If you've never used an AI assistant, the best first one is the app that fits into what you already use — and costs nothing until you know you need more.
Start with ChatGPT Free: it's the most popular assistant, has unlimited text chats and voice mode, so you can simply talk to it. If you already use Google apps, Gemini is right there; on a Windows PC, Copilot is built in. Don't pay until you've used one for a few weeks.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Yes | $8/mo | $500/mo | Everyday writing, brainstorming, image generation, casual coding |
| Gemini | Yes | $4.99/mo | $99.99–199.99/mo | Google ecosystem users, video generation, very long documents (1M tokens) |
| Copilot | Yes | $19.99/mo | $99.99/mo | Excel data, Word drafting, PowerPoint decks, Outlook triage |
| Perplexity | Yes | $20/mo | $200/mo | Research with verifiable sources, fact-checking, exploring unfamiliar topics |
| Claude | Yes | $20/mo | $100–200/mo | Document analysis, research papers, nuanced writing, software engineering |
Monthly prices in US dollars before tax, from each vendor's official pricing (US list price; weekly-billed plans converted to a monthly figure). Updated October 7, 2026
The most widely used assistant, so tutorials and tips are everywhere, and the free tier has unlimited text chats plus voice mode for speaking instead of typing.
Pick it if: you want the app most people mean when they say "AI".
Full ChatGPT pricing →It's built into the Google apps you may already use, and the free tier is among the most generous; you can ask about photos or files as well as text.
Pick it if: you already use Gmail, Docs or other Google apps.
Full Gemini pricing →Copilot's free chat is already in Windows and Edge, so there's nothing new to install — the free features are basic but enough to learn on.
Pick it if: you mostly use a Windows PC and want to try AI with zero setup.
Full Copilot pricing →Every answer shows where it came from, which helps beginners learn when to trust AI and when to double-check.
Pick it if: you're unsure about AI getting facts wrong.
Full Perplexity pricing →Free Claude is good at careful, natural-sounding writing like letters and emails, though daily usage is limited.
Pick it if: you mainly want help putting things into words.
Full Claude pricing →Stay on a free plan for at least a few weeks. Never paste passwords, bank details or private documents you wouldn't email to a stranger. And check any fact that matters — names, numbers, dates — before you rely on it. If you later want more, ChatGPT Go ($8/mo) or Google AI Plus ($4.99/mo) are low-risk first upgrades.
ChatGPT for most people — type or talk, and it answers. Gemini and Copilot are just as easy if they're already on your phone or PC.
No. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity and Claude all have free tiers, and DeepSeek is entirely free. Pay only when a limit actually gets in your way.
How we choose: prices come from each vendor's official pricing page and are re-checked every week. We take no affiliate fees, so rankings aren't for sale.