Best AI for chat assistants
A general assistant should handle everyday questions, writing, files and search in one place. Compare what the free plan includes, which models each tier unlocks, and how well the assistant fits the apps you already use.
Picks reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Our picksRanked for chat assistants
ChatGPT
The free plan includes unlimited text chats with GPT-6 plus limited image creation, voice chats, deep research and memory. Paid tiers add Codex and agent features.
Claude
The free plan already includes web search, code execution, file creation, memory and app connectors. Pro costs $20/month billed monthly; Opus models need a paid plan.
Google Gemini
Works with Gmail and Drive, and the free tier includes Deep Research, Gemini Live and Canvas. Paid plans start at $7.99/mo (Google AI Plus) and bundle storage.
Microsoft Copilot
The free assistant runs on web, mobile and Windows; paid plans from $9.99/month (Microsoft 365 Personal) add Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
DeepSeek
The web chat and mobile app need no subscription and are strong at reasoning, math and coding. Data is processed by a China-based company, which some organizations restrict.
How to choose
- Test the free plan with your real tasks before paying for any tier.
- Pick the assistant that connects to the email, documents and apps you already use.
- Check usage limits on each paid tier, not just the monthly price.
- Review where your data is processed if you handle work or client information.
CompareAll tools for chat assistants
| Tool | Pricing | Starts at | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT OpenAI |
Freemium | $8/month (Go) | Yes | Anyone who wants one assistant that covers everyday questions, writing, coding help, image creation and research. |
| Claude Anthropic |
Freemium | $20/month (Pro, billed monthly); $17/month billed annually ($200 up front) | Yes | Users who do long-form writing, document analysis or coding and want an assistant with strong tool… |
| DeepSeek DeepSeek |
Free | — | Yes | Users who want a capable assistant for reasoning, math and coding at no cost. |
| Google Gemini |
Freemium | Starting at $7.99/mo (Google AI Plus) | Yes | People already using Google services who want an assistant tied into Gmail, Drive and Google's image… |
| Grok xAI (SpaceXAI) |
Freemium | $8/month (Plus) | Yes | X users and developers who want one subscription covering Grok chat, media generation, coding tools and… |
| Khanmigo Khan Academy |
Freemium | $4/month (learners and parents; $44/year) | Yes | Students, parents and teachers who want guided AI tutoring tied to Khan Academy content. |
| Le Chat Mistral AI |
Freemium | $14.99/mo (Pro), excluding taxes | Yes | Users and teams who prefer a European provider for chat, search and coding help. |
| Meta AI Meta |
Freemium | — | Yes | People who already use WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook or Messenger and want an assistant inside those apps. |
| Microsoft Copilot Microsoft |
Freemium | $9.99/month or $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 Personal) | Yes | Windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI help inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. |
| Perplexity Perplexity AI |
Freemium | $17/month billed annually (Pro); $20/month billed monthly | Yes | Users who want quick web answers with inline citations they can check. |
| Qwen Chat Alibaba |
Free | — | Yes | Users who want a free multilingual assistant with access to Alibaba's latest Qwen models. |