I've tested dozens of AI chatbots since ChatGPT's debut. Here's my new top pick

ChatGPT is a conversational AI chatbot released in November 2022 by OpenAI that has been massively successful because of its advanced capabilities. It can perform writing tasks well, including composing emails, essays, poems, grocery lists, and letters, in addition to STEM tasks like writing and debugging code and solving complex math equations. 

Copilot outperformed earlier versions of ChatGPT because it addressed some of ChatGPT's biggest pain points, such as having no access to the internet and a January 2022 knowledge cutoff. 

However, in May 2024, OpenAI supercharged its AI chatbot, solving all those problems and giving it some of the most competitive features on the market -- primarily its latest LLM GPT-4o, which gives the chatbot web browsing, vision, data analysis, file uploads, and GPTs. 

Many of the aforementioned features were limited to ChatGPT Plus, the chatbot's subscription tier, making the recent update a huge win for free users. 

Also: OpenAI just gave free ChatGPT users browsing, data analysis, and more

Getting started with ChatGPT is easier than ever since OpenAI stopped requiring users to log in -- now, you can start chatting with ChatGPT simply by visiting its website. However, if you want to access the advanced features, you must sign in, and creating a free account is easy. 

ChatGPT features: Uses OpenAI's GPT-4o or GPT-3.5 when at capacity | Can generate text, solve math problems, and code | Impressive conversation capabilities | Free to the public 

In February 2023, Microsoft unveiled a new AI-improved Bing, now known as Copilot. It runs on GPT-4 Turbo, which means that Copilot has the same intelligence as ChatGPT, which runs on GPT-4o. 

The only major difference between these two LLMs is the "o" in GPT-4o, which refers to ChatGPT's advanced multimodal capabilities. These allow it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs, as well as output text, audio, and images.

Also: What is Copilot (formerly Bing Chat)? Here's everything you need to know

Besides that, Copilot already had most of the features the free version of ChatGPT gained in the latest update, including access to current events, attribution (or linking to the sources it retrieved from), browsing the internet, uploading images and documents, generating images, and more. 

For that reason, Copilot is the best ChatGPT alternative, as it has almost all the same benefits. Copilot is free to use, and getting started is as easy as visiting the Copilot standalone website. It also has an app and is accessible via Bing. 

Copilot features: OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo | Has access to the internet | Works like a search engine with information on current events | Free

Anthropic launched its first AI assistant, Claude, in February 2023. Like the other leading competitors, Anthropic can conversationally answer prompts for anything you need assistance with, including coding, math, writing, research, and more. 

Also: This free tool from Anthropic helps you create better AI prompts

I think the biggest advantage of this chatbot is its visual assistance. Even though ChatGPT can accept image and document inputs, I noticed that Claude can assist with interpreting images in a much faster manner. 

For example, you can submit an image of handwritten notes and have them transcribed, which could be especially useful for students who write down their notes but also want to save them digitally. Similarly, it can extract text from images and convert them into any file type you want, such as a JSON file, which can be useful for web designers. 

It can also accept document uploads to help read, analyze, and summarize files. To upload a file, click on the paper clip icon next to the text box and click on the document you want to upload. Then, conversationally ask for what you want help with, whether it's summarizing the document or clarifying specific topics covered in it. 

Also: Anthropic brings Tool Use for Claude out of beta, promising sophisticated assistants

Claude is in free open beta and, as a result, has both context window and daily message limits that can vary based on demand. If you want to use the chatbot regularly, upgrading to Claude Pro may be a better option, as it offers at least five times the usage limits compared to the free version for $20 a month. 

Claude features:  Powered by Claude 3 model family | Accepts document uploads | Trained with information up to 2023 | Free

Perplexity AI is a free AI chatbot connected to the internet that provides sources and has an enjoyable UI. As soon as you visit the site, using the chatbot is straightforward -- just type your prompt into the "ask anything" box to get started. 

A title above the textbox reads, "Where knowledge begins," and it could not be more fitting. 

Also: 5 reasons why I prefer Perplexity over every other AI chatbot

When you click on the textbox, the tool offers a series of suggested prompts, mostly rooted in news. The chatbot also displays suggested prompts on evergreen topics underneath the box. All you have to do is click on the suggestions to learn more about the topic and chat about it. Additionally, Perplexity provides related topic questions you can click on to keep the conversation going. 

These extensive prompts make Perplexity a great chatbot for exploring topics that you wouldn't have thought of before, encouraging discovery and experimentation. I explored some random topics, including the history of birthday cakes, and I enjoyed every second. 

Also: This new Perplexity AI feature can create reports for you from a single prompt

Other perks include an app for iOS and Android, allowing you to tinker with the chatbot while you're on the go. Footnotes are provided after every answer with sources you can visit, and the chatbot's answers nearly always include photos and graphics.

Perplexity AI features: OpenAI GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 for subscribers | Has access to the internet and current events | Provides prompt suggestions to get chats started | Free 

Jasper is specifically for users looking to incorporate an AI chatbot into their workflow -- there is no free plan, and you can't even access the chatbot otherwise. For example, when I tried using it myself, I was met with dead ends unless I subscribed. The least expensive option, the Creator plan, is geared towards freelancers and solo-preneurs and is $39 a month. However, the investment may be worth it if you rely on an AI chatbot to generate copy for your business. 

Also: The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and more

With Jasper, you can input a prompt for what you want written, and it will write it for you, just like ChatGPT would. The major difference is that Jasper offers extensive tools to produce better copy. It can check for grammar and plagiarism and write in over 50 templates, including blog posts, Twitter threads, video scripts, and more. It also offers SEO insights and can even remember your brand voice. 

Whether you are an individual, part of a smaller team, or in a larger business looking to optimize your workflow, you can access a trial or demo before you take the plunge.

Jasper features: Uses different LLMs, including GPT-4 | Summarizes texts and generates paragraphs and product descriptions | Checks for plagiarism and grammar | Starts at $39 per month with an annual subscription

You.com (previously known as YouChat) is an AI assistant that functions similarly to a search engine. Like Google, you can enter any question or topic you'd like to learn more about, and immediately be met with real-time web results, in addition to a conversational response.  

Also: YouPro lets me access every popular premium AI chatbot for $20/month - but there's a catch

For example, when I asked, "Can you share some pictures of adorable dog breeds?" the chatbot provided six different web links, seven different pictures it pulled from the web, a conversational answer, and related news.

The chatbot can also provide technical assistance, with answers to anything you input, including math, coding, translating, and writing prompts. Because You.com isn't as popular as other chatbots, a huge plus is that you can hop on any time and ask away without delays.

One of the biggest standout features is that with YouPro, its premium subscription, you can toggle between the most popular AI models on the market using the Custom Model Selector.

The AI models included in Custom Model Selector include OpenAI's GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo; Anthropic's Claude Instant, Claude 2, Claude 3 Opus, Clause 3 Sonnet, and Claude 3 Haiku; Google's Gemini Pro; and Zephyr (uncensored).  

That means that, within one chatbot, you can experience some of the most advanced models on the market, which is pretty convenient if you ask me.  

You.com features: GPT-4 with subscription | Lists sources for the text it generates | Unlike most other Chatbots, uses Google sources | Free

Chatsonic is a dependable AI chatbot. It functions much like ChatGPT, allowing users to input prompts for assistance on many tasks. 

The Writesonic platform offers tools that help generate stories, including Instant Article Writer, which creates an article from a single click; Article Rewriter, which rephrases existing content; and Article Writer 5, which generates articles using ranking competitors. 

Other tools that facilitate the creation of articles include SEO Checker and Optimizer, AI Editor, Content Rephraser, Paragraph Writer, and more. There is a free version, which gets you access to some of the features, but is limited to 25 generations per day limit. The monthly cost starts at $12 but can reach $79, depending on the number of words and users you need.

Chatsonic features: Powered by GPT-3.5 or GPT-4 depending on subscription | Aware of current events, whereas ChatGPT is trained up to 2021 | Extensive feature suite, including voice dictation and image generation | Starts at $12 per month

Gemini is Google's conversational AI chatbot that functions most similarly to Copilot, sourcing its answers from the web, providing footnotes, and even generating images within its chatbot. Since its initial release in March 2023, the chatbot has undergone several upgrades, with the latest version being the most optimized it has ever been. 

Also: What is Google's Gemini AI tool (formerly Bard)? Everything you need to know

The highlight of this chatbot is that it is rooted in Google technology, search engines, and applications. The chatbot's UI and offerings will feel familiar to loyal Google users. For example, unlike most of the chatbots on this list, Google does not use an LLM in the GPT series but instead uses a model made by Google. 

"Gemini is slowly becoming a full Google experience thanks to Extensions folding the wide range of Google applications into Gemini," said ZDNET writer Maria Diaz when reviewing the chatbot. "Gemini users can add extensions for Google Workspace, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Flights, and Google Hotels, giving them a more personalized and extensive experience."

If you subscribe to Google's new 'AI Premium Plan', you not only get access to the most advanced Google models in Gemini, such as Gemini 1.5 Pro, but you also get access to Gemini for Workspace, previously known as Duet AI, which infuses Google's AI assistance throughout its productivity apps, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet.

Gemini features: Powered by Gemini 1.0 Pro | Includes a "Google it" feature | Generates clear text and images quickly | Free 

If you want your child to use AI to lighten their workload, but within some limits, Socratic is for you. With Socratic, children can type in any question about what they learn in school. The tool will then generate a conversational, human-like response with fun, unique graphics to help break down the concept. 

"It's a powerful studying tool that could help students double-check their homework, or get across the last hurdle if a question or formula just isn't making sense. And using the app is as easy as using Snapchat or talking to Siri," said former ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani in his review of the app. 

Also: How Google Socratic can help you with your homework

The app, available on the App Store and the Google App Store, also has a feature that lets your kid scan their worksheet to get a specially curated answer. The app does have some limitations; for example, it will not just write an essay or story when prompted. However, this feature could be positive because it curbs your child's temptation to get a chatbot, like ChatGPT, to write their essay. 

Socratic features: From Google | Type in any question to generate a response | Includes fun graphics | Supports scanning worksheets to get a specially curated answer | Free

While there are evidently plenty of great options on the market, if you need a chatbot that serves your specific use case, you can always build a new one that's entirely customizable. HuggingChat is an open-source chatbot developed by Hugging Face that can be used as a regular chatbot or customized for your needs.  

Also: Want to build your own AI chatbot? Say hello to open-source HuggingChat

As ZDNET's David Gewirtz unpacked in his hands-on article, you may not want to depend on HuggingChat as your go-to primary chatbot. However, it is a good interface to build your own chatbot. 

As Gewirtz said: "If you want something that you control, you can use HuggingChat to build a chatbot where you have visibility into every aspect of its functioning. You can choose to make that chatbot available online to other users and provide transparency to all users."

Socratic features: Clean, Chat-GPT inspired interface | Entirely customizable | Great for developers or AI fanatics | Secure alternative | Free