ChatGPT alternatives: the best free and paid options

The best ChatGPT alternatives are Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity. All four have a free version, so you can try them at no cost. Claude is popular for natural writing, Gemini fits people who use Google’s apps, Copilot suits Microsoft users, and Perplexity is built for research with sources you can check.

In this guide, you’ll learn why people look beyond ChatGPT, what each of the main alternatives does best, and how to choose one for what you want to do.

ChatGPT is the best-known chatbot, a tool you type to and it types back. Every option below works the same basic way and runs on a large language model, AI that has learned to work with language by reading enormous amounts of text. So if you can use ChatGPT, you can use any of these.

Why would you want a ChatGPT alternative?

ChatGPT is a good tool, and there is nothing wrong with sticking with it. People look elsewhere for a few common reasons:

• Writing style: Every tool has its own voice, and some people prefer how another one sounds.
• Where you work: If your day runs through Google or Microsoft apps, a tool built into them saves copying and pasting.
• Checking facts: Some tools put sources front and centre, which helps when accuracy matters.
• Privacy: Some people would rather their conversations stayed on their own computer.
• A second opinion: Asking two tools the same question is a great way to spot mistakes.

What are the best ChatGPT alternatives?

Alternative	Made by	Best for	Free version available?
Claude	Anthropic	Natural writing and careful, step-by-step thinking	Yes
Gemini	Google	People who use Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Search	Yes
Microsoft Copilot	Microsoft	People who use Windows, Edge, and Microsoft’s work apps	Yes
Perplexity	Perplexity	Looking things up, with sources on every answer	Yes
Open models on your own computer	Various	Privacy and working offline	Yes, many are free to download

All of the paid versions give you higher limits and extra features, but the free versions are genuinely capable for learning and everyday tasks. Our guide to the best free AI tools goes into more detail.

Claude: for natural writing

Claude, made by a company called Anthropic, has a strong reputation for writing that sounds natural and human. Many people find it pleasant for drafting, editing, and working through longer, more thoughtful tasks. It can search the web when a question needs fresh information.

See how it compares in Claude vs ChatGPT.

Gemini: for Google users

Gemini is Google’s AI assistant. Its big advantage is that it is woven into the Google apps many people already use, such as Gmail, Docs, and Search. If your day runs through Google, having AI in the same place is a real convenience.

See how it compares in Gemini vs ChatGPT.

Microsoft Copilot: for Windows and Microsoft apps

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant. There is a free version on the web, in Windows, and in the Edge browser. Many people also meet it at work, where an employer can switch on a version that works inside Word, Outlook, and Teams.

See how it compares in Copilot vs ChatGPT.

Perplexity: for research with sources

Perplexity is built around searching the web. It answers in plain language and adds numbered links showing where each point came from, so you can click through and check. That makes it a lovely choice for looking things up.

See how it compares in Perplexity vs ChatGPT.

What about AI that runs on your own computer?

All the tools above run in the cloud, meaning your messages travel over the internet to the company’s computers. There is another route: some AI models are released openly, so anyone can download them and run them on their own machine. Your conversations then never leave your computer.

This takes a little more setting up, and your computer needs to be reasonably powerful. Our guide to cloud vs local AI explains the trade-offs in plain English.

Which ChatGPT alternative should you choose?

• If you mostly write: Try Claude.
• If you live in Gmail and Google Docs: Try Gemini.
• If you use Windows or Microsoft apps at work: Try Copilot, and check what your employer allows first.
• If you mostly look things up: Try Perplexity.
• If privacy matters most: Look at running AI locally.
• If you are not sure: Try two, give them the same task, and keep the one you enjoy using.

Try it yourself

Open ChatGPT and one alternative side by side and paste this into both:

I'm trying to decide between two holidays: a week in a quiet cottage
in the countryside or a long weekend in a busy European city. Ask me
three questions to understand what I want, then help me choose.

Notice how each tool handles the questions and the advice. The one whose style you prefer is a good sign of which alternative suits you.

A common first instinct

A common first instinct is to look for the one tool that beats ChatGPT at everything. In practice, the main tools are close in ability and each has its own strengths, so the better question is which one fits the way you like to work. You can always switch later.

Next steps

If you’d like a broader overview first, read our ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini guide, which compares the three best-known tools by what you want to do.