AI: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
Explore the latest in artificial intelligence, from cutting-edge tools and platforms to breakthroughs shaping how we work, create, and solve problems. Compare leading AI apps, discover practical use cases, and stay informed on emerging trends in machine learning, generative AI, and automation—all explained through expert insights, analysis, and real-world applications.
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The Best AI Chatbots We've TestedChatGPT started the AI revolution, but it isn't the only chatbot worth using. We've tested the top AI chatbots to help you determine which one is right for you.
By Ruben Circelli
Our Top Picks
Google Gemini
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Gemini works great as a standalone AI chatbot, and its bundled cloud storage and deep integrations with nearly every Google app make it a superb value.
Full Google Gemini ReviewPros
- Best-in-class value, with a generous free plan
- Excellent performance in everything from web search to video generation
- Helpful, robust integrations with Google apps
- Standout image editing and generation
Cons
- Occasionally incorrect responses
- Invasive data collection
Pros
- Best-in-class value, with a generous free plan
- Excellent performance in everything from web search to video generation
- Helpful, robust integrations with Google apps
- Standout image editing and generation
Cons
- Occasionally incorrect responses
- Invasive data collection
ChatGPT
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
ChatGPT’s advanced underlying tech, luxurious customization, and top-notch memory set it apart from most other AI chatbots.
Full ChatGPT ReviewPros
- High-quality responses
- Remarkable complex reasoning and creative writing
- Best-in-class memory
- Peerless customization
Cons
- Dubious value
- Occasionally incorrect responses
Pros
- High-quality responses
- Remarkable complex reasoning and creative writing
- Best-in-class memory
- Peerless customization
Cons
- Dubious value
- Occasionally incorrect responses
Microsoft Copilot
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Copilot’s robust, varied functionality, deep integrations with Windows and Microsoft apps, and bundled cloud storage make it a serious value among AI chatbots.
Full Microsoft Copilot ReviewPros
- Tons of features, encompassing everything from 3D modeling to text-to-speech
- Integrates closely with Microsoft apps and Windows
- Competent creative writing, deep research, document analysis, and web search abilities
- Affordable premium plans
Cons
- Underlying models aren't competitive with ChatGPT and Gemini
- No meaningful video generation
- Occasionally incorrect responses
Pros
- Tons of features, encompassing everything from 3D modeling to text-to-speech
- Integrates closely with Microsoft apps and Windows
- Competent creative writing, deep research, document analysis, and web search abilities
- Affordable premium plans
Cons
- Underlying models aren't competitive with ChatGPT and Gemini
- No meaningful video generation
- Occasionally incorrect responses
Perplexity
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Perplexity stands out for its strong AI-powered web searches and can handle most tasks you'd expect from an AI chatbot, but its limited deep research abilities are somewhat disappointing.
Full Perplexity ReviewPros
- Top-notch web search abilities
- Slick user interface
- Variety of models to choose from
- Competent creative writing, file processing, image generation, and voice chat capabilities
Cons
- Not clear which models it uses for media generation
- Unimpressive deep research
Pros
- Top-notch web search abilities
- Slick user interface
- Variety of models to choose from
- Competent creative writing, file processing, image generation, and voice chat capabilities
Cons
- Not clear which models it uses for media generation
- Unimpressive deep research
Claude
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Claude isn't the most feature-rich AI chatbot, but it performs most tasks reasonably well and benefits from a well-designed interface.
Full Claude ReviewPros
- Intuitive design
- Proficient in complex reasoning, creative writing, deep research, and web search
- Intriguing build-your-own-app feature
Cons
- Missing features such as image and video generation
- Occasionally incorrect responses
- Now trains on user data by default
Pros
- Intuitive design
- Proficient in complex reasoning, creative writing, deep research, and web search
- Intriguing build-your-own-app feature
Cons
- Missing features such as image and video generation
- Occasionally incorrect responses
- Now trains on user data by default
Grok
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Grok is a capable chatbot with some unusual functionality, such as virtual companions, but its disappointing media generation and research performance are clear drawbacks.
Full Grok ReviewPros
- Unique features, such as virtual companions and X searches
- Good at complex reasoning, file processing, and web searches
- NSFW content, if that’s your thing
Cons
- Expensive
- Lackluster image and video generation
- Limited research and sourcing abilities
- Occasionally incorrect responses
Pros
- Unique features, such as virtual companions and X searches
- Good at complex reasoning, file processing, and web searches
- NSFW content, if that’s your thing
Cons
- Expensive
- Lackluster image and video generation
- Limited research and sourcing abilities
- Occasionally incorrect responses
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