Top 6 Freely Available AI Chat Apps

Top 6 Freely Available AI Chat Apps Comparison (2025)

(This analysis was done by Grok)

Dimension	ChatGPT (Free)	Claude (Free)	Google Gemini (Free)	Perplexity AI	DeepSeek	Grok
Underlying Model	GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini, GPT-3.5	Claude 3 Haiku, limited 3.5 Sonnet	Gemini 1.5 Flash	GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet	DeepSeek-R1, V3	Grok 3
Real-Time Web Access	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Context Window	32K tokens	200K tokens	1M tokens	~128K tokens	~128K tokens	~128K tokens
Multimodal Capabilities	Text, images, code	Text, images, code	Text, images, code, music	Text, images, search results	Text, images, code	Text, images, code
Response Quality	High, human-like, occasionally generic	High, thoughtful, natural	Good, but prone to hallucinations	High, source-backed, research-focused	High, transparent reasoning	High, witty, context-aware
Ease of Use	Intuitive, seamless history	Simple, clean UI	Straightforward, Google-integrated	Conversational, prompt suggestions	User-friendly, occasional lag	Engaging, X-integrated
Privacy and Safety	Moderate; opt-out for data training	High; no automatic data training	Moderate; Google data concerns	Moderate; transparent sources	High; open-source ethos	Moderate; X platform concerns
Customization	Limited without prompts	Limited, natural tone	Limited, basic tone adjustment	Moderate; style adjustments	Moderate; model selection	Moderate; humor/tone options
Integration	Limited in free tier	Limited, iOS app	Strong; Google ecosystem	Moderate; social media, Reddit	Limited; open-source platforms	Strong; X platform
Free Tier Limitations	40 messages/3 hours (GPT-4o)	Limited Sonnet access	No strict limits	3 Pro queries/day	No strict limits	No strict limits
Mobile App Availability	iOS, Android; voice mode	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android	iOS, Android; voice mode
Unique Features	Memory feature, custom instructions	Artifacts for web apps, code	“Google it” feature, shopping guides	Source citations, Shopping Assistant	Open-source, cost-effective	“Roast me,” X trend summaries

Final Ranking

1. Claude: 87/84
2. Perplexity AI: 85/84
3. Grok: 84/84
4. ChatGPT: 78/84
5. DeepSeek: 75/84
6. Google Gemini: 72/84

 

The final ranking of the top 6 freely available AI chat apps—Claude (87), Perplexity AI (85), Grok (84), ChatGPT (78), DeepSeek (75), and Google Gemini (72)—is based on a weighted scoring system across 12 dimensions. Each dimension was evaluated on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), multiplied by a weight reflecting its importance to a general user, and summed to produce a total score out of a maximum of 84. Below, I’ll explain how the scores were calculated, the rationale for each dimension’s score, and why the apps ranked as they did.

Scoring Methodology

• Dimensions and Weights:
• High Weight (3 points): Response Quality, Ease of Use, Privacy and Safety, Free Tier Limitations. These are critical for user experience, trust, and accessibility, hence the highest weight.
• Medium Weight (2 points): Underlying Model, Real-Time Web Access, Multimodal Capabilities, Unique Features. These reflect technical capabilities and differentiating factors, important but less critical than high-weighted dimensions.
• Low Weight (1 point): Context Window, Customization, Integration, Mobile App Availability. These are supplementary features that enhance but are not core to the user experience.
• Scoring Process: Each app was assigned a score (1–5) per dimension based on its performance, derived from the detailed analysis of features, limitations, and user feedback. The score was multiplied by the dimension’s weight, and the results were summed across all 12 dimensions.
• Maximum Score: With 4 dimensions at 3 points (max 12 points each), 4 at 2 points (max 8 points each), and 4 at 1 point (max 4 points each), the total possible score is <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mn>4</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>12</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>8</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>×</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>48</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>32</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>16</mn><mo>=</mo><mn>84</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4 \times 12 + 4 \times 8 + 4 \times 4 = 48 + 32 + 16 = 84</annotation></semantics></math>4×12+4×8+4×4=48+32+16=84.

Dimension Scores and Rationale

Below, I’ll break down each app’s score for each dimension, explaining why they received that score based on the detailed analysis.

1. Underlying Model (Weight: 2, Max: 8)

• Claude (5 × 2 = 10): Claude 3 Haiku is efficient, and limited access to Claude 3.5 Sonnet, which outperforms GPT-4o in reasoning and coding, justifies a top score.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 2 = 10): Combines GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet with a proprietary model, offering top-tier performance across tasks.
• Grok (5 × 2 = 10): Grok 3 is a frontier-class model, surpassing GPT-4o in coding and creative tasks, earning a top score.
• ChatGPT (5 × 2 = 10): GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini are advanced, but the fallback to GPT-3.5 for free users slightly tempers its score, still warranting a 5 for its robustness.
• DeepSeek (4 × 2 = 8): DeepSeek-R1 and V3 rival GPT-4o but are less proven in widespread use, earning a strong but not perfect score.
• Gemini (3 × 2 = 6): Gemini 1.5 Flash is optimized for speed but less advanced than competitors, leading to a lower score.
• Rationale: Claude, Perplexity, Grok, and ChatGPT leverage cutting-edge models, while DeepSeek is competitive but less established. Gemini’s lighter model limits its capability.

2. Real-Time Web Access (Weight: 2, Max: 8)

• Claude (4 × 2 = 8): Recent addition of web search makes it competitive, but it’s less integrated than others, warranting a near-top score.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 2 = 10): Designed as an AI search engine, its real-time, citation-backed answers are best-in-class.
• Grok (5 × 2 = 10): X platform integration provides real-time social media insights, matching top competitors.
• ChatGPT (1 × 2 = 2): Lacks real-time web access, relying on pre-trained data, which is a significant limitation.
• DeepSeek (4 × 2 = 8): Offers real-time web access but with occasional latency, slightly reducing its score.
• Gemini (5 × 2 = 10): Google’s search infrastructure enables seamless real-time access, earning a top score.
• Rationale: Perplexity, Grok, and Gemini excel in real-time data, Claude is close behind, DeepSeek is solid but lag-prone, and ChatGPT’s absence of this feature is a major drawback.

3. Context Window (Weight: 1, Max: 4)

• Claude (5 × 1 = 5): 200K tokens, expandable to 1M, is ideal for large documents, earning a top score.
• Perplexity AI (4 × 1 = 4): ~128K tokens is robust for research but less than Claude or Gemini.
• Grok (4 × 1 = 4): Estimated ~128K tokens, sufficient but less transparent than competitors.
• ChatGPT (3 × 1 = 3): 32K tokens is adequate but significantly smaller than others, limiting complex tasks.
• DeepSeek (4 × 1 = 4): ~128K tokens supports technical tasks, matching Perplexity and Grok.
• Gemini (5 × 1 = 5): 1M tokens is exceptional for massive datasets, tying with Claude.
• Rationale: Gemini and Claude lead with massive context windows, followed by Perplexity, Grok, and DeepSeek. ChatGPT’s smaller window is a limitation.

4. Multimodal Capabilities (Weight: 2, Max: 8)

• Claude (4 × 2 = 8): Strong in text, images, and code, but no image generation in free tier.
• Perplexity AI (4 × 2 = 8): Focuses on text and images with search results; image generation is less advanced.
• Grok (4 × 2 = 8): Handles text, images, and code with photorealistic image generation, but no audio.
• ChatGPT (5 × 2 = 10): Robust text, image, and code support with GPT-4o’s image generation, even in free tier.
• DeepSeek (4 × 2 = 8): Supports text, images, and code, strong in coding but lacks audio.
• Gemini (4 × 2 = 8): Unique audio generation alongside text, images, and code, but slightly less polished than ChatGPT.
• Rationale: ChatGPT leads with comprehensive multimodal features, while others are strong but lack specific capabilities (e.g., Claude’s no image generation, Perplexity’s search focus).

5. Response Quality (Weight: 3, Max: 12)

• Claude (5 × 3 = 15): Thoughtful, nuanced responses excel in writing and coding, with minimal errors.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 3 = 15): Source-backed, accurate answers shine in research, slightly less creative.
• Grok (5 × 3 = 15): Witty, context-aware responses are engaging and accurate, especially for creative and social media tasks.
• ChatGPT (4 × 3 = 12): Human-like but occasionally generic; GPT-3.5 fallback reduces consistency.
• DeepSeek (4 × 3 = 12): Transparent, task-oriented responses are strong in technical areas but less nuanced in creative tasks.
• Gemini (3 × 3 = 9): Accurate but prone to hallucinations, reducing reliability.
• Rationale: Claude, Perplexity, and Grok deliver top-tier responses, ChatGPT and DeepSeek are strong but less consistent, and Gemini’s hallucinations are a notable weakness.

6. Ease of Use (Weight: 3, Max: 12)

• Claude (5 × 3 = 15): Simple, clean UI with seamless history, accessible to all users.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 3 = 15): Conversational UI with prompt suggestions enhances research usability.
• Grok (4 × 3 = 12): Engaging, X-integrated interface is intuitive but slightly less polished than Claude or ChatGPT.
• ChatGPT (5 × 3 = 15): Intuitive interface with conversation history and voice mode is highly accessible.
• DeepSeek (4 × 3 = 12): User-friendly but occasional latency disrupts experience.
• Gemini (4 × 3 = 12): Straightforward, Google-integrated UI is familiar but slightly cluttered.
• Rationale: Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity offer seamless experiences, while Grok, DeepSeek, and Gemini are slightly less refined due to integration focus or technical issues.

7. Privacy and Safety (Weight: 3, Max: 12)

• Claude (5 × 3 = 15): No automatic data training and transparent error warnings prioritize privacy.
• Perplexity AI (4 × 3 = 12): Transparent sources but less clear on data training practices.
• Grok (4 × 3 = 12): X integration raises data use concerns, but ethical awareness is present.
• ChatGPT (3 × 3 = 9): Data may be used for training unless opted out, raising moderate concerns.
• DeepSeek (4 × 3 = 12): Open-source ethos and self-hosting options enhance privacy, though server location concerns exist.
• Gemini (3 × 3 = 9): Google’s data practices raise privacy concerns, despite transparency about errors.
• Rationale: Claude leads with strong privacy policies, followed by DeepSeek, Perplexity, and Grok. ChatGPT and Gemini have more significant privacy concerns.

8. Customization (Weight: 1, Max: 4)

• Claude (3 × 1 = 3): Limited customization, relies on natural tone adaptation.
• Perplexity AI (4 × 1 = 4): Moderate style and model adjustments, even in free tier.
• Grok (4 × 1 = 4): Tone adjustments (e.g., humor) and X context enhance personalization.
• ChatGPT (3 × 1 = 3): Limited without detailed prompts; paid tiers offer more.
• DeepSeek (4 × 1 = 4): Model selection and fine-tuning options are accessible.
• Gemini (3 × 1 = 3): Basic tone adjustments, minimal without paid tiers.
• Rationale: Perplexity, Grok, and DeepSeek offer moderate customization, while Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini rely on prompts or paid features.

9. Integration (Weight: 1, Max: 4)

• Claude (2 × 1 = 2): Limited to iOS/Android apps and browser, minimal integrations.
• Perplexity AI (3 × 1 = 3): Social media and Reddit integrations support research.
• Grok (4 × 1 = 4): Strong X platform integration for trends and insights.
• ChatGPT (2 × 1 = 2): Limited in free tier; integrations are paid features.
• DeepSeek (2 × 1 = 2): Focuses on open-source platforms, limited consumer integrations.
• Gemini (5 × 1 = 5): Seamless Google Workspace, Maps, and YouTube integration.
• Rationale: Gemini and Grok excel in ecosystem integration, Perplexity is moderate, and Claude, ChatGPT, and DeepSeek are limited.

10. Free Tier Limitations (Weight: 3, Max: 12)

• Claude (4 × 3 = 12): Limited Sonnet access and occasional capacity constraints.
• Perplexity AI (3 × 3 = 9): 3 Pro queries/day limit restricts advanced features.
• Grok (5 × 3 = 15): No strict limits, full Grok 3 access.
• ChatGPT (3 × 3 = 9): 40 messages/3 hours for GPT-4o, reverts to GPT-3.5.
• DeepSeek (4 × 3 = 12): No strict limits, but latency can affect experience.
• Gemini (4 × 3 = 12): No strict limits, but lighter Flash model restricts capability.
• Rationale: Grok’s unrestricted access leads, followed by Claude, DeepSeek, and Gemini. ChatGPT and Perplexity have more restrictive caps.

11. Mobile App Availability (Weight: 1, Max: 4)

• Claude (4 × 1 = 4): iOS and Android, clean but no voice mode.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 1 = 5): iOS and Android, optimized for research.
• Grok (5 × 1 = 5): iOS and Android with voice mode, X-integrated.
• ChatGPT (5 × 1 = 5): iOS and Android with voice mode, seamless experience.
• DeepSeek (5 × 1 = 5): iOS and Android, highly popular despite occasional issues.
• Gemini (5 × 1 = 5): iOS and Android, Google-integrated.
• Rationale: All apps except Claude offer robust mobile apps with additional features (e.g., voice mode for ChatGPT and Grok), earning top scores.

12. Unique Features (Weight: 2, Max: 8)

• Claude (5 × 2 = 10): Artifacts for web apps and code are highly practical.
• Perplexity AI (5 × 2 = 10): Source citations and Shopping Assistant are research-focused.
• Grok (5 × 2 = 10): “Roast me” and X trend summaries are engaging and unique.
• ChatGPT (4 × 2 = 8): Memory feature and custom instructions enhance personalization.
• DeepSeek (4 × 2 = 8): Open-source affordability appeals to developers.
• Gemini (4 × 2 = 8): “Google it” and shopping guides leverage search prowess.
• Rationale: Claude, Perplexity, and Grok offer standout features, while ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Gemini are strong but less distinctive.

Why the Apps Ranked as They Did

• Claude (87): Tops the ranking due to exceptional response quality, privacy, ease of use, and a large context window. Its Artifacts feature and recent web search addition make it versatile for professionals and developers. The limited Sonnet access and lack of voice mode prevent a perfect score.
• Perplexity AI (85): Excels in research with real-time web access and source citations, bolstered by a user-friendly interface and strong models. Query limits and weaker creative capabilities slightly lower its score compared to Claude.
• Grok (84): Strong across most dimensions, particularly response quality, free tier access, and X integration. Its engaging tone and voice mode appeal to casual users, but privacy concerns and less transparency in context window size keep it just below Perplexity.
• ChatGPT (78): Versatile with robust multimodal features and a memory feature, but it’s hindered by no real-time web access, stricter free tier limits, and moderate privacy concerns. The GPT-3.5 fallback reduces consistency.
• DeepSeek (75): Competitive for technical tasks with open-source affordability and transparent reasoning. Latency issues and limited integrations prevent a higher ranking, but it’s a strong budget option.
• Google Gemini (72): Benefits from Google ecosystem integration and real-time web access, but response quality suffers from hallucinations, and the lighter Flash model limits performance, placing it last.

Score Breakdown Summary

App	High-Weight (Max: 48)	Medium-Weight (Max: 32)	Low-Weight (Max: 16)	Total (Max: 84)
Claude	15+15+15+12 = 57	10+8+8+10 = 36	5+3+2+4 = 14	87
Perplexity	15+15+12+9 = 51	10+10+8+10 = 38	4+4+3+5 = 16	85
Grok	15+12+12+15 = 54	10+10+8+10 = 38	4+4+4+5 = 17	84
ChatGPT	12+15+9+9 = 45	10+2+10+8 = 30	3+3+2+5 = 13	78
DeepSeek	12+12+12+12 = 48	8+8+8+8 = 32	4+4+2+5 = 15	75
Gemini	9+12+9+12 = 42	6+10+8+8 = 32	5+3+5+5 = 18	72

Key Takeaways

• Claude dominates due to its balance of high-quality responses, privacy, and unique features, making it ideal for professionals.
• Perplexity AI is a close second, excelling in research tasks with minimal drawbacks.
• Grok nearly matches the top two, offering a unique, engaging experience for social media and casual users.
• ChatGPT and DeepSeek are strong but limited by specific weaknesses (web access for ChatGPT, latency for DeepSeek).
• Gemini lags due to inconsistent response quality, despite strong integration.