10 best AI chatbots for almost free: ChatGPT and alternatives

Imagine having a personal genie at your fingertips – one that doesn’t just grant three wishes but is available 24/7 to answer your questions, assist with tasks, and even keep you company. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the reality of modern AI chatbots. From the revolutionary ChatGPT to its impressive alternatives, these digital genies are transforming our online interactions.

They’re not just tools; they’re companions, guides, and the future of communication. In this blog post, we’ll explore the 10 best AI chatbots for almost free, offering you the magic of AI without the cost. Prepare to be enchanted by the possibilities as we dive into the world of AI chatbots that are just a click away.

Since the inception of ChatGPT, AI chatbots have garnered significant attention due to their versatility in handling a wide array of tasks, aiding both personal and professional endeavors. These bots can assist in coding, composing emails, drafting reports, generating art, formulating Excel formulas, and much more.

However, the widespread recognition of ChatGPT spurred competitors to develop their own iterations, resulting in a plethora of options in the market, each with unique strengths, applications, difficulty levels, and nuances.

Moreover, over the past eighteen months, I have extensively explored the realm of AI, meticulously testing numerous AI tools, including a variety of AI chatbots. Drawing from my research and insights from other ZDNET AI experts, I have curated a comprehensive list of top-tier AI chatbots and AI writers available today.

This compilation provides a detailed overview to aid in selecting your next AI assistant, encompassing its primary applications, advantages, drawbacks, pricing, large language model (LLM), and more. Whether you’re new to AI chatbots or a seasoned user, this resource aims to introduce you to a new chatbot experience.

What is the best AI chatbot right now?

As we navigate through 2024, the AI chatbot landscape has evolved with numerous contenders vying for the top spot. The competition is fierce, but one chatbot has consistently emerged as a frontrunner due to its remarkable capabilities and widespread adoption.

Microsoft Copilot: The Best AI Chatbot of 2024Microsoft Copilot has taken the lead in the race of AI chatbots. It’s not just its advanced language model that sets it apart, but also its ability to provide free internet access and source information efficiently.

 Whether you’re coding, composing emails, or simply seeking information, Microsoft Copilot offers a seamless experience that integrates with your workflow1.

While ChatGPT has been a household name since its inception, Microsoft Copilot has built upon that foundation and expanded its functionalities, making it the go-to choice for users around the globe.

Its intuitive interface, coupled with the backing of a tech giant, ensures that it remains at the cutting edge of AI chatbot technology.

The 10 best AI chatbots for almost free of 2024

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Microsoft Copilot: The AI Assistant for Everyone

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that’s designed to make your digital life easier. It’s like having a smart friend who’s always there to help you with your Microsoft 365 apps. Whether you’re writing an email, creating a spreadsheet, or preparing a presentation, Copilot is there to lend a hand.

Language Model

At the heart of Copilot is the Microsoft Prometheus model, which is built upon OpenAI’s GPT-4 foundational large language model. This advanced technology allows Copilot to understand and interact in multiple languages, making it a versatile assistant for users worldwide.

Types of Copilot

Microsoft offers several versions of Copilot to cater to different needs:

• Copilot Free: A basic version that’s integrated with Windows and Bing Chat.
• Copilot for Microsoft 365: A more advanced version that works with Microsoft 365 apps and services.
• Copilot Pro: The most advanced version, offering additional features and customization options

Pricing

Copilot’s pricing is structured to accommodate various user needs:

• Copilot Free: Available at no cost for basic use.
• Copilot Pro: Priced at $20 per user per month, offering advanced features.
• Copilot for Microsoft 365: Generally available as a $30 add-on per user for businesses

Capabilities

With Copilot, users can:

• Draft documents and emails with ease.
• Create compelling presentations.
• Summarize and manage emails efficiently.
• Code using natural language prompts.
• And much more, all through intuitive natural language commands

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Versatility: Compatible with multiple Microsoft 365 apps.
• Multilingual Support: Communicates in various languages.
• Productivity Boost: Offers AI-powered assistance to enhance efficiency.

Cons:

• Cost: Advanced features come with a subscription fee.
• Adaptation: Users may need time to learn how to use all features effectively.
• Over-reliance: There’s a risk of becoming too dependent on AI assistance.

In conclusion, Microsoft Copilot is a cutting-edge AI tool that offers a wide range of capabilities to help users streamline their workflow and enhance productivity. Whether you’re a casual user or a business professional, Copilot has something to offer.

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ChatGPT: The Conversational AI Revolutionizing Interaction

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art chatbot developed by OpenAI, designed to simulate human-like conversations with users. It’s based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) model, which allows it to generate text that can answer questions, provide explanations, and even engage in casual banter

Language Model

ChatGPT operates on the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, depending on the subscription level. These models are trained on vast amounts of data, enabling the chatbot to understand context, generate relevant responses, and learn from user interactions

Types of ChatGPT

ChatGPT comes in various forms:

• Standard ChatGPT: Accessible to all users, providing general assistance.
• ChatGPT Plus: A subscription-based service offering faster response times and priority access to new features
• ChatGPT for Enterprise: Tailored for businesses, offering advanced tools and customization options

Pricing

ChatGPT offers a free version with basic features, while ChatGPT Plus is available for $20 per month. Enterprise solutions have custom pricing based on the specific needs of the business

Capabilities

Users can interact with ChatGPT for a multitude of tasks, such as:

• Generating creative content like stories or marketing copy.
• Assisting with coding by writing, debugging, and explaining code.
• Providing tutoring in various subjects.
• Offering customer support and answering FAQs

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Accessibility: Easy to use and available to everyone.
• Versatility: Capable of performing a wide range of tasks.
• Learning Ability: Continuously improves through interaction.

Cons:

• Reliability: May generate incorrect or nonsensical answers at times.
• Bias: Potential for bias based on the data it was trained on.
• Overdependence: Risk of users relying too heavily on AI for tasks.

In conclusion, ChatGPT represents a significant leap forward in conversational AI, offering users a powerful tool for communication and task automation. Its ability to learn and adapt makes it an invaluable asset across various industries and applications.

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Anthropic’s Claude: A New Contender in AI

What is Anthropic’s Claude?

Anthropic’s Claude is an advanced AI chatbot designed to interact with users conversationally. Developed by a team of former OpenAI researchers, Claude is built on a foundation of safety and interpretability, aiming to provide helpful, honest, and harmless interactions

Language Model

Claude utilizes a family of large language models known as Claude 3, which includes Claude 3 Haiku, Claude 3 Sonnet, and Claude 3 Opus. These models are designed to offer a balance between speed, cost, and performance, catering to different use cases and applications

Types of Claude

Claude is available in several versions, each tailored to specific needs:

• Claude 3 Haiku: Fast and cost-effective for quick responses.
• Claude 3 Sonnet: Balances performance and speed for high-throughput tasks.
• Claude 3 Opus: The most intelligent model, capable of complex analysis and longer tasks

Pricing

Anthropic offers competitive pricing for Claude, with costs varying based on the model and usage. Prices range from $1.63 to $24, depending on the edition and the number of tokens used

Capabilities

Claude excels at a variety of tasks, including:

• General conversation
• Writing, editing, and summarizing text
• Coding assistance
• Providing advice on a broad range of subject

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Nuanced Responses: Claude provides thoughtful and detailed answers.
• Vision Capabilities: Can process visual formats like photos and diagrams
• Safety Focus: Designed with a strong emphasis on ethical AI

Cons:

• Quality: Some users find Claude slightly less accurate than other models like ChatGPT
• Availability: Access to Claude’s web app is limited to Slack and beta users

In conclusion, Anthropic’s Claude represents a significant step forward in the AI chatbot arena, offering a blend of performance, safety, and versatility. It’s a promising tool for both individuals and enterprises looking to leverage AI for a wide range of applications.

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Perplexity.ai: The AI-Powered Search Engine

What is Perplexity.ai?

Perplexity.ai is a conversational search engine that uses AI to provide accurate and relevant answers to queries. It’s designed to understand natural language, making it easy for users to find information on a wide range of topics.

Language Model

Perplexity.ai is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and offers access to GPT-4 for subscribers, ensuring that it can process and understand complex queries with ease.

Types of Perplexity.ai

Perplexity.ai offers a free version with basic features and a Pro version that includes:

• Unlimited copilot usage
• Access to GPT-4
• Dedicated support
• Updated information

Pricing

Perplexity.ai has a free plan with limited features. The premium plan costs $20 per month or $200 per year, which includes unlimited copilot usage and access to GPT-4

Capabilities

Users can use Perplexity.ai for:

• Solving assignments and writing essays
• Writing research papers
• Finding answers to various questions
• Providing customer support and enhancing user experience

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Results include citations
• Shows related searches
• Answers Twitter graph queries
• Supports Chrome extensions⁵

Cons:

• Lacks conversational skills with users

In conclusion, Perplexity.ai stands out as a unique AI-powered search engine that combines the capabilities of a traditional search engine with advanced processing

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Jasper: The AI Chatbot Tailored for Content Creators

What is Jasper?

Jasper is an AI chatbot that assists content creators in generating unique and valuable content efficiently. It’s designed to support a variety of content-related tasks, including idea generation, text rewriting, answering questions, and crafting creative content such as poems or stories.

Language Model

Jasper operates using GPT-3, one of the leading AI technologies for text generation. This sophisticated language model delivers high-quality content that closely mimics human writing. The AI model is continuously refined and updated to maintain accuracy and coherence.

Types of Jasper

Jasper offers several features to cater to different content creation needs:

• Access to over 50 copywriting templates.
• Generation of content in 29 languages.
• A free browser extension.
• Compose & command features.
• A Google Docs style editor.
• The ability to refine content before publishing.

Pricing

Jasper offers three main plans:

• Creator Plan: $49 per month, includes unlimited word generation, Jasper Chat, and 50 memories.
• Teams Plan: $125 per month, includes all features of the Creator Plan, plus three user seats and 150 memories.
• Business Plan: Custom pricing, includes additional control, security, team training, and tech support.

Capabilities

Jasper is particularly adept at:

• Generating plagiarism-free content.
• Remembering previous conversations for context.
• Offering a modern and sleek interface for ease of use

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Content generation in multiple languages.
• Remembers previous conversations for better context.
• Provides request refinement options.

Cons:

• Occasionally provides false facts.
• Requires a subscription for full access

In conclusion, Jasper stands out as a specialized AI chatbot for content creators, offering a suite of tools designed to streamline the content creation process. Its use of the GPT-3 model ensures high-quality output, making it a valuable asset for those looking to enhance their content strategy.

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You.com: The AI Search Assistant That’s More Than a Chatbot

What is You.com?

You.com is not just a chatbot; it’s an AI search assistant that revolutionizes how we interact with information online. It’s designed to provide personalized and conversational search experiences, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for without sifting through pages of results¹.

Language Model

You.com’s YouChat AI is based on a blend of multiple language models, including OpenAI’s GPT-3 and 3.5, Google’s BERT, and Carnegie Mellon University’s Transformer-XL. For premium users, access to GPT-4 and Stable Diffusion XL is also available, offering even more advanced capabilities.

Types of You.com

You.com offers various modes and features to enhance user experience:

• Smart Mode: For quick and accurate replies with live web access.
• YouImagine: An AI image generator integrated with several models.
• YouCode: A text-to-code AI model, currently in beta.
• YouWrite: An AI tool for basic writing tasks

Pricing

While You.com provides a free version with basic features, the You.com API is a paid service starting at $100 per month for 14,200 API calls after a 60-day trial. Bespoke packages are available for larger enterprise deals with annual subscriptions and discounts.

Capabilities

You.com can assist with a wide range of tasks, including:

• Creating workout plans or trip itineraries.
• Writing Python scripts for automation.
• Generating unique content and digital art.
• Providing real-time web results with citations.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Multimodal responses including charts, images, and videos.
• Continuous learning for improved interactions.
• Protects user data with a privacy-focused approach.

Cons:

• Some AI tools may be of lower quality compared to others.
• Private ads may be present.
• Limited AI generator usage for free accounts

In conclusion, You.com stands out as a versatile AI search assistant that goes beyond traditional chatbot functionalities. It offers a unique blend of conversational AI and search engine capabilities, making it a valuable tool for users who value efficiency and personalized experiences.

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Chatsonic by Writesonic: The AI with Real-Time Data Integration

What is Chatsonic?

Chatsonic is an AI-powered chatbot developed by Writesonic, designed to enhance productivity and creativity for individuals and teams. It’s a versatile tool that can generate text, create images, answer questions, and much more, with a focus on providing up-to-date information

Language Model

Chatsonic is built on the GPT-4 model, which allows it to deliver high-quality, contextually relevant content. It also integrates with Google to provide real-time data, setting it apart from other chatbots that may rely on outdated information

Key Features

• Real-time information: Chatsonic integrates with Google for the latest data.
• Multimodal responses: It can generate text and images, and understand voice commands.
• Extensive prompt library: Over 1,000 prompts for various use cases.
• Multilingual capabilities: Chatsonic can communicate in multiple languages.

Use Cases

Chatsonic is suitable for a wide range of applications, including:

• Marketing and SEO strategy development.
• Customer support through professional replies and sentiment analysis.
• Research and content creation for social media and blogs.
• Generating digital artwork and summarizing documents

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Access to real-time, up-to-date information.
• Extensive features for content creation and team collaboration.
• Multilingual support for global reach.

Cons:

• There may be a word limit for content generation.
• Some users report issues with image generation.
• The tool’s knowledge base might have limitations.

Pricing

Chatsonic offers a free trial with daily text generations and premium plans starting at $12.67 per month for long-form content generation. For more extensive needs, custom plans are available upon contacting sales.

In conclusion, Chatsonic by Writesonic stands out as a comprehensive AI chatbot solution, particularly for those seeking real-time information integration and extensive content creation capabilities.

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Gemini (formerly Google Bard): Google’s Multimodal AI Chatbot

What is Gemini?

Gemini, previously known as Google Bard, is a generative AI chatbot developed by Google. It’s based on the Gemini large language model and is designed to provide conversational interactions, integrating various types of data including text, images, and code

Language Model

The Gemini language model is a family of multimodal large language models developed by Google DeepMind. It includes Gemini Ultra, Gemini Pro, and Gemini Nano, each tailored for different levels of complexity and performance needs.

Key Features

• Multimodal Integration: Gemini can process and combine different types of information, such as text and images, for a richer user experience.
• Interactive Conversations: It offers natural and engaging dialogues with users, similar to human conversations.
• Contextual Understanding: The chatbot maintains coherence across multiple interactions, understanding the context of conversations.

Use Cases

Gemini can be used for a variety of applications, including:

• Creating engaging chatbots for customer service.
• Developing virtual assistants for scheduling and information retrieval.
• Generating creative content like articles and blog posts.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Versatility: Handles multiple data types and offers various sizes for different applications.
• Innovation: Includes free options for experimentation with AI.

Cons:

• Limited Availability: The most capable version (Pro) had limited initial availability.
• Bias: The dataset used to train its model can still include biased data.

Pricing

Gemini offers a free version with basic features, and the Gemini Advanced AI model is available through the Google One AI Premium plan for $19.99 per month. This plan provides access to the more powerful Ultra 1.0 LLM.

In conclusion, Gemini represents Google’s foray into the competitive landscape of AI chatbots, offering a multimodal, conversational AI that integrates seamlessly with Google’s suite of products and services.

It stands as a direct competitor to other major AI chatbots, providing users with a unique blend of conversational capabilities and Google’s robust search functionalities.

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Socratic by Google: The AI Tutor for Inquisitive Minds

What is Socratic by Google?

Socratic by Google is an AI-powered learning app that assists students in understanding their school work at a high school and university level. It uses Google AI to find the best online resources, including videos and step-by-step explanations, to help students learn concepts across various subjects.

Language Model

Socratic by Google leverages Google’s advanced AI and search technologies to provide educational resources. 

While specific details of the language model aren’t publicly disclosed, it’s designed to understand and interpret a wide range of academic questions and provide relevant, reliable educational content.

Key Features

• Expert-Created Study Guides: Offers visual explanations in each subject to help students grasp complex concepts.
• Multidisciplinary Support: Covers subjects like Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, and Literature.
• Accessibility: Designed for students aged 12+ and can be used by learners with special needs

Use Cases

Socratic is ideal for:

• High school and university students needing homework help.
• Learners seeking to understand complex topics through curated educational content.
• Students looking for a variety of learning materials to draw conclusions from multiple sources

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive: Supports a wide range of subjects with expert-created content.
• Accessible: Free to use and designed for a broad age range of students.
• Safe Web Search: Filters out unreliable sources, providing trustworthy information

Cons:

• Limited to Mobile: Currently only available as a mobile app.
• Subject Limitations: May not support all subjects or specialized topics.
• Setup Time: Requires some effort to set up and learn how to use effectively

Pricing

Socratic by Google is a free app, making it an accessible educational resource for students worldwide

In conclusion, Socratic by Google stands as a valuable AI tutor for students, offering a wealth of reliable resources and study guides to aid in their education. Its focus on accessibility and comprehensive support across subjects makes it a go-to app for homework help and self-paced learning.

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HuggingChat: The Open-Source AI Chatbot

What is HuggingChat?

HuggingChat is an open-source AI chatbot developed by Hugging Face, designed to provide human-like conversations and answer a wide range of questions. It’s built on the Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA), which allows it to generate text, debug and write code, create Excel formulas, and more.

Language Model

HuggingChat uses a language model called Mixtral-8x7B-Instruct-v0.1, developed by Mistral AI. This model is based on transformers trained on extensive text data, enabling it to understand and respond to user prompts effectively

Key Features

• Open Source: HuggingChat is freely accessible, allowing users to contribute to its development and improvement.
• Versatile: It can generate various forms of text content, from essays to song lyrics.
• Real-Time Information: It has access to the internet to provide up-to-date information

Use Cases

HuggingChat can be used for:

• Customer service chatbots.
• Educational tutoring tools.
• Interactive fiction games.
• Research assistance.
• Content generation.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Open-source and collaborative.
• Provides human-like conversations.
• Can identify certain emotions and respond accordingly.
• Access to the internet for real-time information.

Cons:

• May provide inaccurate information.
• Prone to hallucinations, generating coherent but fabricated responses

Pricing

HuggingChat is available at no cost, making it an accessible option for individuals and organizations looking to leverage AI-powered chatbot capabilities.

In conclusion, HuggingChat represents a significant contribution to the open-source AI community, offering a versatile and accessible chatbot that can handle a variety of tasks and queries with human-like interaction.

advantages and disadvantages of using chatbot

Safety Measures for Chatbots	Advancements in Chatbot Technology
Special Credentials for chatbots to ensure secure access	Chatbots becoming more human-like and handling sophisticated conversations
Use of End-to-End Encryption to protect data transmission	Understanding the emotional state of users
Two-Factor Authentication for an added layer of security	Integration of AI in contact centers
Biometric Authentication to verify user identity	The rise of voice bots as mainstream assistants
Time-Based Authentication for temporary access permissions	Chatbots that can automate payments
Educating Employees about security protocols	Messaging platforms driving the growth of chatbots
Secure Bot Management to prevent unauthorized access.	Social media platforms leading the adoption of AI
Adherence to Certified Security Standards for chatbots.	Customer experience (CX) driving the adoption of chatbots
Data Protection Standards to safeguard user information.	Voice recognition and natural language understanding improvements.
Regulated Access to sensitive information	Chatbots requiring no AI training or complex setup
Safe Sign-In Processes to prevent unauthorized entry	Low-code, No-code platforms making chatbot development accessible

conclusion

In conclusion, the AI chatbot arena is brimming with innovation and diversity, offering a wide array of options tailored to meet various needs.

From Microsoft Copilot’s seamless integration with productivity tools to ChatGPT’s conversational excellence, Anthropic’s Claude’s ethical approach, Perplexity.ai’s search capabilities, Jasper’s content creation prowess, You.com’s personalized search experience, Chatsonic’s real-time data, Gemini’s multimodal interactions, Socratic’s educational support, and HuggingChat’s open-source community, each chatbot brings its unique strengths to the table.

As we look to the future, these AI chatbots are not just tools but partners in our digital journey, enhancing our capabilities, and offering almost limitless potential for personal and professional growth.

Whether you seek assistance with daily tasks, creative endeavors, learning, or business operations, there’s an AI chatbot out there ready to transform the way you interact with the digital world. The key is to choose the one that aligns best with your objectives and to embrace the opportunities that these advanced technologies present.

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