Free Claude alternatives
Top AI Chatbots & Assistants like Claude
The most popular alternative to Claude is ChatGPT, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Claude are Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Le Chat (Mistral AI).
Most alternatives to Claude are in the AI Chatbots & Assistants category, compared here by price, platform and features.
All Claude alternatives
ChatGPT is OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant. You can use it to draft and edit text, get answers backed by live web search, analyze uploaded files and data, generate images and hold voice conversations. Custom GPTs let anyone build an assistant for a specific task, and apps are available on desktop and mobile alongside the web version.
12 ChatGPT alternativesPros
- Versatile assistant for writing, analysis, coding and images
- Polished apps on the web, desktop and mobile
- Custom GPTs adapt it to specific tasks
Cons
- Can state wrong information confidently, so answers need checking
- Top models and higher limits require a paid plan
- Conversations may be used for training unless you opt out
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryGemini is Google's AI assistant, available on the web and as a mobile app that can replace Google Assistant on Android. It answers questions grounded in Google Search, analyzes files and images, generates images and supports spoken conversations through Gemini Live. Gems let you save custom assistants, and Gemini can pull information from Gmail, Drive, Maps or YouTube when you allow it.
11 Gemini alternativesPros
- Answers grounded in Google Search results
- Connects to Gmail, Drive, Maps and YouTube when you allow it
- Gemini Live supports natural spoken conversations
Cons
- Chats are used to improve Google products by default
- Top models and higher limits require a paid Google plan
- Features vary by country, account type and device
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPerplexity is an AI search assistant that answers questions in natural language and lists the web sources behind each answer, so claims can be checked. Follow-up questions keep context, deeper research modes run multi-step searches, and you can upload files to analyze. It runs on the web, desktop, mobile and as a browser extension, and the paid plan lets you choose between several AI models.
11 Perplexity alternativesPros
- Every answer lists its web sources for easy checking
- Deep research modes run multi-step searches
- The paid plan lets you choose between several AI models
Cons
- Summaries can misread or overstate what sources say
- The free plan limits advanced searches and model choice
- Less suited to long creative writing than general chatbots
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMicrosoft Copilot is the consumer AI assistant from Microsoft, built into Windows and Edge and available as a web, desktop and mobile app. It answers questions with Bing-powered web results, helps draft and summarize text, creates images and supports voice conversations. A Microsoft 365 subscription adds Copilot features inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
11 Microsoft Copilot alternativesPros
- Built into Windows and Edge for quick access
- Bing-powered answers backed by web results
- Free image creation and voice conversations
Cons
- Copilot inside Word, Excel and Outlook needs Microsoft 365
- Overlapping Copilot products and branding can be confusing
- Tightly woven into Microsoft's ecosystem and services
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesLe Chat is the AI assistant from Mistral AI, a French company that develops its own language models. It offers web search with cited sources, document and image analysis, image generation and agents you can configure for recurring tasks. It is available on the web and mobile, with a free tier, a Pro plan and team options for organizations that prefer a European provider.
10 Le Chat (Mistral AI) alternativesPros
- European provider, appealing to GDPR-conscious teams
- Web search answers come with cited sources
- Configurable agents for recurring tasks
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem of integrations than the largest assistants
- Advanced features and higher limits require the Pro plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesDeepSeek is the chat assistant from the Chinese AI lab of the same name, running on its own models. The web and mobile apps are free and offer web search, file reading and a DeepThink reasoning mode. The model weights are published under the MIT license and can run on your own hardware. A pay-as-you-go API is offered to developers, and data from the hosted service is processed in China.
9 DeepSeek alternativesPros
- Free web and mobile apps with a reasoning mode
- Open-weight models under the MIT license can run locally
- Low-cost pay-as-you-go API for developers
Cons
- The hosted service processes data in China, a privacy concern
- Answers on politically sensitive topics are censored
- No image generation in the chat app
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsPoe, made by Quora, brings models from several AI providers into a single chat app, covering text, image and video generation. You can bring other bots into a conversation, compare answers and create your own bots from a custom prompt or code. A free daily allowance is included, and a subscription adds compute points for heavier use. Poe runs on the web, desktop and mobile.
8 Poe alternativesPros
- Many AI models from different providers in one app
- Compare answers and bring several bots into one chat
- Create your own bots from a prompt or from code
Cons
- The compute point system makes usage costs hard to predict
- The free daily allowance runs out fast with premium models
- Fewer advanced features than the providers' own apps
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesGrok is the AI assistant developed by xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company. Besides general chat, it can search the web and posts on X to follow recent events, analyze files, generate images and hold voice conversations. It is available on grok.com, in dedicated mobile apps and inside X, with higher usage limits and newer models on paid tiers.
9 Grok alternativesPros
- Real-time access to posts on X for following the news
- Image generation and voice mode included
- Available inside X as well as in its own apps
Cons
- Answers drawn from X posts can repeat misinformation
- Looser moderation has led to controversial outputs
- Newest models and higher limits are reserved for paid tiers
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesCharacter.AI is a chat platform where you talk with AI characters such as fictional heroes, historical figures or companions created by other users. You can design your own character with a personality and greeting, start group chats and make voice calls with character voices. It is aimed at entertainment and role-play rather than productivity, and the paid c.ai+ plan adds faster responses and extras.
8 Character.AI alternativesPros
- Huge library of community-made characters to chat with
- Easy to create your own character with a custom personality
- Voice calls and group chats add variety
Cons
- Built for entertainment, not reliable for factual questions
- Content filters can interrupt role-play
- Long conversations can lose track of earlier context
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesDuck.ai is DuckDuckGo's AI chat service. It gives access to several third-party models, including ones from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Mistral, without an account. Requests go through DuckDuckGo, which hides your IP address from the providers, and they have agreed not to train on these chats. Recent conversations are stored on your device, and a DuckDuckGo subscription unlocks more advanced models.
8 Duck.ai alternativesPros
- No account needed to chat with several AI models
- Hides your IP address from the model providers
- Providers have agreed not to train on these chats
Cons
- Fewer features than the providers' own apps
- The most advanced models require a DuckDuckGo subscription
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesFeaturesMeta AI is the assistant Meta builds into WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and Facebook, also offered as a standalone app and on the web. It runs on Meta's Llama models and can answer questions with web results, create and edit images and talk by voice. The app also serves as the companion for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. It is free to use, but availability varies by country.
8 Meta AI alternativesPros
- Free and built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger
- Creates and edits images directly in chats
- Companion app for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses
Cons
- Availability varies by country
- Raises privacy questions given Meta's ad-driven business
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategories
Claude vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of Claude, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | API access | File analysis | Integrations | Team collaboration | Voice conversations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Claude | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android | |||||
 ChatGPT | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Gemini | Freemium | Web, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Perplexity | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension | |||||
 Microsoft Copilot | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Le Chat (Mistral AI) | Freemium | Web, iPhone, Android |
Claude alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Claude?
The most popular alternative to Claude is ChatGPT: Conversational AI assistant from OpenAI for writing, research and analysis. Other great alternatives are Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Le Chat (Mistral AI).
Is there a free alternative to Claude?
Yes, 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot.
Is there an open source alternative to Claude?
Yes, one open source alternative is listed: DeepSeek.
Is Claude free?
Claude has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.
Compare Claude with its alternatives
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