Free picks
7 Best Free AI Assistants and Chatbots
There are now dozens of AI chat assistants, and the free plans are good enough for most everyday work. These are the ones worth trying first for writing, research, coding and thinking through problems.
Short answer
Our top picks for free AI assistants and chatbots are ChatGPT, Claude and Google Gemini. All 7 picks on this list have a free plan.
Updated
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The list
Every pick is free or has a usable free plan. Pricing and features change, so check each tool's own site before you commit.
- 1
A general-purpose AI assistant for thinking and drafting.
Why it stands out: Useful across almost every task
Best for Students, Writers, Developers · AI Tool
- 2
An AI assistant that shines on long documents and careful writing.
Why it stands out: Excellent with long inputs
Best for Writers, Professionals, Developers · AI Tool
- 3
Google's AI assistant, wired into Docs, Gmail and Drive.
Why it stands out: Works directly with Gmail, Docs and Drive
Best for Professionals, Students, Marketers · AI Tool
- 4
Answer engine with sources for fast research.
Why it stands out: Sources on every answer
Best for Students, Marketers, Professionals · AI Tool
- 5
Google's research assistant, now called Gemini Notebook, grounded in your own sources.
Why it stands out: Answers are grounded in your own sources
Best for Students, Writers, Professionals · Web App
- 6
AI assistant built directly into the Brave browser.
Why it stands out: Integrated directly into a privacy-focused browser
Best for Personal Use · Browser Extension
- 7
Your personal AI knowledge assistant.
Why it stands out: Powerful AI search and retrieval for personal knowledge
Best for Professionals, Students, Personal Use · AI Tool
Frequently asked questions
- Which of these free AI assistants and chatbots is the top pick?
- ChatGPT is our first pick. A general-purpose AI assistant for thinking and drafting. ChatGPT has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features or usage.
- Are all of these AI assistants and chatbots free?
- Every pick is free to start. 0 picks are completely free, and 7 have free plans with paid upgrades for more features or usage.
- Which ones are easiest for beginners?
- ChatGPT, Claude and Google Gemini are rated beginner-friendly in our directory, along with 3 other picks.
- What platforms do these tools run on?
- The most common platforms are iOS (6 of 7 picks), Web (6) and Android (5). Check each tool's page for its full list of platforms.
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