I Examined the 9 Greatest ChatGPT Options in a Immediate-off

On November 30, 2022, I, like hundreds of thousands of others, tried ChatGPT for the primary time, and wow, a pc that might write essays, clarify quantum physics, and even crack jokes? Thoughts. Blown. It felt like AI had simply leaped into the long run in a single day.

However as I stored utilizing it, I began to marvel: Is ChatGPT actually the perfect AI chatbot for the whole lot I would like?

Seems, it’s not that straightforward. Whereas ChatGPT is highly effective, it’s not excellent, and it’s actually not the one choice on the market. There are a selection of fine ChatGPT options. Some focus on analysis, others are constructed for coding, and a few are designed particularly for advertising and marketing and productiveness. The extra I explored, the extra I noticed that relying on the duty, a distinct AI may truly be a greater match.

Over the previous two years, I’ve explored a lot of generative AI instruments listed on G2  for work, facet tasks, analysis, and (I will be trustworthy) late-night philosophical debates. Alongside the way in which, I discovered a number of ChatGPT options that, in some instances, outshone OpenAI’s bot in surprising methods.

Whether or not you prioritize creativity, coding, analysis, or real-time knowledge, there’s an AI right here which may simply work higher for you.

What makes the perfect ChatGPT options? 

When you’ve used ChatGPT, you already know why it’s so well-liked. It’s super-easy to make use of, understands pure language, and (principally) provides helpful solutions. There are not any difficult prompts and no studying curve. I simply chat, and it responds.

However in case you’re looking for an alternate, you’re not simply on the lookout for one other chatbot. You’re on the lookout for one thing higher. Perhaps ChatGPT feels too generic on your job. Perhaps you want one thing extra built-in into your workflow or real-time info as a substitute of outdated responses. Perhaps you’re on the lookout for an AI that enhances productiveness moderately than simply answering questions. Or maybe you’re questioning, is my knowledge even secure?

Based mostly on my expertise testing AI chatbots, right here’s what truly makes a ChatGPT different value your time. 

• It outshines ChatGPT in a key space. Whether or not it’s coding, artistic writing, enterprise productiveness, analysis, or multimodal AI (textual content, pictures, voice), the perfect options specialize the place ChatGPT falls quick.
• It simply works. There isn’t any difficult setup. Log in, begin chatting, and get helpful solutions instantly.
• It’s dependable. Quick responses, fewer crashes, no disappearing mid-conversation.
• It respects your privateness. Some AI chatbots retailer conversations to coach their mannequin, however others put consumer privateness first. In any case, the AI mannequin ought to be clear about their safety and privateness phrases. 
• It really works the place you do. The most effective AI instruments can be found throughout the online, cellular, desktop, and even contained in the apps you already use, so you’ll be able to entry them wherever you want.

Prime 9 ChatGPT options I appreciated

Under, I’m sharing my expertise with these generative AI instruments. Not each software checks all of the packing containers on my standards checklist, however every has its personal strengths.  The checklist additionally accommodates real consumer opinions from the respective product pages on G2.

Somewhat heads up: Generative AI instruments are evolving quickly, and a few particulars right here might shift over time or develop into outdated. However as of now, these picks are among the many finest at what they do.

*This knowledge was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some opinions might have been edited for readability. 

I’ve been utilizing Claude for over a yr now, and the very first thing you’ll discover is how pure and human-like it feels in dialog.

Not like some AI chatbots that give fast, robotic responses, Claude takes its time and truly thinks by its solutions. Whether or not I’m brainstorming concepts, writing long-form content material, or simply chatting, it appears like I’m speaking to a affected person, well-read assistant moderately than a machine making an attempt to spit out phrases as quick as doable.

One in every of my favourite issues about Claude is how adaptable it’s to completely different writing kinds and tones. I can select how formal or informal I would like it to be, making it nice for the whole lot from weblog writing to enterprise emails. I like that I also can connect recordsdata, pictures and use it. 

Plus, I am a fan of the Claude Artifacts function. I’ve used Claude to create a full UI for my mother’s studying portal and web site with out touching a single line of code.  I merely uploaded a picture of the UI I needed and requested it to code to get it. The flexibility to preview the output and the code is one thing I’ve not seen in different AI chatbots. 

I’ve even constructed calculators and instruments utilizing its steerage, regardless of having zero coding expertise. And I am not alone. Builders are loving Claude 3.7 Sonnet as an AI code generator. Used together with instruments like Cursor.ai, it is even sparked a brand new development, dubbed ‘vibe coding‘ by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy.

I additionally love that Claude takes privateness severely. It doesn’t use my chats to coach its fashions by default, which provides me peace of thoughts. Plus, its constitutional AI framework retains responses extra correct and fewer susceptible to hallucinations, so I hardly ever get deceptive info. That mentioned, the dearth of real-time searching is an actual downside, particularly now that ChatGPT gives free internet search. If I would like up-to-date information, Claude simply can’t sustain.

One other draw back? Hitting utilization limits. Once I run out of messages and have to attend a couple of hours for a reset, it kills my momentum, particularly once I’m in the midst of one thing vital. Additionally, Claude would not have a voice chat choice that ChatGPT and Gemini excels in. 

However regardless of that, I nonetheless maintain coming again to Claude. The free plan even consists of the power to investigate pictures and paperwork, and proper now, it’s operating Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which is likely one of the finest fashions available.

What I dislike about Claude:

• Hitting utilization limits kills my momentum. Nothing is worse than being deep right into a challenge and out of the blue having to attend hours for my message restrict to reset—it completely disrupts my stream.
• Once I want up-to-date information, Claude simply doesn’t have it. ChatGPT’s free internet search has spoiled me, and I want Claude had one thing related.

What G2 customers dislike about Claude:

“I have been utilizing the free model of Claude AI, and whereas it exhibits promise, I’ve discovered it to be fairly restricted. The variety of prompts I can use is restricted, and the size of our chats is simply too quick. This makes it tough to totally discover the capabilities of the AI or get significant help. I perceive that the free model is meant to be a teaser, however I hope the builders will take into account increasing its capabilities or providing extra versatile pricing plans. Till then, I will need to weigh the restrictions in opposition to the advantages.”

– Claude Overview, Yilamz O, Advisor.

If there’s one AI chatbot that’s actually shaken issues up after ChatGPT, it’s DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese language AI firm. This one caught my consideration (and of many others) as a result of it’s fully free, open-source, and surprisingly sharp.

Getting began was tremendous simple, only a fast login with my e-mail, and I used to be in. I primarily apply it to my Android telephone, and the UI feels similar to ChatGPT, so there was no studying curve. 

What units it aside, although, is the brains behind it. DeepSeek is powered by DeepSeek V3 and DeepSeek-R1, a reasoning mannequin that’s on par with OpenAI’s O1 and Claude Sonnet 3.5. That’s spectacular, contemplating it’s open-source and free, for my part.

However what actually blew me away on chat was DeepThink (R1). This factor is a reasoning powerhouse. Its responses really feel human-like, extremely detailed, and well-structured. If I ask one thing complicated, it doesn’t simply reply. It truly guides me by the logic, serving to me perceive the subject higher. In comparison with ChatGPT, I’d say it’s probably the greatest for deep, structured reasoning.

I may additionally add recordsdata, and DeepSeek processes them effectively, permitting me to extract related insights. It additionally has a built-in internet search that pulls in real-time knowledge, which is extremely helpful once I want up-to-date info past its data cut-off (July 2024). DeepSeek additionally helps with coding duties, although I have never explored it totally but aside from a couple of debugging classes with my present code tasks.

The largest plus? I by no means hit any utilization limits. Not like different free AI chatbots that cap queries, DeepSeek lets me chat as a lot as I would like with out restrictions. There are not any limits to the variety of queries we are able to ask the AI chatbot. 

Nevertheless, the most important con of DeepSeek additionally stems from this. Given its limitless free chat choice, it is extensively wanted, and this usually ends in server unavailability points. I usually run right into a “The server is busy. Please attempt once more later.” message, typically after simply 4 or 5 chats, and even mid-conversation. It’s irritating once I’m in the midst of one thing and out of the blue get this message. At one level, the online search function was fully down, which meant I couldn’t entry real-time info in any respect.

One other main downside is that because it’s developed by a Chinese language firm, there are some limitations with regards to sure matters, significantly those who may be politically delicate. This is because of regulatory necessities in China. So, in case you’re utilizing AI for analysis or discussions round international occasions, that’s one thing to remember.

Nonetheless, for a totally free ChatGPT different with a number of the finest reasoning capabilities I’ve seen, DeepSeek is one among my high picks.

What I dislike about DeepSeek: 

• Frequent server points kill the expertise. Though there are not any laborious limits, I usually run into “service unavailable” messages—typically after only a few chats and even mid-conversation. One time, the online search function fully stopped working, which was irritating.
• Some matters are off-limits, even in comparison with different AI chatbots. Whereas most AI instruments have content material restrictions, DeepSeek is particularly strict, refusing to reply sure questions that may be politically delicate on account of Chinese language laws. 

What G2 customers dislike about DeepSeek: 

“The app crashes typically once I open a brand new chat.”

– DeepSeek Overview, Tejas S, Operations Launch Controller. 

Like Claude, I’ve been utilizing Gemini ever because it was launched as Bard in 2023, and the enhancements over time have been enormous. Truthfully, when it first launched, it felt like an underwhelming different to ChatGPT to me, however now? Gemini 2.0 is a powerhouse, particularly for its Google Workspace integration.  The truth is, it’s one among G2’s high 5 AI merchandise for 2025.

A serious step up for me was how a lot the free model has improved. Going from Gemini 1.5 to 2.0 Flash, it’s develop into a full-fledged assistant that lets me connect recordsdata immediately from Google Drive, analyze pictures, and even chat through voice.

Only recently, I received entry to a more recent experimental mannequin that makes use of our Google search historical past to personalize the chat and is out there throughout completely different Google apps. It has been nice for procuring and private suggestions, and I can not wait to attempt it extra and see.

And most significantly, not like Claude or ChatGPT, I by no means hit any limits on Gemini fashions ever. Truthfully, this one factor alone makes me come again to Gemini on a regular basis. 

Gemini’s real-time searching and fact-checking is one other standout function I really like. Gemini can pull within the newest info from the online and even fact-check its personal responses, making it a dependable alternative for analysis and staying up to date. I’m a fan of its double-check function actually.

I exploit Gemini’s voice chat on my telephone on a regular basis, as I’ve set it as default on my Android smartphone, and it’s one of many smoothest AI voice interactions I’ve tried after ChatGPT’s superior voice mode. 

And the limitless picture technology on the free plan? That’s an enormous plus, particularly in comparison with ChatGPT’s restricted DALL·E credit. It nonetheless struggles to get the textual content proper in pictures, however for any artistic picture technology, it really works effectively.  One other underrated function of Gemini can be the Gems, which has similarities to that of customized GPTs that you may personalize with context. 

And these are simply the options of the free model of Gemini. Gemini Superior gives even larger context window and built-in with different Google apps. 

Since I exploit Google Workspace with Gemini Superior, having Gemini built-in throughout my workflow makes life a lot simpler. I can summarize emails in Gmail, clear up messy Sheets, and even generate slides with pictures immediately in Google Slides. It’s wild to see Gemini not simply write content material however create full displays, full with visuals.

Now, there are some issues I do not like, too. I can’t set the tone and magnificence for its reply as I can on Claude, and I’ve to particularly point out it in my immediate in my chat. Gems solves this to an extent, however I’d like to have the choice to set my tone and magnificence simply with out together with it in my prompts once I begin my chat. 

Additionally, Gemini has by no means been my go-to for coding. Whereas it’s first rate for explanations and primary debugging, as a no-coder, I principally depend upon ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot for any precise coding duties. Gemini feels extra like a supplementary software moderately than one thing I’d depend on for complicated improvement work.

However for real-time analysis, productiveness, and seamless Google integration, Gemini has earned its spot as probably the greatest ChatGPT options.

What I dislike about Gemini:

• I can’t set a default tone or model. Not like Claude, the place I can tweak its persona, Gemini makes me specify it in each immediate, which will get irritating once I want a constant voice.

• Not my first alternative for coding. Whereas it’s tremendous for explanations and debugging, I rely extra on ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot for precise coding duties. Gemini feels extra like a assist software.

What G2 customers dislike about Gemini:

“Generally the responses usually are not on top of things. The code written by Gemini is susceptible to bugs and may introduce safety vulnerabilities.”

– Gemini Overview, Verified G2 Consumer in Data Expertise and Companies. 

I’m not a coder by occupation however my facet tasks have compelled me to be taught coding greater than I anticipated. So, once I want an AI code generator, I flip to GitHub Copilot together with ChatGPT and Claude, and for a very good purpose.

I can choose between numerous massive language fashions (LLM), together with Anthropic’s Claude 3.5, Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash, and OpenAI’s GPT-4o and o3-mini. Personally I like this flexibility to decide on between completely different fashions. Subscription to Github Copilot Professional provides entry to much more superior fashions like Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

I completely love that I can describe what I would like in plain English, and Copilot generates a structured code snippet that I can tweak. As somebody with out a formal coding background, this has made studying and implementing code a lot simpler and fewer intimidating.

Once I examined Copilot for a house display screen dashboard in one among my tasks, it saved me tons of time by offering a working code construction instantly. And from what my developer pals inform me, it’s simply as beneficial for professionals, particularly with regards to rushing up repetitive duties, debugging, and writing boilerplate code.

One of many largest causes the builders I talked to want it’s that it really works immediately inside IDEs like Visible Studio Code, JetBrains, and Azure Knowledge Studio, offering real-time strategies and auto-completion. Programmers also can get pull request summaries and fast opinions of their codes. 

That mentioned, it’s not excellent. I’ve heard cases the place Copilot hallucinates features that don’t exist, which may result in irritating debugging classes. It additionally struggles with full-project consciousness, which means it doesn’t at all times perceive dependencies throughout a number of recordsdata, which may result in surprising issues.

And my largest pet peeve? The free plan is proscribed. You solely get 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per 30 days, which runs out quick in case you’re actively coding. For critical use, a paid plan feels nearly essential.

Nonetheless, as a ChatGPT different for coding, GitHub Copilot is in a league of its personal. It’s vital for anybody writing code often, whether or not you’re an expert developer or a low-coder like me engaged on a number of facet tasks. 

What I dislike about GitHub Copilot:

• I’ve noticed that Copilot has advisable features that don’t truly exist, which might be irritating. When you didn’t double-check, you’d waste time debugging errors that weren’t your fault.
• The free plan is extraordinarily restricted, for my part. You solely get 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per 30 days, which runs out quick in case you’re actively coding. For critical use, a paid plan feels nearly essential.

What G2 customers dislike about GitHub Copilot:

“The mannequin will not be educated sufficient to understand a considerably tough query. Generally, it ignored the immediate that was given. Hallucination occurs. For instance, it requires a operate of a module that does not exist.”

– GitHub Copilot Overview, Reyhan F, Knowledge Analyst.

I’ve recognized about Jasper AI since its early days when it was nonetheless known as Jarvis, and over time, it has developed into one of many finest AI writing assistants particularly designed for entrepreneurs. 

Not like ChatGPT, the place I must consistently give customized prompts to get the appropriate model, Jasper lets me set the model voice proper to start with Meaning every bit of content material robotically aligns with the tone, model, and messaging I gave with no need countless refinements. 

I can begin with an already present template on Jasper, add my subject, context, and different particulars, and get the content material. Or I can begin with a clean doc, the place I can use the inline immediate function so as to add content material and the Ask Jasper function to edit the content material, regulate tone, change size, or refine model immediately throughout the doc editor.

I really like the number of templates Jasper has for each advertising and marketing want, from AIDA framework and weblog posts to Instagram captions, touchdown pages, press releases, disaster communication emails, and full social media campaigns.

My favourite function is the Remix function for repurposing content material. I can use it to flip a weblog submit into a number of codecs, like social media posts, with out having to rewrite the whole lot from scratch.

Now, you’ll be able to ask me, can’t I simply do all this with ChatGPT? Technically, sure. However you’d need to work approach tougher for it. For each content material you wish to create, that you must have detailed prompts mentioning the particular codecs. It is advisable to fine-tune prompts consistently to get content material in your model voice. However with Jasper, all it takes is deciding on the appropriate template and filling within the particulars. 

That mentioned, Jasper is expensive. Beginning at $39 per consumer per 30 days, it’s nearly double the price of ChatGPT Plus, which sits at $20/month. When you’re a solo creator or solely want AI help often, it won’t be value the fee.

There’s additionally a little bit of a studying curve to get began, particularly in case you’re new to AI writing instruments. Organising your model voice, data base, and magnificence appropriately from the beginning is essential, and this takes time. However as soon as it’s in place, Jasper turns into a strong content material assistant. 

My ultimate verdict on Jasper AI is that in case you’re a marketer, enterprise proprietor, or content material creator who produces a ton of branded content material, Jasper is hands-down probably the greatest ChatGPT options. It saves time, ensures consistency, and makes repurposing content material easy.

Jasper gives a 7-day free trial and requires bank card particulars to enroll. 

What I dislike about Jasper AI:

• The pricing is steep, in my opinion. At $39 per consumer per 30 days, Jasper is nearly double the price of ChatGPT Plus. Whereas it’s nice for groups and companies, it feels costly in case you’re a person creator or solely want AI often. 
• There’s a studying curve, particularly for brand new customers. Organising the model voice, data base, and magnificence appropriately from the beginning is essential, but it surely takes effort to set it proper.

What G2 customers dislike about Jasper AI:

“The pricing was the one factor I didn’t like about Jasper.” 

– Jasper AI Overview, Tywana S, Proprietor of a Small Enterprise. 

Meta AI, powered by Llama 3, is likely one of the most accessible AI assistants on the market, seamlessly built-in into WhatsApp, Instagram, Fb, Messenger, and even one browser by the web site. It is even accessible on RayBan’s sensible glasses.

I exploit it extensively on WhatsApp, and with its latest addition of voice chat, it’s much more handy for fast, hands-free interactions.

Each time I’m away from my laptop computer however must ask a fast query, Meta AI is commonly my go-to. It’s nice for fast fact-checks, drafting a message, or simply brainstorming concepts with no need to modify apps.

I’ve used it to create press releases on the fly, edit and share them with the folks I used to be working with on WhatsApp, ask it concerning the newest information, edit my small code snippets, generate poster concepts, and even use it to be taught a brand new language, all on my telephone’s Whatsapp and Instagram apps. 

What makes it stand out is that it’s powered by Meta’s Llama 3 fashions, one of the vital highly effective open-source LLMs accessible. Llama 3 is understood for its spectacular reasoning skills, sturdy multilingual assist, and effectivity in producing responses. And the best option to entry it? Meta AI.

Not like some AI instruments that restrict the variety of queries, there’s no cap on what number of instances I can use it or what number of pictures I can generate, which is a large plus.

The picture generator will not be superior however for fast visuals, it will get the job finished. And because it’s already constructed into social media apps, I don’t need to go wherever else for an AI picture generator.

However there are some limitations. A draw back is proscribed customization. Not like Jasper, which lets me outline a model voice, or Claude, the place I can tweak response kinds, Meta AI doesn’t give me a lot management over the way it replies. I can’t set a proper tone for work-related questions or an off-the-cuff tone for fast chats.

One other challenge I’ve seen is that it lacks depth in responses in comparison with ChatGPT or Claude. It’s nice for fast, on a regular basis queries, however once I ask complicated or research-heavy questions, the solutions really feel shallow or overly simplified. Generally, I’ve seen hallucinations too. So, I at all times need to verify earlier than utilizing the AI content material. 

That mentioned, I might say Meta AI is a superb ChatGPT different for fast and informal chat with out leaving your favourite social media apps like Instagram, Whatsapp, and Fb. 

What I dislike about Meta AI:

• It’s not nice for in-depth solutions. If I ask a posh or research-heavy query, the responses really feel shallow in comparison with ChatGPT or Claude. It’s tremendous for fast information, but when I would like a deep dive into one thing, I often change to a different AI.
• Meta AI doesn’t give me a lot management over the way it replies. I can’t fine-tune its tone, formality, or creativity except I point out it in my prompts, which makes it really feel extra generic in comparison with different AI chatbots. 

What G2 customers dislike about Meta AI: 

“Searching capabilities are restricted. Hallucinates greater than different accessible fashions available in the market and logical reasoning might be improved.” 

– Meta Llama 3 Overview, Gaurav G, Founding father of a Small Enterprise. 

I’m not a heavy consumer of Copilot per se, however I’ve examined it sufficient to see the place it outshines ChatGPT. My verdict is that if you already stay in Phrase, Excel, Outlook, Groups, or PowerPoint, then Copilot feels much less like a chatbot and extra like an AI-powered productiveness assistant that’s constructed proper into your workflow.

Copilot is constructed on high of Open AI’s GPT fashions and Microsoft’s personal proprietary AI fashions. 

One of many largest benefits is the ease of entry. You possibly can entry it on Microsoft Edge, Bing, your browser, your telephone, and even WhatsApp. Right here, you’ll be able to see me chat with the online model. I like the truth that it supplies supply hyperlinks and likewise prompts follow-up questions. I can create some pictures, albeit simply 15 for the day. 

My favourite function can be Suppose Deeper powered by OpenAI’s o1 mannequin for complicated questions. It supplies extra detailed, context-aware outcomes, making analysis and problem-solving much more insightful than an ordinary AI response.

However Copilot’s actual energy shines in case you have a Microsoft 365 or a Copilot Professional subscription. That’s the place it pulls forward of ChatGPT.

Whereas ChatGPT is nice for normal AI help, Copilot can analyze and pull context from complete paperwork, spreadsheets, and emails immediately, making it extremely helpful for work-related duties. It will possibly assist me with work duties, like crconsuming a doc in Phrase, getting method or chart strategies in Excel, or summarizing conferences in Groups.  The truth is, prompt assembly summaries are one of many sturdy factors of Microsoft Copilot and are most likely one among my favorites.

I additionally like he “auto rewrite” function in Phrase. I can simply pop in a couple of primary sentences, and it rewrites them in skilled language.

Plus, it integrates with Bing for real-time internet searching and has firm knowledge, guaranteeing that I get essentially the most up-to-date info when researching. I might say Copilot is extra like Gemini however for the Microsoft ecosystem. 

However there are some drawbacks. It’s not as versatile as standalone AI instruments. Whereas Copilot is nice for productiveness, it lacks Claude’s creativity and ChatGPT’s conversational stream. I wouldn’t depend on it for brainstorming or storytelling the way in which I’d with different AI chatbots.

When you use the free model of the browser, you may most likely hit chat limits quickly. 

The underside line? When you stay in Microsoft 365, Copilot is the perfect ChatGPT different. However in case you want an AI chatbot for extra normal or artistic use, you’ll be able to search for different instruments on this checklist.

What I dislike about Microsoft Copilot:

• If I’m not working in Phrase, Excel, or Outlook, Copilot feels extra like an additional software than a necessary AI assistant. Not like ChatGPT, I don’t see myself utilizing it for on a regular basis conversations or artistic work
• At instances, I hit the bounds with the free model on the browser, which might be irritating while you’re in the midst of one thing.

What G2 customers dislike about Microsoft Copilot:

“Loading instances can typically take approach too lengthy, and typically the reply can get repetitive for complicated questions. The chat on the browser solely goes as much as 4 prompts, so to go any additional, the web page must be refreshed, and the context is misplaced.”

– Microsoft Copilot Overview, Neeraj V, Junior Software program Developer. 

I will be trustworthy and admit that I used to be not a Notion AI or, for that matter, a Notion consumer earlier than writing this text. However because it’s extremely rated on G2 and I’ve seen so many individuals swear by it, I figured Notion AI was value a attempt. And, effectively,…did I say I began liking it a little bit an excessive amount of?  

As a newbie, I arrange Notion for non-work and private duties, from journaling and easy job administration for facet tasks to each day behavior monitoring. It was nothing too complicated, simply sufficient to see if Notion AI may truly enhance my workflow. Full disclosure: it is not a conventional, general-purpose AI chatbot, however moderately a productiveness software, with AI in-built to reinforce how you’re employed.

What stood out was how naturally AI suits into the workspace. I didn’t have to modify tabs or copy-paste between apps. Every little thing from content material technology to summarizing notes and analyzing PDFs occurred inside Notion.

As a substitute of asking ChatGPT to draft one thing after which tweaking it, I may generate content material in my very own model with out further immediate engineering. Must translate a doc, summarize assembly notes, or clarify technical jargon? It’s all one click on away, no back-and-forth between apps.

I used the AI assistant to search out precise particulars from my journal pages, analyze PDFs as a part of my analysis work, and create doc briefs. A few of the insights it offered from my behavior tracker additionally helped me make modifications to my routine. 

I even used it to interrupt down my facet challenge of constructing a social media marketing campaign for my mother’s enterprise into subtasks and create a Notion web page with to-do lists to trace it based mostly on the AI suggestion. 

Even higher, Notion AI connects with Slack, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which means I may pull in related particulars from my workspace as a substitute of pasting the whole lot manually. Think about getting the most recent updates about your challenge from Google Drive and Slack with out switching apps by simply asking Notion AI. Cool, proper?  

What I actually appreciated was the way it tailored to my writing model. Not like ChatGPT, the place that you must fine-tune prompts for each response, Notion AI learns your tone over time. If that you must draft content material, edit a doc, or summarize assembly notes, it robotically aligns along with your model as a substitute of manufacturing generic AI responses.

That mentioned, it’s not excellent. The AI search might be hit and miss. Generally, it pulls precisely what I would like, and different instances, it tells me it doesn’t have entry to a web page I actually tagged.

Additionally, Notion has a steep studying curve. It’s full of options and extremely customizable, which is nice, but it surely additionally means you both spend days figuring it out and find yourself becoming a member of the Notion cult… otherwise you quit solely. The identical goes for its AI. It took me a number of days to get the cling of it, and even now, I’m nonetheless experimenting to ensure I’m utilizing it in the best approach.

On the entire, Notion AI generally is a nice productiveness booster if used appropriately. It’s not a full ChatGPT alternative. When you want AI for deep analysis past your workspace, real-time internet searching, or coding help, ChatGPT, or one of many different instruments on this checklist can be a greater match.

Notion gives a free trial of Notion AI, so in case you’re curious, it’s value making an attempt to see if it suits into your workflow.

What I dislike about Notion AI: 

• The AI-powered search is hit and miss. Generally, it pulls precisely what I would like, and different instances, it tells me it could actually’t entry a web page I tagged.
• The educational curve is actual. Notion itself isn’t the best software to grasp, and the AI options are not any completely different. It took me some time to determine tips on how to use it productively, and I nonetheless really feel like I’m uncovering new options.

What G2 customers dislike about Notion AI: 

“Whereas Notion is sort of excellent, I discover that a few of its options have a studying curve, particularly for learners making an attempt to harness its full potential. However, as I discussed, you may get it in a couple of days when you find yourself used to it.” 

– Notion Overview, Fabiane C, UI Designer. 

If Google and ChatGPT had a research-focused sibling, that will be Perplexity AI. Whereas ChatGPT can browse the online with SearchGPT, Perplexity takes it a step additional. It is a full-fledged AI-powered search engine. It understands context, cites sources, and lets me management the place it pulls info from.

So each time I would like dependable, research-backed solutions with out opening a dozen tabs, Perplexity is my go-to ChatGPT different. The truth is, it has nearly changed Google for many normal searches for me. I don’t miss the times of clicking by 15 tabs simply to piece collectively a solution. Perplexity does that for me.

Under, you’ll be able to see the way it works for the query I requested. It provides sources, a abstract, and even follow-up prompts. I’ve discovered this extremely helpful, particularly once I want fact-checked, real-time info with out the trouble.

I additionally completely love that I can specify the place it pulls its knowledge from, whether or not it’s the open internet, tutorial papers, and even social media platforms like Reddit and X. It provides me full management over the kind of info I get, which is one thing that different AI chatbots don’t provide.

One of many largest causes I take into account Perplexity probably the greatest ChatGPT options is its multi-model entry. Whereas ChatGPT solely gives GPT fashions, Perplexity integrates a number of superior AI fashions, together with Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4 Omni, GPT-4.5, Gemini 2.0 Flash, Grok-2, Sonar Giant, DeepSeek’s R1, O3 Mini, and extra. That’s nearly each main AI mannequin from this checklist in a single place.

When you’re on Perplexity Professional, which prices $20 a month, you’ll be able to select which mannequin you need. Now, I need to admit that for my analysis, I didn’t want this extensively, however I do know individuals who have a Professional subscription and use it extensively to entry all superior fashions in a single place. 

One other function I really like is the power to create Areas, which has similarities to customized GPTs or Gems on Gemini. I exploit it for recurring processes, just like the peer evaluation course of we’ve for our articles, or to interrupt down a challenge and scoop out a job temporary that I can share with others.

I also have a House devoted to inventory evaluation, the place I add firm filings and information experiences, and Perplexity generates a concise abstract. For somebody who simply began investing within the inventory market, it makes monetary analysis tremendous simple, much less overwhelming, and much much less time-consuming.

However what I actually, actually recognize is that Perplexity is consistently enhancing. They have been one of many first AI instruments so as to add DeepSeek R1 mannequin as quickly because it turned extensively accessible, which exhibits how briskly they adapt to new AI developments.

That mentioned, there are some downsides. It will possibly typically lose context in longer conversations, which might be irritating once I’m making an attempt to construct on earlier queries. This occurs with normal searches and inside Areas, the place it typically forgets customized directions. 

Whereas the Professional plan is feature-packed, the $20 month-to-month subscription is a bit steep for my wants since I primarily use it for search and analysis.

Nonetheless, if you need an AI-powered search expertise that outshines Google and ChatGPT for real-time info, Perplexity AI is the perfect free different on the market. It’s quick, correct, and consistently enhancing, making it my go-to for research-heavy duties.

The free plan consists of limitless free searches, three Professional searches per day, and the power to add three recordsdata per day.

What I dislike about Perplexity AI: 

• It will possibly typically lose context in longer conversations. Whereas nice for single queries, it typically forgets particulars mid-conversation, which might be irritating.
• I seen that it could actually overlook customized directions often inside areas, and so I needed to do follow-ups. 

What G2 customers dislike about Perplexity AI: 

“It cannot maintain monitor of context in follow-up questions.”

– Perplexity AI Overview, Sai Nutakki C, Small Enterprise. 

There are many honorable mentions that didn’t make my essential checklist however are nonetheless value exploring. Le Chat, powered by Mistral AI fashions is gaining traction for its open-source fashions and spectacular multilingual capabilities amongst European customers. HuggingChat, powered by open-source fashions from Hugging Face, is one other fascinating free choice for many who want community-driven AI.

Pi by Inflection AI takes a distinct strategy, specializing in being a extra private, emotionally clever AI moderately than only a productiveness software. After which there’s Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, which is out there on X (previously Twitter) and recognized for its snarky, meme-loving persona.

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