Skip to content

Chat

“The everyday AI you talk to.”
1 of 2

The assistant that fits best is usually the one closest to where you already work. Gemini draws on Gmail, Docs and Drive, and Microsoft Copilot works inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams with Microsoft 365. ChatGPT covers the widest range, from web search to images and voice. Claude reads long files closely and connects to your own tools through MCP. Perplexity answers with sources you can check.

ChatGPT: OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant.
ChatGPT

OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant.

Pricing on requestTry
Google Gemini: Google's AI assistant.
Google Gemini

Gemini is Google's AI assistant for writing, research, coding and planning, on the web and on mobile. It works with Gmail, Docs, Drive and other Google apps, so it can draw on your own files. It also generates images and runs deep research reports. A free tier covers everyday use, with more in Google's paid AI plans.

Pricing on requestTry
Meta AIMeta AI
Meta AI

Meta AI is the chatbot from the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It answers questions and helps with writing in a chat, much like ChatGPT. Meta offers it as its own alternative to OpenAI's assistant. It suits you if you want to compare a second big assistant before choosing one.

Pricing on requestTry

Side by side

Price, free plan, ease of use and the team size each one suits.
ChatGPTPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team
ClaudeFree planSolo, Small team, Growing team, Large team
Google GeminiPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team
PerplexityPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team
Microsoft CopilotPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team, Large team
Meta AIPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team
Mistral VibeFree planSolo, Small team, Growing team
Character AIPricing on requestSolo, Small team, Growing team

Why these picks

Independent reviews, facts checked at the source, and our own use.
  • Ranked from independent reviews

    We score how often and how high each tool appears in independent best-of reviews.

    Zapier logoZDNET logoCNET logoTechRadar logoZapier, ZDNET, CNET, and TechRadar
    Reviews read 2 Oct 2026
  • Facts checked at the source

    Prices, free plans and offers come from each provider's own website, checked every week by our software and reviewed by us.

    Prices last checked 6 Oct 2026
  • Nobody pays for a place

    The order comes from the reviews and the facts. Offers are only the providers' own.

     

Head to head

Pairs people weigh up that include one of these picks.
ChatGPTvsClaudeChatGPTvsGoogle GeminiChatGPTvsJuliusChatGPTvsMicrosoft CopilotChatGPTvsMistral VibeChatGPTvsPerplexityClaudevsGoogle GeminiClaudevsPerplexityNotebookLMvsPerplexityPerplexityvsElicit

Rules that apply

The rules, the dates, and which of these tools support them.
EU AI Act: chatbot and AI content labelsUsing a chatbot or AI images on your site in the EU? See what Article 50 of the AI Act asks of you, who must label what, and the dates that apply.

Questions

What people ask about chat.

Which assistant should I pick if my business runs on Google or Microsoft?

On Google Workspace, Gemini works with Gmail, Docs and Drive and can draw on your own files. On Microsoft 365, Copilot works inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, where it drafts documents and summarises email and meetings. Copilot is also free on the web, Windows and mobile. Staying in your suite saves copying text back and forth.

How far do the free versions go?

Claude, Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT can all be used without paying, within daily limits. Gemini has a free tier for everyday use, with more in Google's paid AI plans. Paid plans mainly add more usage and, for ChatGPT, team workspaces. Use the free versions for a week on your real tasks before choosing one to pay for.

I need answers I can fact-check. Which one cites sources?

Perplexity searches the web and replies with a short answer plus the sources it used, and every claim links back. You can narrow searches to academic or specific sources and run longer research reports. ChatGPT and Gemini also search the web and run deep research. For questions about your own documents, Claude handles long files well.

Is it worth paying for two assistants?

Most small businesses get by with one paid assistant and the free tier of another. A common pairing is a general assistant for writing and analysis plus Perplexity for sourced research. If you are still deciding, Meta AI is a second big assistant to compare against ChatGPT at no commitment. Character AI is built for entertainment and role-play, so leave it out of work comparisons.

What should my team avoid pasting into a chatbot?

Keep out client personal data, passwords, contracts under NDA and anything your clients have not agreed to share. Check whether your plan uses chats for training and switch that off where you can. Team workspaces on paid plans usually give admins more control. Write a one-page rule so everyone on the team knows what is allowed.