AI chat assistants
Quick answerGeneral-purpose AI assistants answer questions, draft text, summarize files and increasingly run multi-step tasks. Most offer a free plan and a paid tier around $20 a month, with higher tiers that mainly buy more usage. The differences that matter are plan limits, which extras are bundled (image generation, coding agents, research modes) and where your data goes.
5 AI chat assistants compared
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 8.7 | $8/mo | Yes | All-round use, especially if you want image generation and voice in one app |
| Gemini | 8.7 | $4.99/mo | Yes | Google Workspace users who also want storage and video generation |
| Claude | 8.4 | $17/mo | Yes | Long documents, careful writing and coding with Claude Code |
| Perplexity | 8.1 | $20/mo | Yes | Research and fact-finding with citations |
| Microsoft Copilot | 8.1 | $19.99/mo | Yes | People who already pay for or rely on Microsoft Office |
Score out of 10 from our rubric. "From" is the cheapest paid plan in USD per month. See every plan in the pricing tracker.
The tools
ChatGPT 8.7
The most feature-complete AI chat assistant, with a price ladder from free to $200 a month.
Gemini 8.7
Google's assistant, sold in four paid tiers from $4.99 to $199.99 with storage bundled in.
Claude 8.4
A writing- and coding-focused assistant whose Pro plan bundles Claude Code at $20 a month.
Perplexity 8.1
An answer engine that cites its sources, with Pro at $20 and Max at $200 a month.
Microsoft Copilot 8.1
Microsoft's assistant, now sold with Office as Microsoft 365 Premium at $19.99 a month.