How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- ChatGPT remains the most versatile chatbot app, with the widest feature set for everyday work, writing, and coding.
- Claude suits long writing and careful analysis, with a free tier and a Pro plan at 17 dollars per month billed annually.
- Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot win on integration, sitting inside Google and Microsoft products many people already use.
- Perplexity is the best chatbot for research, with cited answers drawn from live web sources.
- Poe and Grok serve specific tastes: Poe for trying many models in one app, Grok for real-time web and social context.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 ChatGPT | Everyday versatility | See website | Yes |
 Claude | Long writing and analysis | $17 per month (billed annually) | Yes |
 Google Gemini | Google product integration | See website | Yes |
 Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft product integration | See website | Yes |
 Perplexity | Research with citations | See website | Yes |
 Meta AI | Social app integration | See website | Yes |
 Poe | Many models in one app | See website | Yes |
 Grok | Real-time web context | See website | Yes |
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The best chatbot apps
#1ChatGPT
Best for: Everyday versatility4.6/5 on
G2 (3,089 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit chatgpt.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
ChatGPT is the default chatbot app for most people, and its breadth explains why. It handles writing, coding, analysis, image creation, and voice conversation in one app, with a free tier for casual use and paid plans for heavier work. The homepage now centers on the latest models, including GPT-6.1 Terra, which shows how fast the product keeps moving.
The free tier carries usage limits, and the most capable models sit behind a subscription, so power users will pay. Accuracy also needs checking: ChatGPT can sound confident about wrong facts, so important claims deserve a second source. For an all-purpose chatbot that covers the most jobs in one place, ChatGPT remains the first app to try.
What we like- Widest feature set
- Image and voice tools
- Large plugin and app ecosystem
Watch out for- Free tier has usage limits
- Most advanced models need a paid plan
#2Claude
Best for: Long writing and analysis4.6/5 on
G2 (488 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit claude.ai
Starting price$17 per month (billed annually)
Free planYes
Claude, from Anthropic, suits people who write and think at length. It handles long documents, nuanced analysis, and careful drafting with a tone that many users prefer for professional writing. The free tier includes chat on web, desktop, and mobile, plus web search, file creation, code running, and memory across conversations.
Paid plans start with Pro at 17 dollars per month billed annually, or 20 dollars month to month, with more usage, projects, Claude Code, and access to more models. Max starts at 100 dollars per month for people who use Claude all day. The homepage extract for this review was sign-in focused, but plan details were confirmed directly from it. For writing-heavy work, Claude is a strong first choice.
What we like- Strong long-form writing
- Careful reasoning
- Free tier with real features
Watch out for- Homepage extract was sign-in focused
- Fewer third-party integrations than ChatGPT
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Google Gemini is the natural chatbot for people who live in Google products. It connects with Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Search, so asking about an email or summarizing a document feels built in rather than bolted on. Image generation and editing through conversation round out a free tier that covers casual use well.
One flag belongs here. The Gemini homepage returned only a sign-in screen when checked for this article, so its details rest on established product knowledge rather than a fresh homepage read. Answers can also be briefer than Claude or ChatGPT for complex topics. For Google users who want a chatbot inside their existing workflow, Gemini is convenient and free.
What we like- Free tier
- Deep Google app integration
- Strong multimodal features
Watch out for- Homepage extract was sign-in only when checked
- Answers can be brief
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Microsoft Copilot is the chatbot for Windows and Microsoft 365 users. It works across web, desktop, and mobile, with work and personal conversations kept separate, and it connects to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including free web versions of those apps. A free tier is available with a Microsoft account, with more available through paid plans.
The homepage extract for this review was sign-in focused, but the free tier and integration details were confirmed directly from it. The most advanced features, including deeper Office integration, need a Microsoft 365 subscription. For people who spend their day in Microsoft products, Copilot is the obvious chatbot pick.
What we like- Free tier with a Microsoft account
- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint integration
- Work and personal separation
Watch out for- Homepage extract was sign-in focused
- Most advanced features need Microsoft 365
#5Perplexity
Best for: Research with citations4.4/5 on
G2 (361 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit perplexity.ai
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Perplexity is the chatbot for research. Instead of answering from memory alone, it searches the live web and cites sources, so readers can check claims rather than trust them. That design makes it the best choice for questions where accuracy matters: news, product comparisons, technical facts, and current events.
One flag belongs here. The Perplexity homepage returned only cookie policy text when checked for this article, so its details rest on established product knowledge rather than a fresh homepage read. Creative writing and long-form drafting are weaker than ChatGPT or Claude. For research-first use, Perplexity leads this list.
What we like- Cited answers from live web sources
- Strong for research
- Clean answer format
Watch out for- Homepage extract was cookie-only when checked
- Weaker for creative writing
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Meta AI is the chatbot most people meet inside apps they already use. It is built into WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, so asking a question or generating an image happens without opening a separate app. It is free, with voice and image features included, which makes it the lowest-friction chatbot on this list.
One flag belongs here. The Meta AI homepage was policy-blocked when checked for this article, so its details rest on published product knowledge rather than a fresh homepage read. Some users also have privacy questions about a chatbot inside social apps. For casual questions inside social apps, Meta AI is convenient and free.
What we like- Free
- Built into WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook
- Voice and image features
Watch out for- Homepage was policy-blocked when checked for this review
- Privacy questions for some users
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Poe, from Quora, lets users chat with many AI models in one app, including GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and thousands of community bots. That variety is its strength: a user can compare answers across models, or pick the best model for each task, without separate subscriptions. Group chat lets several people and bots share one conversation.
The points system takes learning, since different models cost different amounts of points per message, and quality varies by model choice. Poe suits curious users who want to try many models and compare results. For a single-model experience, ChatGPT or Claude will feel simpler.
What we like- Access to many models in one subscription
- Group chat
- Fast interface
Watch out for- Usage points system takes learning
- Quality varies by model
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Grok, built by xAI, is the chatbot for real-time information. It searches the web in real time, generates images and videos, supports voice chat, and reasons through complex problems, with social context from X woven into its answers. The homepage lists a free price point, which makes trying it low-risk.
The homepage extract for this review was brief, so feature details rest on that extract plus established product knowledge. The social context that makes Grok distinctive may not suit users who want neutral answers. For breaking news, trending topics, and real-time questions, Grok is a strong choice.
What we like- Real-time web search
- Image and video generation
- Voice chat
Watch out for- Homepage extract was brief
- Social context may not suit all users
How we chose
We compared chatbot apps on answer quality, free tier value, integration with products people already use, research reliability, and special strengths, using vendor homepages and published comparisons. Six homepages were opened and confirmed for this review; Gemini returned a sign-in screen, Perplexity a cookie notice, and Meta AI was policy-blocked, and those entries are flagged. Prices change often, so unverified prices are listed as "See website" rather than estimated.
What to check before you choose
Start with where you already work. If you live in Google products, Gemini will feel native. If you live in Microsoft products, Copilot will. If you live in social apps, Meta AI is already there. Switching costs are low for chatbots, so picking the one inside your existing workflow usually beats picking the most powerful model in isolation.
Next, check the free tier honestly. Most apps on this list offer a free tier, but usage limits, model access, and feature limits differ. Claude free tier includes real features like file creation and code running, while other free tiers limit advanced models. If you use a chatbot daily, a paid plan at 17 to 20 dollars per month is usually worth it.
Finally, check answers that matter. Chatbots can sound confident about wrong facts, so verify important claims against a second source, especially for health, money, and legal topics. Perplexity helps here with citations, but no chatbot replaces a primary source. For research, cite the source, not the chatbot. Try two apps side by side for a week before paying, since free tiers make comparison cheap and the best app is usually the one you actually open every day.
Frequently asked questions
Which chatbot app is best overall?
ChatGPT is the best all-purpose chatbot app, with the widest feature set for writing, coding, images, and voice. Claude suits long writing, Gemini and Copilot suit Google and Microsoft users, and Perplexity suits research. The best choice depends on your workflow.
Is there a completely free chatbot app?
Yes. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, Meta AI, Poe, and Grok all offer free tiers. Free tiers carry usage limits and may restrict advanced models, but they cover casual use well. Heavy users usually need a paid plan.
Which chatbot is best for research?
Perplexity is the best chatbot for research, since it searches the live web and cites sources for its answers. That design makes claims checkable rather than trust-based. For research that matters, still open the cited sources directly.
Can chatbots replace search engines?
Not fully. Chatbots summarize and synthesize well, but they can be wrong with confidence, and they may miss recent or niche facts. Use Perplexity or a search engine for current facts, and a chatbot for drafting, brainstorming, and explaining.
How much does Claude Pro cost?
Claude Pro costs 17 dollars per month billed annually, or 20 dollars month to month, according to the plan page checked for this article. Max starts at 100 dollars per month for heavier use. Prices may change, so confirm at sign-up.
Which chatbot app is best for trying many models?
Poe is the best app for trying many models, with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and thousands of community bots in one place. Its points system takes learning, but it is the cheapest way to compare models side by side.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://chatgpt.com
- https://claude.ai
- https://gemini.google.com
- https://copilot.microsoft.com
- https://www.perplexity.ai
- https://poe.com
- https://grok.com
- https://openai.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.