A row of doors. Each one opens a capable AI assistant. You don't need to choose the "best" — you just need to choose one.
The popular generalist — great for writing, explaining, brainstorming, and quick answers. You can try it without an account, but making a free account unlocks the real experience (history, images, voice, newer models).
Open ChatGPT →A warm, careful writing-and-thinking partner — strong with long text, nuance, and working through ideas. The free plan is permanent (no credit card), but you do need to create a free account to start.
Open Claude →On the web you can start with no account at all (you'll get the base model, no history). If you have a personal Gmail, you already have the full Gemini — just sign in with the Google login you use every day. (A work or school Google account may have it switched off by an admin, and the phone app does ask you to sign in.)
Open Gemini →An answer engine that footnotes its sources on every reply — great when you want to see where the facts came from. You can start with no account at all (about three questions before it asks you to sign in).
Open Perplexity →Microsoft's free assistant — for real use you sign in, and it accepts a Microsoft, Google, or Apple account. Cites web links in its answers, and it's built into Windows and Microsoft 365 if you use those. (A work account routes you to the Microsoft 365 version.)
Open Copilot →