Whether it’s coding, creative writing, business productivity, research, or multimodal AI (text, images, voice), the best alternatives specialize where ChatGPT falls short.
• It just works. There is no complicated setup. Log in, start chatting, and get useful answers right away.
• It’s reliable. Fast responses, fewer crashes, no disappearing mid-conversation.
• It respects your privacy. Some AI chatbots store conversations to train their model, but others put user privacy first. In any case, the AI model should be transparent about their security and privacy terms. 
• It works where you do. The best AI tools are available across the web, mobile, desktop, and even inside the apps you already use, so you can access them wherever you need.

Top 9 ChatGPT alternatives I liked

Below, I’m sharing my experience with these generative AI tools. Not every tool checks all the boxes on my criteria list, but each has its own strengths.  The list also contains genuine user reviews from the respective product pages on G2.

A little heads up: Generative AI tools are evolving rapidly, and some details here may shift over time or become outdated. But as of now, these picks are among the best at what they do.

*This data was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity. 

1. Claude: Best for creative and natural conversation

I’ve been using Claude for over a year now, and the first thing you’ll notice is how natural and human-like it feels in conversation.

Unlike some AI chatbots that give quick, robotic responses, Claude takes its time and actually thinks through its answers. Whether I’m brainstorming ideas, writing long-form content, or just chatting, it feels like I’m talking to a patient, well-read assistant rather than a machine trying to spit out words as fast as possible.

One of my favorite things about Claude is how adaptable it is to different writing styles and tones. I can choose how formal or casual I want it to be, making it great for everything from blog writing to business emails. I like that I can also attach files, images and use it. 

Plus, I'm a fan of the Claude Artifacts feature. I’ve used Claude to create a full UI for my mom’s learning portal and website without touching a single line of code.  I simply uploaded an image of the UI I wanted and asked it to code to get it. The ability to preview the output and the code is something I've not seen in other AI chatbots. 

I’ve even built calculators and tools using its guidance, despite having zero coding experience. And I'm not alone. Developers are loving Claude 3.7 Sonnet as an AI code generator. Used along with tools like Cursor.ai, it's even sparked a new trend, dubbed 'vibe coding' by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy.

I also love that Claude takes privacy seriously. It doesn’t use my chats to train its models by default, which gives me peace of mind. Plus, its constitutional AI framework keeps responses more accurate and less prone to hallucinations, so I rarely get misleading information. That said, the lack of real-time browsing is a real drawback, especially now that ChatGPT offers free web search. If I need up-to-date info, Claude just can’t keep up.

Another downside? Hitting usage limits. When I run out of messages and have to wait a few hours for a reset, it kills my momentum, especially when I’m in the middle of something important. Also, Claude doesn't have a voice chat option that ChatGPT and Gemini excels in. 

But despite that, I still keep coming back to Claude. The free plan even includes the ability to analyze images and documents, and right now, it’s running Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which is one of the best models available.

What I dislike about Claude:

• Hitting usage limits kills my momentum. Nothing is worse than being deep into a project and suddenly having to wait hours for my message limit to reset—it totally disrupts my flow.
• When I need up-to-date info, Claude just doesn’t have it. ChatGPT’s free web search has spoiled me, and I wish Claude had something similar.

What G2 users dislike about Claude:

"I've been using the free version of Claude AI, and while it shows promise, I've found it to be quite limited. The number of prompts I can use is restricted, and the length of our chats is too short. This makes it difficult to fully explore the capabilities of the AI or get meaningful assistance. I understand that the free version is intended to be a teaser, but I hope the developers will consider expanding its capabilities or offering more flexible pricing plans. Until then, I'll have to weigh the limitations against the benefits."

- Claude Review, Yilamz O, Consultant.

2. DeepSeek: Best free ChatGPT alternative for advanced reasoning

If there’s one AI chatbot that’s really shaken things up after ChatGPT, it’s DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese AI company. This one caught my attention (and of many others) because it’s completely free, open-source, and surprisingly sharp.

Getting started was super easy, just a quick login with my email, and I was in. I mainly use it on my Android phone, and the UI feels very similar to ChatGPT, so there was no learning curve. 

What sets it apart, though, is the brains behind it. DeepSeek is powered by DeepSeek V3 and DeepSeek-R1, a reasoning model that’s on par with OpenAI’s O1 and Claude Sonnet 3.5. That’s impressive, considering it’s open-source and free, in my opinion.

But what really blew me away on chat was DeepThink (R1). This thing is a reasoning powerhouse. Its responses feel human-like, incredibly detailed, and well-structured. If I ask something complex, it doesn’t just answer. It actually guides me through the logic, helping me understand the topic better. Compared to ChatGPT, I’d say it’s one of the best for deep, structured reasoning.

I could also upload files, and DeepSeek processes them efficiently, allowing me to extract relevant insights. It also has a built-in web search that pulls in real-time data, which is incredibly useful when I need up-to-date information beyond its knowledge cut-off (July 2024). DeepSeek also helps with coding tasks, though I haven't explored it fully yet except for a few debugging sessions with my existing code projects.

The biggest plus? I never hit any usage limits. Unlike other free AI chatbots that cap queries, DeepSeek lets me chat as much as I want without restrictions. There are no limits to the number of queries we can ask the AI chatbot. 

However, the biggest con of DeepSeek also stems from this. Given its unlimited free chat option, it's widely sought after, and this often results in server unavailability issues. I often run into a "The server is busy. Please try again later." message, sometimes after just four or five chats, or even mid-conversation. It’s frustrating when I’m in the middle of something and suddenly get this message. At one point, the web search feature was completely down, which meant I couldn’t access real-time information at all.

Another major drawback is that since it’s developed by a Chinese company, there are some limitations when it comes to certain topics, particularly those that might be politically sensitive. This is due to regulatory requirements in China. So, if you're using AI for research or discussions around global events, that’s something to keep in mind.

Still, for a completely free ChatGPT alternative with some of the best reasoning capabilities I’ve seen, DeepSeek is one of my top picks.

What I dislike about DeepSeek: 

• Frequent server issues kill the experience. Even though there are no hard limits, I often run into "service unavailable" messages—sometimes after just a few chats or even mid-conversation. One time, the web search feature completely stopped working, which was frustrating.
• Some topics are off-limits, even compared to other AI chatbots. While most AI tools have content restrictions, DeepSeek is especially strict, refusing to answer certain questions that can be politically sensitive due to Chinese regulations. 

What G2 users dislike about DeepSeek: 

"The app crashes sometimes when I open a new chat."

- DeepSeek Review, Tejas S, Operations Release Controller. 

3. Gemini: Best for real-time info and Google integration

Like Claude, I’ve been using Gemini ever since it was launched as Bard in 2023, and the improvements over the years have been huge. Honestly, when it first launched, it felt like an underwhelming alternative to ChatGPT to me, but now? Gemini 2.0 is a powerhouse, especially for its Google Workspace integration.  In fact, it is one of G2's top 5 AI products for 2025.

A major step up for me was how much the free version has improved. Going from Gemini 1.5 to 2.0 Flash, it’s become a full-fledged assistant that lets me attach files directly from Google Drive, analyze images, and even chat via voice.

Just recently, I got access to a newer experimental model that uses our Google search history to personalize the chat and is available across different Google apps. It's been great for shopping and personal recommendations, and I can't wait to try it more and see.

And most importantly, unlike Claude or ChatGPT, I never hit any limits on Gemini models ever. Honestly, this one thing alone makes me come back to Gemini all the time. 

Gemini’s real-time browsing and fact-checking is another standout feature I love. Gemini can pull in the latest information from the web and even fact-check its own responses, making it a reliable choice for research and staying updated. I am a fan of its double-check feature honestly.

I use Gemini’s voice chat on my phone all the time, as I've set it as default on my Android smartphone, and it’s one of the smoothest AI voice interactions I’ve tried after ChatGPT's advanced voice mode. 

And the unlimited image generation on the free plan? That’s a huge plus, especially compared to ChatGPT’s limited DALL·E credits. It still struggles to get the text right in images, but for any creative image generation, it works well.  Another underrated feature of Gemini would be the Gems, which is similar to that of custom GPTs that you can personalize with context. 

And these are just the features of the free version of Gemini. Gemini Advanced offers even bigger context window and integrated with other Google apps. 

Since I use Google Workspace with Gemini Advanced, having Gemini integrated across my workflow makes life so much easier. I can summarize emails in Gmail, clean up messy Sheets, and even generate slides with images directly in Google Slides. It’s wild to see Gemini not just write content but create full presentations, complete with visuals.

Now, there are some things I don't like, too. I cannot set the tone and style for its reply as I can on Claude, and I have to specifically mention it in my prompt in my chat. Gems solves this to an extent, but I would love to have the option to set my tone and style easily without including it in my prompts when I start my chat. 

Also, Gemini has never been my go-to for coding. While it’s decent for explanations and basic debugging, as a no-coder, I mostly depend on ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot for any actual coding tasks. Gemini feels more like a supplementary tool rather than something I’d rely on for complex development work.

But for real-time research, productivity, and seamless Google integration, Gemini has earned its spot as one of the best ChatGPT alternatives.

What I dislike about Gemini:

• I can’t set a default tone or style. Unlike Claude, where I can tweak its personality, Gemini makes me specify it in every prompt, which gets frustrating when I need a consistent voice.

• Not my first choice for coding. While it’s fine for explanations and debugging, I rely more on ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot for actual coding tasks. Gemini feels more like a support tool.

What G2 users dislike about Gemini:

"Sometimes the responses are not up to the mark. The code written by Gemini is prone to bugs and can introduce security vulnerabilities."

- Gemini Review, Verified G2 User in Information Technology and Services. 

4. GitHub Copilot: Best for coding

I am not a coder by profession but my side projects have forced me to learn coding more than I expected. So, when I need an AI code generator, I turn to GitHub Copilot along with ChatGPT and Claude, and for a good reason.

I can select between various large language models (LLM), including Anthropic's Claude 3.5, Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash, and OpenAI's GPT-4o and o3-mini. Personally I like this flexibility to choose between different models. Subscription to Github Copilot Pro gives access to even more advanced models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

I absolutely love that I can describe what I need in plain English, and Copilot generates a structured code snippet that I can tweak. As someone without a formal coding background, this has made learning and implementing code much easier and less intimidating.

When I tested Copilot for a home screen dashboard in one of my projects, it saved me tons of time by providing a working code structure right away. And from what my developer friends tell me, it’s just as valuable for professionals, especially when it comes to speeding up repetitive tasks, debugging, and writing boilerplate code.

One of the biggest reasons the developers I talked to prefer it is that it works directly inside IDEs like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and Azure Data Studio, providing real-time suggestions and auto-completion. Programmers can also get pull request summaries and quick reviews of their codes. 

That said, it’s not perfect. I've heard instances where Copilot hallucinates functions that don’t exist, which can lead to frustrating debugging sessions. It also struggles with full-project awareness, meaning it doesn’t always understand dependencies across multiple files, which can lead to unexpected problems.

And my biggest pet peeve? The free plan is limited. You only get 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month, which runs out fast if you’re actively coding. For serious use, a paid plan feels almost necessary.

Still, as a ChatGPT alternative for coding, GitHub Copilot is in a league of its own. It’s a must-have for anyone writing code regularly, whether you’re a professional developer or a low-coder like me working on multiple side projects. 

What I dislike about GitHub Copilot:

• I've observed that Copilot has recommended functions that don’t actually exist, which can be frustrating. If you didn’t double-check, you’d waste time debugging errors that weren’t your fault.
• The free plan is extremely limited, in my opinion. You only get 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month, which runs out fast if you’re actively coding. For serious use, a paid plan feels almost necessary.

What G2 users dislike about GitHub Copilot:

"The model is not trained enough to comprehend a somewhat difficult question. Sometimes, it ignored the prompt that was given. Hallucination happens. For example, it calls for a function of a module that doesn't exist."

- GitHub Copilot Review, Reyhan F, Data Analyst.

5. Jasper AI: Best for marketing

I’ve known about Jasper AI since its early days when it was still called Jarvis, and over time, it has evolved into one of the best AI writing assistants specifically designed for marketers. 

Unlike ChatGPT, where I need to constantly give custom prompts to get the right style, Jasper lets me set the brand voice right in the beginning That means every piece of content automatically aligns with the tone, style, and messaging I gave without needing endless refinements. 

I can start with an already existing template on Jasper, add my topic, context, and other details, and get the content. Or I can start with a blank document, where I can use the inline prompt feature to add content and the Ask Jasper feature to edit the content, adjust tone, change length, or refine style directly within the document editor.

I love the variety of templates Jasper has for every marketing need, from AIDA framework and blog posts to Instagram captions, landing pages, press releases, crisis communication emails, and full social media campaigns.

My favorite feature is the Remix feature for repurposing content. I can use it to turn a blog post into multiple formats, like social media posts, without having to rewrite everything from scratch.

Now, you can ask me, can’t I just do all this with ChatGPT? Technically, yes. But you’d have to work way harder for it. For every content you want to create, you need to have detailed prompts mentioning the specific formats. You need to fine-tune prompts constantly to get content in your brand voice. But with Jasper, all it takes is selecting the right template and filling in the details. 

That said, Jasper is pricey. Starting at $39 per user per month, it’s almost double the cost of ChatGPT Plus, which sits at $20/month. If you’re a solo creator or only need AI assistance occasionally, it might not be worth the cost.

There’s also a bit of a learning curve to get started, especially if you’re new to AI writing tools. Setting up your brand voice, knowledge base, and style correctly from the start is crucial, and this takes time. But once it’s in place, Jasper becomes a powerful content assistant. 

My final verdict on Jasper AI is that if you’re a marketer, business owner, or content creator who produces a ton of branded content, Jasper is hands-down one of the best ChatGPT alternatives. It saves time, ensures consistency, and makes repurposing content effortless.

Jasper offers a 7-day free trial and requires credit card details to sign up. 

What I dislike about Jasper AI:

• The pricing is steep, in my view. At $39 per user per month, Jasper is almost double the cost of ChatGPT Plus. While it’s great for teams and businesses, it feels expensive if you’re an individual creator or only need AI occasionally. 
• There’s a learning curve, especially for new users. Setting up the brand voice, knowledge base, and style correctly from the start is crucial, but it takes effort to set it right.

What G2 users dislike about Jasper AI:

"The pricing was the only thing I did not like about Jasper." 

- Jasper AI Review, Tywana S, Owner of a Small Business. 

6. Meta AI (Llama 3): Best for on-the-go AI chatbot

Meta AI, powered by Llama 3, is one of the most accessible AI assistants out there, seamlessly integrated into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and even one browser through the website. It's even available on RayBan's smart glasses.

I use it extensively on WhatsApp, and with its recent addition of voice chat, it’s even more convenient for quick, hands-free interactions.

Whenever I’m away from my laptop but need to ask a quick question, Meta AI is often my go-to. It’s great for quick fact-checks, drafting a message, or just brainstorming ideas without needing to switch apps.

I have used it to create press releases on the fly, edit and share them with the people I was working with on WhatsApp, ask it about the latest news, edit my small code snippets, generate poster ideas, and even use it to learn a new language, all on my phone's Whatsapp and Instagram apps. 

What makes it stand out is that it’s powered by Meta’s Llama 3 models, one of the most powerful open-source LLMs available. Llama 3 is known for its impressive reasoning abilities, strong multilingual support, and efficiency in generating responses. And the easiest way to access it? Meta AI.

Unlike some AI tools that limit the number of queries, there’s no cap on how many times I can use it or how many images I can generate, which is a huge plus.

The image generator is not advanced but for quick visuals, it gets the job done. And since it’s already built into social media apps, I don’t have to go anywhere else for an AI image generator.

But there are some limitations. A downside is limited customization. Unlike Jasper, which lets me define a brand voice, or Claude, where I can tweak response styles, Meta AI doesn’t give me much control over how it replies. I can’t set a formal tone for work-related questions or a casual tone for quick chats.

Another issue I’ve noticed is that it lacks depth in responses compared to ChatGPT or Claude. It’s great for quick, everyday queries, but when I ask complex or research-heavy questions, the answers feel shallow or overly simplified. Sometimes, I've noticed hallucinations too. So, I always have to check before using the AI content. 

That said, I'd say Meta AI is a great ChatGPT alternative for quick and casual chat without leaving your favorite social media apps like Instagram, Whatsapp, and Facebook. 

What I dislike about Meta AI:

• It’s not great for in-depth answers. If I ask a complex or research-heavy question, the responses feel shallow compared to ChatGPT or Claude. It’s fine for quick facts, but if I need a deep dive into something, I usually switch to another AI.
• Meta AI doesn’t give me much control over how it replies. I can’t fine-tune its tone, formality, or creativity unless I mention it in my prompts, which makes it feel more generic compared to other AI chatbots. 

What G2 users dislike about Meta AI: 

"Browsing capabilities are limited. Hallucinates more than other available models in the market and logical reasoning can be improved." 

- Meta Llama 3 Review, Gaurav G, Founder of a Small Business. 

7. Microsoft Copilot: Best for Microsoft ecosystem

I’m not a heavy user of Copilot per se, but I’ve tested it enough to see where it outshines ChatGPT. My verdict is that if you already live in Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, or PowerPoint, then Copilot feels less like a chatbot and more like an AI-powered productivity assistant that’s built right into your workflow.

Copilot is built on top of Open AI's GPT models and Microsoft's own proprietary AI models. 

One of the biggest advantages is the ease of access. You can access it on Microsoft Edge, Bing, your browser, your phone, or even WhatsApp. Here, you can see me chat with the web version. I like the fact that it provides source links and also prompts follow-up questions. I can create some images, albeit just 15 for the day. 

My favorite feature would be Think Deeper powered by OpenAI’s o1 model for complex questions. It provides more detailed, context-aware results, making research and problem-solving far more insightful than a standard AI response.

But Copilot's real strength shines if you have a Microsoft 365 or a Copilot Pro subscription. That’s where it pulls ahead of ChatGPT.

While ChatGPT is great for general AI assistance, Copilot can analyze and pull context from entire documents, spreadsheets, and emails instantly, making it incredibly useful for work-related tasks. It can help me with work tasks, like creating a document in Word, getting formula or chart suggestions in Excel, or summarizing meetings in Teams.  In fact, instant meeting summaries are one of the strong points of Microsoft Copilot and are probably one of my favorites.

I also like he "auto rewrite" feature in Word. I can just pop in a few basic sentences, and it rewrites them in professional language.

Plus, it integrates with Bing for real-time web browsing and has company data, ensuring that I get the most up-to-date information when researching. I'd say Copilot is more like Gemini but for the Microsoft ecosystem. 

But there are some drawbacks. It’s not as versatile as standalone AI tools. While Copilot is great for productivity, it lacks Claude's creativity and ChatGPT's conversational flow. I wouldn’t rely on it for brainstorming or storytelling the way I would with other AI chatbots.

If you use the free version of the browser, you'll probably hit chat limits soon. 

The bottom line? If you live in Microsoft 365, Copilot is the best ChatGPT alternative. But if you need an AI chatbot for more general or creative use, you can look for other tools in this list.

What I dislike about Microsoft Copilot:

• If I’m not working in Word, Excel, or Outlook, Copilot feels more like an extra tool than an essential AI assistant. Unlike ChatGPT, I don’t see myself using it for everyday conversations or creative work
• At times, I hit the limits with the free version on the browser, which can be frustrating when you’re in the middle of something.

What G2 users dislike about Microsoft Copilot:

"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, Junior Software Developer. 

8. Notion AI: Best for AI-assisted productivity and notes taking

I'll be honest and admit that I was not a Notion AI or, for that matter, a Notion user before writing this article. But since it’s highly rated on G2 and I’ve seen so many people swear by it, I figured Notion AI was worth a try. And, well,...did I say I started liking it a little too much?  

As a beginner, I set up Notion for non-work and personal tasks, from journaling and simple task management for side projects to daily habit tracking. It was nothing too complex, just enough to see if Notion AI could actually improve my workflow. Full disclosure: it's not a traditional, general-purpose AI chatbot, but rather a productivity tool, with AI built in to enhance how you work.

What stood out was how naturally AI fits into the workspace. I didn’t have to switch tabs or copy-paste between apps. Everything from content generation to summarizing notes and analyzing PDFs happened inside Notion.

Instead of asking ChatGPT to draft something and then tweaking it, I could generate content in my own style without extra prompt engineering. Need to translate a doc, summarize meeting notes, or explain technical jargon? It’s all one click away, no back-and-forth between apps.

I used the AI assistant to find exact details from my journal pages, analyze PDFs as part of my research work, and create document briefs. Some of the insights it provided from my habit tracker also helped me make changes to my routine. 

I even used it to break down my side project of building a social media campaign for my mom's business into subtasks and create a Notion page with to-do lists to track it based on the AI suggestion. 

Even better, Notion AI connects with Slack, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, meaning I could pull in relevant details from my workspace instead of pasting everything manually. Imagine getting the latest updates about your project from Google Drive and Slack without switching apps by just asking Notion AI. Cool, right?  

What I really liked was how it adapted to my writing style. Unlike ChatGPT, where you need to fine-tune prompts for every response, Notion AI learns your tone over time. If you need to draft content, edit a document, or summarize meeting notes, it automatically aligns with your style instead of producing generic AI responses.

That said, it’s not perfect. The AI search can be hit or miss. Sometimes, it pulls exactly what I need, and other times, it tells me it doesn’t have access to a page I literally tagged.

Also, Notion has a steep learning curve. It’s packed with features and highly customizable, which is great, but it also means you either spend days figuring it out and end up joining the Notion cult… or you give up entirely. The same goes for its AI. It took me several days to get the hang of it, and even now, I’m still experimenting to make sure I’m using it in the most productive way.

On the whole, Notion AI can be a great productivity booster if used correctly. It’s not a full ChatGPT replacement. If you need AI for deep research beyond your workspace, real-time web browsing, or coding assistance, ChatGPT, or one of the other tools on this list would be a better fit.

Notion offers a free trial of Notion AI, so if you’re curious, it’s worth trying to see if it fits into your workflow.

What I dislike about Notion AI: 

• The AI-powered search is hit or miss. Sometimes, it pulls exactly what I need, and other times, it tells me it can’t access a page I tagged.
• The learning curve is real. Notion itself isn’t the easiest tool to master, and the AI features are no different. It took me a while to figure out how to use it productively, and I still feel like I’m uncovering new features.

What G2 users dislike about Notion AI: 

"While Notion is nearly perfect, I find that some of its features have a learning curve, especially for beginners trying to harness its full potential. But, as I mentioned, you can get it in a few days when you are used to it." 

- Notion Review, Fabiane C, UI Designer. 

9. Perplexity AI: Best for real-time AI search

If Google and ChatGPT had a research-focused sibling, that would be Perplexity AI. While ChatGPT can browse the web with SearchGPT, Perplexity takes it a step further. It's a full-fledged AI-powered search engine. It understands context, cites sources, and lets me control where it pulls information from.

So whenever I need reliable, research-backed answers without opening a dozen tabs, Perplexity is my go-to ChatGPT alternative. In fact, it has almost replaced Google for most general searches for me. I don’t miss the days of clicking through 15 tabs just to piece together an answer. Perplexity does that for me.

Below, you can see how it works for the question I asked. It gives sources, a summary, and even follow-up prompts. I’ve found this incredibly useful, especially when I need fact-checked, real-time information without the hassle.

I also absolutely love that I can specify where it pulls its data from, whether it’s the open web, academic papers, or even social media platforms like Reddit and X. It gives me full control over the type of information I get, which is something that other AI chatbots don’t offer.

One of the biggest reasons I consider Perplexity one of the best ChatGPT alternatives is its multi-model access. While ChatGPT only offers GPT models, Perplexity integrates multiple advanced AI models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4 Omni, GPT-4.5, Gemini 2.0 Flash, Grok-2, Sonar Large, DeepSeek’s R1, O3 Mini, and more. That’s almost every major AI model from this list in one place.

If you’re on Perplexity Pro, which costs $20 a month, you can choose which model you want. Now, I must admit that for my research, I did not need this extensively, but I know people who have a Pro subscription and use it extensively to access all advanced models in one place. 

Another feature I love is the ability to create Spaces, which is similar to custom GPTs or Gems on Gemini. I use it for recurring processes, like the peer review process we have for our articles, or to break down a project and scoop out a task brief that I can share with others.

I even have a Space dedicated to stock analysis, where I upload company filings and news reports, and Perplexity generates a concise summary. For someone who just started investing in the stock market, it makes financial research super easy, less overwhelming, and far less time-consuming.

But what I really, really appreciate is that Perplexity is constantly improving. They were one of the first AI tools to add DeepSeek R1 model as soon as it became widely available, which shows how fast they adapt to new AI advancements.

That said, there are some downsides. It can sometimes lose context in longer conversations, which can be frustrating when I’m trying to build on previous queries. This happens with general searches and within Spaces, where it sometimes forgets custom instructions. 

While the Pro plan is feature-packed, the $20 monthly subscription is a bit steep for my needs since I mainly use it for search and research.

Still, if you want an AI-powered search experience that outshines Google and ChatGPT for real-time information, Perplexity AI is the best free alternative out there. It’s fast, accurate, and constantly improving, making it my go-to for research-heavy tasks.

The free plan includes unlimited free searches, three Pro searches per day, and the ability to upload three files per day.

What I dislike about Perplexity AI: 

• It can sometimes lose context in longer conversations. While great for single queries, it sometimes forgets details mid-conversation, which can be frustrating.
• I noticed that it can forget custom instructions occasionally within spaces, and so I had to do follow-ups. 

What G2 users dislike about Perplexity AI: 

"It can't keep track of context in follow-up questions."

- Perplexity AI Review, Sai Nutakki C, Small Business. 

There are plenty of honorable mentions that didn’t make my main list but are still worth exploring. Le Chat, powered by Mistral AI models is gaining traction for its open-source models and impressive multilingual capabilities among European users. HuggingChat, powered by open-source models from Hugging Face, is another interesting free option for those who prefer community-driven AI.

Pi by Inflection AI takes a different approach, focusing on being a more personal, emotionally intelligent AI rather than just a productivity tool. And then there’s Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, which is available on X (formerly Twitter) and known for its snarky, meme-loving personality.

Comparison of best ChatGPT alternatives

Feel like you have an information overload? This comparison table makes it easier for you.

Frequently asked questions on AI chatbots and ChatGPT alternatives

1. What is the best alternative to ChatGPT?

The best alternative to ChatGPT depends on your specific needs. Claude (by Anthropic) offers strong contextual understanding, Gemini (by Google) excels in multimodal AI, and Perplexity AI is great for AI-driven search. For coding, GitHub Copilot is a top choice, while Jasper and Notion AI are ideal for content creation and productivity.

2. What are the best free ChatGPT alternatives?

Some of the best free ChatGPT alternatives include Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Perplexity AI, which all offer free tiers. Meta Llama 3 is an open-source option that developers can use freely.

3. What is the best AI chatbot for coding?

GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude are among the best AI tools for coding. GitHub Copilot is trained on vast amounts of code and integrates seamlessly with VS Code and other IDEs. Claude by Anthropic also offers strong code generation and debugging support.

4. Are there any AI tools better than ChatGPT for business use?

Yes, Jasper is a top AI tool for marketing and content generation, while Notion AI enhances productivity by summarizing notes and automating workflows. Microsoft Copilot is excellent for business users as it integrates directly with Microsoft 365 apps, improving workplace efficiency.

5. What is the best AI chatbot for research?

Perplexity AI is one of the best AI tools for research because it provides real-time web search results with citations, making it more reliable for sourcing information. Gemini is also a strong choice due to its ability to analyze and summarize complex topics across different media formats.

6. Is there a ChatGPT alternative that doesn't require a login?

Yes, Perplexity AI allows limited access without requiring a login, and some open-source models like Meta Llama 3 can be used without creating an account, depending on where they are hosted. Microsoft Copilot also provides AI chats without logging in on the browser with limited features.

7. What is the best ChatGPT alternative for students?

Gemini and Perplexity AI are great options for students. Gemini can generate text, summarize notes, and analyze images, while Perplexity AI helps with research by providing real-time web-sourced answers. Microsoft Copilot is also useful for students using Office 365.

8. What is the best AI for writing and content creation?

Jasper is one of the top AI tools for content marketers and copywriters, providing templates for blog posts, ads, and SEO-friendly content. Other AI chatbots like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini also have great content-generation capabilities.

9. Which AI chatbot is best for privacy?

Claude is known for prioritizing user safety and privacy by limiting certain types of data retention. Open-source AI models like Meta Llama 3 provide more control over data when hosted locally, and Perplexity AI offers a private mode for secure browsing.

10. What are the best AI sales chatbots? 

Tidio is great for AI-powered customer support and live chat, while Podium focuses on lead generation and automated messaging to convert prospects into customers. Drift, Intercom, and HubSpot Chatbot are also strong options for conversational sales, lead qualification, and CRM integration. The best choice depends on whether you need customer engagement, lead nurturing, or full sales automation.

It's no longer just chat with GPTs

After testing all these ChatGPT alternatives, I’ve realized one thing: ChatGPT isn’t the only star in the AI universe anymore. It’s like that first Blackberry smartphone you fell in love with, groundbreaking at the time, but now, there are plenty of models with features that might suit you better.

Claude feels more natural and human-like, Perplexity is like ChatGPT but with Google-level research skills, and DeepSeek is the logic powerhouse that makes you rethink everything. S

ome alternatives surprised me. Meta AI is great for quick, on-the-go answers, and Jasper is a dream for marketers who need brand consistency. Others, like Notion AI, had me wondering if I was about to become a full-fledged Notion convert.

The biggest takeaway? ChatGPT is still great, but it’s no longer the only choice. If you’re using it just because it’s familiar, you might be missing out on an AI that’s actually a better fit for your workflow.

After all, the best AI chatbots aren’t necessarily the most popular ones. It’s the one that works exactly the way you need it to.

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