The Best AI Chatbots in 2026
We researched AI chatbots through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on each product’s core capabilities for answers, writing, and analysis, alongside value for money and features we could verify from those sources.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
ChatGPT#1 of 659.4/10A broad AI assistant combining chat, research, files, images, voice, and connected work tools.
Free plan
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Runner-up
Gemini#2 of 659.3/10A capable AI chatbot for research, files, creative work, and Google-connected productivity.
Free plan
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Top-ranked free plan
Microsoft Copilot#3 of 659.2/10A versatile AI assistant with strong Microsoft 365 integration and a free entry point.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 65 tools, best first · page 1 of 2
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Best forGeneral-purpose AI chat across work and personal tasks
A broad AI assistant combining chat, research, files, images, voice, and connected work tools.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
9.4/10★★★★★Visit ChatGPT -
Best forGoogle-connected research and productivity
A capable AI chatbot for research, files, creative work, and Google-connected productivity.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Gemini -
Best forMicrosoft 365 users and organizations
A versatile AI assistant with strong Microsoft 365 integration and a free entry point.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
9.2/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forCitation-focused web research
A citation-focused chatbot combining live web search, research modes, files, and multiple AI models.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Perplexity -
Best forResearch, document analysis, and coding assistance
Claude combines cited web search, file analysis, and coding help, with a free plan.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Claude -
Best forFree multimodal chat and personal assistance
A broad, free AI assistant with research, creative, voice, and task features.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Meta AI -
Best forWeb, X, and media-generation chat
A broad AI assistant for web search, media creation, coding, and team workflows.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Grok -
Best forFree multimodal general-purpose chat
A free, broad AI assistant for multimodal work, search, coding, and content creation.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- Web search
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Qwen Chat -
Best forMultimedia and office automation users
A broad AI assistant for multimedia creation, office work, search, and automation.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Doubao -
Best forExploring many models and custom bots
A broad AI hub for exploring models, generating media, and publishing custom bots.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Poe -
Best forSelf-hosted team chatbot deployments
A flexible self-hosted chatbot workspace for teams managing multiple AI providers.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Open WebUI -
Best forFree web-search and API experimentation
A capable free chatbot for web research, file analysis, reasoning, and API experiments.
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
- Web search
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit DeepSeek -
Best forMultimodal research and autonomous tasks
A broad AI workspace for multimodal research, file work, and autonomous tasks.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Kimi -
Best forAWS-centric enterprise teams and developers
A broad AWS-centered assistant for enterprise knowledge work, coding, and cloud operations.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon Q -
Best forPrivate chat with Proton Drive files
A privacy-oriented assistant for cited web search, document work, and encrypted Projects.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Lumo -
Best forFree assistant for Tencent ecosystem users
A free assistant for chat, Tencent-source search, documents, images, voice, and writing.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Yuanbao -
Best forPrivacy-focused paid research assistant
A paid, web-based research assistant with broad tools and model choice.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Kagi -
Best forBrowser users who want multi-model assistance
A broad browser-side AI assistant for chat, summaries, files, images, and tasks.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Sider -
Best forBrowser-based research across multiple AI models
A browser-centered AI assistant for multi-model research, files, and everyday workflows.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Merlin -
Best forSide-by-side model comparison on web and mobile
A cross-platform AI workspace for comparing model answers, searching and working with files.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Quad Chat -
Best forSelf-hosted personal knowledge and research chat
A self-hosted assistant for searching personal knowledge and researching the web.
- Image generation
- App integrations
- Web search
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Khoj -
Best forSelf-hosted multi-provider chat with granular controls
A self-hosted chat interface for connecting multiple AI providers, tools and controls.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit LibreChat -
Best forSelf-hosted, customizable AI workspaces
A flexible AI workspace for teams that need self-hosting, model choice, and document RAG.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit AnythingLLM -
Best forSource-grounded study and research chat
A citation-focused AI notebook for research, study, and source-based questions.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit NotebookLM -
Best forTeams building agents on company knowledge
A team agent platform built around company knowledge, connected tools, and shared workflows.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Dust -
Best forAgentic research and coding workflows
A broad AI workspace for research, document work, and agentic software development.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Vibe -
Best forWeb-based multi-model chat with team options
Multi-model chat, search, image generation, and team options, with cloud plans from $12.90 monthly.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit LobeChat -
Best forPower users comparing model responses
Compare model responses side by side, with control over models, tools, and API keys.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Big-AGI -
Best forOpen-source local and private AI chat
A flexible open-source choice for private local AI chat, agents, and developer workflows.
- App integrations
- Web search
- File uploads
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Jan -
Best forStructured research reports and comparisons
A citation-focused research assistant for structured reports, comparisons, and source-led analysis.
- File uploads
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Gab AI -
Best forSolo users needing research, coding, and data analysis
A broad solo-user AI toolkit with a free plan and Premium from $9.95/month.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- Web search
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Cleus -
Best forPrivate multimodal AI experimentation
A private, multimodal AI workspace with broad tools and a free entry plan.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Venice AI -
Best forOne-time-purchase multi-model chat users
A one-time license unlocks a flexible chat workspace; model API keys are your responsibility.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit TypingMind -
Best forTeams seeking self-hosted enterprise knowledge search
Onyx brings company search, research, and custom AI agents into a self-hostable platform.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Onyx -
Best forMulti-model desktop workspaces and agents
A broad multi-model workspace for desktop users who need agents and shared AI tools.
- Team workspace
- Image generation
- App integrations
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Msty Studio -
Best forCharacter roleplay and voice chat
A character-focused chat app for roleplay, storytelling and voice conversations.
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Character.AI -
Best forChinese-language document and content workflows
A broad Chinese-language assistant for search, document Q&A and multimodal creation.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Wenxiaoyan -
Best forSource-grounded study and research chat
A source-grounded AI notebook for research, study, and cited answers.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit NotebookLM -
Best forOffline local-model chat and development
A desktop-first chatbot for local models, offline documents, coding, and device routing.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit LM Studio -
Best forWriters creating and editing content with AI assistance
A writing-focused AI chatbot for research-backed articles, editing, and content workflows.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit HIX.AI -
Best forBrowser extension users who summarize varied media
A multi-model AI assistant for browser-based research and varied media summaries.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- Web search
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Monica -
Best forChinese-English chat with agent workflows
A broad Chinese-English chatbot with live search, file tools, and multi-step agents.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- Web search
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Zhipu Qingyan -
Best forUsers wanting private, offline local chat
A free local chatbot for offline conversations, document analysis, and agent workflows.
- Mobile apps
- App integrations
- Web search
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Atomic Chat -
Best forSearch-first answers with a canvas workspace
Search-first answers, research, and creative tools in a canvas workspace.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Try Search.com Chat -
Best forRussian-language multimodal chat and API use
A Russian-focused chatbot with multimodal tools and a separate API for business integrations.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- App integrations
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit GigaChat -
Best forFree cross-device AI chat with rich media tools
A broad free AI workspace for chat, files, research, voice input, and image creation.
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
- Web search
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit Chatbox AI -
Best forComparing multiple models in one chat
Compare model replies, get a consensus answer, and search the web in one chat.
- Team workspace
- Mobile apps
- Image generation
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit AllChat -
Best forEnterprises chatting with private organizational data
A connected-data AI workspace for enterprise search, drafting, agents, and workflows.
- Team workspace
- App integrations
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Contact Cohere -
Best forFree open-source model exploration
A free way to explore open-source models with routing, tools, files, and image generation.
- App integrations
- Web search
- File uploads
4.4/10★★☆☆☆Visit HuggingChat -
Best forPrivate offline local-model chat
A practical open-source choice for private local-model chat and document context.
- App integrations
- File uploads
4.3/10★★☆☆☆Visit GPT4All
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Web search | File uploads | Image generation | App integrations | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChatGPT | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Gemini | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 3 | Microsoft Copilot | Yes | $99.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | Perplexity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 5 | Claude | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 6 | Meta AI | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 7 | Grok | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 8 | Qwen Chat | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 9 | Doubao | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 10 | Poe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 11 | Open WebUI | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 12 | DeepSeek | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 13 | Kimi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 14 | Amazon Q | Yes | $3/user/mo | No | Yes | No | Yes | 8.0 |
| 15 | Lumo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 16 | Yuanbao | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 17 | Kagi Assistant | No | $54/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
| 18 | Sider | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 19 | Merlin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 20 | Quad Chat | Yes | $8/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 21 | Khoj | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.2 |
| 22 | LibreChat | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 23 | AnythingLLM | Yes | $50/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.0 |
| 24 | Gemini Notebook | Yes | $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 25 | Dust | Yes | €24/seat/mo | 6.8 | ||||
| 26 | Vibe | Yes | $14.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.7 |
| 27 | LobeChat | Yes | $118.80/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.6 |
| 28 | Big-AGI | Yes | $9/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.5 |
| 29 | Jan | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.4 | |
| 30 | Gab AI Research Assistant | Yes | $16.67/user/mo | Yes | 6.3 | |||
| 31 | Cleus | Yes | $9.95/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.2 | |
| 32 | Venice AI | Yes | $18/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.1 |
| 33 | TypingMind | Yes | $39 one-time | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.0 |
| 34 | Onyx | Yes | $20/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.9 |
| 35 | Msty Studio | Yes | $149/user/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.8 |
| 36 | Character.AI | Yes | 5.7 | |||||
| 37 | Wenxiaoyan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.6 | |
| 38 | NotebookLM | Yes | $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.4 | |
| 39 | LM Studio | Yes | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.4 | |
| 40 | HIX.AI | Yes | 5.3 | |||||
| 41 | Monica | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.2 | ||
| 42 | Zhipu Qingyan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.1 | ||
| 43 | Atomic Chat | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.0 | |
| 44 | Search.com Chat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.9 | |
| 45 | GigaChat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.8 | |
| 46 | ChatBox AI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.7 | ||
| 47 | AllChat | Yes | $8/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.6 | |
| 48 | Cohere North | Yes | 4.5 | |||||
| 49 | HuggingChat | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.4 | |
| 50 | GPT4All | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 4.3 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- ChatGPT vs Gemini
- ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot
- ChatGPT vs Perplexity
- ChatGPT vs Claude
- ChatGPT vs Meta AI
- ChatGPT vs Grok
- ChatGPT vs Qwen Chat
- Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot
- Gemini vs Perplexity
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How we rank AI chatbots
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update