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

ChatGPT is a hugely successful conversational AI chatbot released in November 2022 by OpenAI. It has advanced capabilities, such as performing writing tasks well, including composing emails, essays, resumes, and lists. It is also highly proficient in 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 at the time, including no access to the internet and a knowledge cutoff. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT to digitize your handwritten notes for free

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 provides the chatbot with web browsing, vision, data analysis, file uploads, and GPTs. 

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

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-4o mini 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. This tool 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 skills allow it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs, and output text, audio, and images.

Also: If these chatbots could talk: The most popular ways people are using AI tools

Besides those capabilities, 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. 

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. The tool 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

Although I have given this chatbot different superlatives in the past, including the best AI chatbot for image interpretation, I would say that at the moment, the biggest advantage of this chatbot is its conversational capabilities. 

Chatting with the chatbot seems the most similar to talking with a human or a tutor, with the chatbot asking follow-up questions to ensure it can assist you best, in addition to outputting a strong, meaningful answer. 

For example, when asked, "What is the meaning of life?" after outputting its answer, the chatbot asks, "Would you like me to elaborate on any of these perspectives or explore this question further?" When ChatGPT was prompted with the same question, it did not output a follow-up question.

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 -- 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 you wouldn't have thought about before, encouraging discovery and experimentation. I explored random topics, including the history of birthday cakes, and I enjoyed every second.  

Also: Perplexity Pro's AI absolutely aced my coding tests - but there's a catch

Other perks include an app for iOS and Android, allowing you to tinker with the chatbot while on the go. Footnotes are provided for every answer with sources you can visit, and the chatbot's answers nearly always include photos and graphics. Perplexity even placed first on ZDNET's best AI search engines of 2024. 

Perplexity AI features: OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo and Claude 3 Sonnet and Opus 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 the AI, 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 $49 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 the text 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. The tool can check for grammar and plagiarism and write in over 50 templates, including blog posts, Twitter threads, video scripts, and more. Jasper 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 $49 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.  

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.

Also: My 3 favorite AI chatbot apps for iOS - and what you can do with them

One of the biggest standout features is that you can toggle between the most popular AI models on the market using the Custom Model Selector.

The AI models included in the 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 capability 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: Most leading LLMs | Lists sources for the text it generates | Longer answers | Free

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. 

Part of Writesonic's offering is Chatsonic, an AI chatbot specifically designed for professional writing. It functions much like ChatGPT, allowing users to input prompts to get any assistance they need for writing. 

Also: Grammarly to roll out a new AI content detector tool. Here's how it works

Other tools that facilitate the creation of articles include SEO Checker and Optimizer, AI Editor, Content Rephraser, Paragraph Writer, and more. A free version of the tool gets you access to some of the features, but it is limited to 25 generations per day limit. The monthly cost starts at $12 but can reach $249, 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 | 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. At the company's Made by Google event, Google made Gemini its default voice assistant, replacing Google Assistant with a smarter alternative. Gemini Live is an advanced voice assistant that can have human-like, multi-turn (or exchanges) verbal conversations on complex topics and even give you advice. 

The Live experience is supposed to mimic a conversation with a human. As a result, the AI can be interrupted, carry on multi-turn conversations, and even resume a prior chat. 

Also: Google tops the Index with Gemini Live and Pixel's AI features

However, I've argued that while Gemini Live's "deep integration with multiple Google services enables the AI to better understand user preferences and habits," making for impressive conversational capabilities, "with OpenAI's Voice Mode also on the market, the technology doesn't seem groundbreaking to me -- yet," I said. "Once the camera is incorporated and Gemini Live can understand your surroundings, then it will have a truly competitive edge."

Gemini Live is rolling out to Android users subscribed to Gemini Advanced, which is offered as part of the Google One AI Premium Plan and costs $20 monthly. If you are an iPhone user, no worries, Google says Gemini Live will expand to iOS in the coming weeks.

Also: You can try Google's new 'AI Premium Plan' for free. Here's how (and why you'll want to)

The $20 per month cost -- which is on par with other premium AI plans like ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro -- includes other perks besides Gemini Advanced, such as Gemini in Gmail and Docs, 2TB of storage, and unlimited Magic Editor in Google Photos. Still, if you want to try the tool before committing to buying it, read my piece, 'How to try Google's new Gemini Live AI assistant for free'.

Gemini features: Powered by Gemini 1.5 Flash | 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 Apple App Store and the Google Play 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 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. 

Also: What to know about Mistral AI: The company behind the latest GPT-4 rival

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, ChatGPT-inspired interface | Entirely customizable | Great for developers or AI fanatics | Secure alternative | Free