Compared by the jobs you actually do — not by features you will never use.
All four are free to start and good at everyday writing and questions. Choose by where you already spend your time: ChatGPT for an all-round helper, Gemini if you live in Gmail and Google, Copilot if you use Windows and Office, and Claude for long documents and a careful, warm writing style. You do not need to pay to find your favorite.
Prices are US list prices as of October 2026. They change often, so check the official page before you pay.
Best for: Writing, brainstorming, explaining things, everyday questions, creating images
Free tier: Yes, with daily limits on the best features
Paid: Go ($8/mo) for higher limits; Plus ($20/mo) for much more use and the newest features
Watch out: Can sound sure of itself and still be wrong. Double-check anything important.
Best for: Research, summarizing long articles, Gmail, Docs, and other Google apps
Free tier: Yes, with any Google Account
Paid: Google AI Plus ($4.99/mo) or Google AI Pro ($19.99/mo) for higher limits and extra storage
Watch out: Works best if you already use Google. Answers can lean toward Google's own services.
Best for: Windows PCs, the Edge browser, Word, Excel, and Outlook
Free tier: Yes, free Copilot chat
Paid: Included in Microsoft 365 Personal ($9.99/mo) and Premium ($19.99/mo); Copilot Pro is no longer sold
Watch out: Tied closely to a Microsoft account. The paid value is mostly inside the Office apps.
Best for: Long documents, careful and warm writing, thinking a problem through
Free tier: Yes, with usage limits that reset every few hours
Paid: Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed yearly) for more use
Watch out: Fewer extras for casual users. Not the pick if you mainly want to create pictures.
| Job | Good pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Write or polish an email or letter | ChatGPT or Claude | Both are strong at tone. Claude is often gentler; ChatGPT is quick and flexible. |
| Summarize a long article or PDF | Gemini or Claude | Both handle long text well. Never upload documents with ID or account numbers. |
| Ask quick everyday questions | ChatGPT or Gemini | Fast, conversational, and good at follow-ups. |
| Help inside Word, Excel, or Outlook | Copilot | It lives inside the Microsoft apps if you have Microsoft 365. |
| Help inside Gmail or Google Docs | Gemini | Built into Google's apps, especially on paid Google AI plans. |
| Create a picture or card design | ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot | All three can make images. Claude is not built for this. |
| Plan a trip or a week of meals | Any of them | All four do this well. Pick the one you find easiest to read. |
The easiest way to choose is a small taste test. Open each one in your web browser (chatgpt.com, gemini.google.com, copilot.microsoft.com, claude.ai) or get the official app, and paste the same everyday question into each:
Rewrite this note to my landlord so it sounds polite but firm: the kitchen faucet has been leaking for two weeks and I would like it fixed by Friday.
Keep the one whose answer you found easiest to read and use. Before you sign up, read how to sign up safely and watch out for fake look-alike AI apps.
You can use more than one. Most people end up with a favorite for writing and another for research.
If you're 55+ or helping a parent: see the best AI app for seniors, ranked by ease (big buttons, voice and read-aloud), and our AI for Seniors guides for everyday jobs in plain words.
Free tiers may use your conversations to improve models. Do not paste sensitive personal information into any of these tools. For details, see our Never Paste guide.