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
- This list covers third-party apps built on or around GPT-class models, not OpenAI itself: Poe and Perplexity lead for multi-model access and cited research.
- Poe gives dozens of models in one app for $4.99 per month at entry, while Perplexity Pro at $20 per month suits research with sources you can open and check.
- HARPA AI and DeskFerry add GPT-style help inside your browser and across your apps, while HuggingChat and Pi are free entry points.
- Model access, not brand name, decides value: check which models each app includes, how usage is metered, and whether your data stays private.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Poe | Many models in one app | $4.99 per month | Yes (limited daily use) |
 Perplexity | Research with cited sources | $20 per month (Pro) | Yes |
 HARPA AI | Page-aware AI chat in the browser | $12 per month (billed annually) | Free demo (10 web-session messages per day, 100 total command runs) |
 ChatLLM | Teams using 100-plus models | $10 per user/month | See website |
 Halomate | Multi-model access on a budget | $9.90 per month (Plus) | See website |
 DeskFerry | AI help acting across your apps | $49 per month | Free trial (7 days) |
 HuggingChat | Open models without lock-in | $0 | Yes (100 percent free) |
 Pi | Warm, voice-friendly conversation | $0 | Yes |
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The best GPT apps
Starting price$4.99 per month
Free planYes (limited daily use)
Poe is the multi-model app for power users who want to compare GPT, Claude, Gemini and niche bots without juggling separate subscriptions, with one account for many frontier models and a points-based paid system. Entry paid pricing is cited at $4.99 per month in one October 2026 guide and $19.99 per month for Premium in another, with a top tier at $249.99 per month in one comparison.
The points model means heavy use of frontier models burns through credits faster than light use, so check point costs for your usual models. Poe fits model-hoppers and teams that want side-by-side comparison and custom bots in one app.
What we like- Dozens of models in one app
- Switch models mid-conversation
- No-code custom bot creation
- Text, image, video and audio generation depending on model
Watch out for- Paid tiers use a monthly pool of compute points
- Point costs vary by model
- Entry paid tier cited at $19.99 per month in another guide
#2Perplexity
Best for: Research with cited sources4.4/5 on
G2 (361 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit perplexity.ai
Starting price$20 per month (Pro)
Free planYes
Perplexity is the best pick when answers need sources you can open and check, rather than a plain chat reply, with live web search, inline citations, and Pro Search and Research modes for multi-step questions. Pro costs $20 per month, or $200 per year on annual billing, with Max at $200 per month and enterprise per seat.
Perplexity's own Sonar models sit alongside third-party frontier models on paid plans, so it is a GPT-adjacent app rather than a single-model chat. Perplexity fits research, fact-checking and exploring unfamiliar topics where verifiable sources matter.
What we like- Every answer cites sources you can open and check
- Pro Search and Research modes for multi-step questions
- Comet AI browser for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android
Watch out for- Pro at $200 per year if paid annually
- Max tier at $200 per month
- Search-first design suits research more than open chat
Starting price$12 per month (billed annually)
Free planFree demo (10 web-session messages per day, 100 total command runs)
HARPA AI is a Chrome extension that adds AI chat and web automation to any page, with a page-aware sidebar, prebuilt and custom reusable commands, web scraping and data extraction, and page and price-change monitors. Paid plans start from about $12 per month on annual billing, with a roughly $240 one-time lifetime plan in one guide and Megatoken top-ups for extra use.
The extension model means HARPA AI shines inside pages you already visit, not as a general chat destination. HARPA AI fits researchers, shoppers and analysts who want GPT-style help that reads the page in front of them.
What we like- Page-aware AI chat sidebar
- Prebuilt and custom reusable commands
- Web scraping and data extraction
- Page and price-change monitors
Watch out for- Browser-extension design, not a standalone chat app
- Prices display in local currency in one guide
- Megatoken top-ups add cost
Starting price$10 per user/month
Free planSee website
ChatLLM Teams costs $10 per user per month and gives access to 100-plus models, ranking second among AI subscription bundles in one tested comparison with a value score of 8.2 out of 10. That breadth suits teams that want one subscription covering GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek-class models without buying each separately.
Team and privacy scores were lower than single-model apps in that comparison, so regulated teams should check data handling before adopting. ChatLLM fits small teams that want broad model access at a flat per-user price.
What we like- 100-plus models in one app
- Ranked second among subscription bundles in one guide
- Team-friendly pricing
Watch out for- No free plan confirmed in sources checked
- Team and privacy scores lower than single-model apps in one guide
Starting price$9.90 per month (Plus)
Free planSee website
Halomate offers GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek in one app, with Plus at $9.90 per month and Pro at $19.90, ranking third among subscription bundles in one tested comparison with a score of 7.3 out of 10. Its budget entry price undercuts Poe's Premium and Perplexity Pro for users who mainly need occasional multi-model access.
Smaller brands carry more uncertainty about longevity and support, so keep exports and prompts portable. Halomate fits budget-conscious users who want five model families in one app for under $10 per month.
What we like- GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek in one app
- Plus at $9.90 and Pro at $19.90
- Ranked third among bundles in one guide
Watch out for- No free plan confirmed in sources checked
- Smaller brand than Poe or Perplexity
- Privacy score lower in one guide
Starting price$49 per month
Free planFree trial (7 days)
DeskFerry is the multi-model agent app for users who want AI help that acts across their apps, with 1,500-plus integrations and multi-model agents, starting from $49 per month with a 7-day free trial. That acting capability goes beyond chat: DeskFerry can work inside connected tools rather than only answering questions.
The higher price and short trial suit businesses with real automation needs, not casual chat. DeskFerry fits teams that want GPT-style agents working across their existing apps, with integrations doing the heavy lifting.
What we like- ChatGPT-style help that acts across your apps
- 1,500-plus app integrations
- Multi-model agents
Watch out for- Higher entry price than chat-only apps
- 7-day trial only
- Acting across apps needs careful permission setup
Starting price$0
Free planYes (100 percent free)
HuggingChat is fully free, offering 100-plus open models through an Omni router that auto-routes to the best open model for each prompt, with open-source transparency and no lock-in. It suits users who value openness and privacy over frontier-model performance, and who want to try many open models without paying.
Open models trail frontier GPT-class models on hard reasoning and coding tasks, so HuggingChat fits learning, experimentation and light production work rather than the hardest professional tasks. HuggingChat fits open-source fans and budget users who want free multi-model chat.
What we like- 100-plus open models via an Omni router
- Auto-routes to the best open model
- Open-source transparency
- No subscription
Watch out for- Open models trail frontier models on hard tasks
- No paid tier for priority access
- Interface simpler than Poe or Perplexity
#8
Pi
Best for: Warm, voice-friendly conversation
Visit pi.ai
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Pi is the warm, voice-friendly chat app built on Inflection's in-house models, focused on conversation and reflection rather than tool use or research. It is free, with a simple interface and voice-friendly design that suits casual daily chat.
Pi is not a GPT app in the strict sense, but it belongs here as a GPT-class conversational app for users who want a friendly chat companion without subscriptions or complexity. Pi fits casual users who want a free, warm conversational AI for reflection and everyday questions.
What we like- Warm, voice-friendly chat
- Conversation and reflection focus
- Free
- Simple interface
Watch out for- In-house Inflection models, not GPT models directly
- Narrower tool set than Poe or Perplexity
- No paid tier for extra capacity
How we chose
We compared apps on model breadth, GPT-class access, pricing, free-tier value, and the limits comparison guides cite most often. Sources included an October 2026 AI subscription guide, two ChatGPT alternatives comparisons, an AI chatting app comparison, and a subscription bundle ranking. Where prices conflicted across guides, the article uses the most recent figure or says "See website". We did not claim hands-on testing, and none of these tools is OpenAI itself.
What to check before you sign
Start with model access, not brand name. Poe and ChatLLM give many models in one app, Perplexity gives cited research with third-party models on paid plans, and HuggingChat gives open models free. Check which models each app actually includes today, since model lineups change monthly.
Next, check how usage is metered. Poe uses compute points that vary by model, Perplexity caps Pro Search and Research runs, and HARPA AI uses Megatoken top-ups. A cheap monthly price with tight metering can cost more than a pricier flat plan for heavy users.
Finally, check privacy and portability. Smaller multi-model apps may handle data differently than single-model vendors, and acting apps like DeskFerry need permissions across your tools. Keep prompts and exports portable, and avoid pasting sensitive data into any app until you have read its data policy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best GPT app?
For many models in one app, Poe. For research with sources, Perplexity. For browser help, HARPA AI. For teams, ChatLLM at $10 per user per month. For free open models, HuggingChat. For casual conversation, Pi.
Are these apps the same as ChatGPT?
No. These are third-party apps built on or around GPT-class models, multi-model platforms, or GPT-adjacent models, not OpenAI itself. OpenAI's own ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, while these apps bundle GPT-class access with other models or tools.
How much do GPT apps cost?
From free at HuggingChat and Pi, through $4.99 per month at Poe entry, $9.90 at Halomate, $10 per user at ChatLLM, $12 at HARPA AI, $20 at Perplexity Pro, to $49 per month at DeskFerry.
Which GPT app is best for research?
Perplexity, because every answer cites sources you can open and check, with Pro Search and Research modes for multi-step questions. Poe suits comparing answers across models, while HARPA AI suits page-aware research inside the browser.
Do GPT apps include GPT models directly?
Poe, ChatLLM and Halomate include GPT models alongside Claude, Gemini and others. Perplexity uses its own Sonar models plus third-party frontier models on paid plans. HuggingChat uses open models, and Pi uses in-house Inflection models.
Should I pay for one app or several subscriptions?
One multi-model app usually costs less than buying ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok separately, which runs about $90 per month in one comparison. Buy separate subscriptions only when you need a vendor's native app features, like Claude Code or Gemini inside Google Workspace.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://aipricecompare.org/best/best-ai-subscription.html
- https://toolchase.com/blog/chatgpt-alternatives-2026/
- https://deskferry.com/blog/chatgpt-alternatives
- https://rankite.com/blog/best-ai-chatting-app
- https://toolradar.com/guides/best-free-ai-chatbots
- https://www.toolscout.in/blog/perplexity-vs-poe-vs-harpa-ai.html
- https://blogrecode.com/best-ai-subscription-bundles-tested-ranked/
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.