Updated November 6, 2026
Perplexity: AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources. People look for alternatives when they need a lower price, a free plan or a better fit for a specific job.
These 8 tools cover similar ground. Each entry explains who it suits, how pricing works and what to watch out for.
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Almost anyone wanting a versatile AI assistant | Freemium | Yes |
| Claude | Writing, analysing long documents and coding | Freemium | Yes |
| Descript | Podcasters and talking-head video creators | Freemium | Yes |
| GitHub Copilot | Developers using popular IDEs and GitHub | Freemium | Yes |
| Google Gemini | Google users who want AI inside their Google apps | Freemium | Yes |
| Grammarly | Anyone who writes emails, documents and posts | Freemium | Yes |
| Jasper | Marketing teams producing on-brand content at scale | Free trial | No |
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft 365 users who want AI in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams | Freemium | Yes |
OpenAI general-purpose AI assistant for writing, research, analysis and images.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Almost anyone wanting a versatile AI assistant.
Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, coding and long documents.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Writing, analysing long documents and coding.
Edit video and podcasts by editing the transcript.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Podcasters and talking-head video creators.
AI coding assistant that suggests code and answers questions in your editor.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Developers using popular IDEs and GitHub.
Google's AI assistant, integrated with Gmail, Docs and Search.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Google users who want AI inside their Google apps.
Writing assistant for grammar, clarity and tone everywhere you type.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Anyone who writes emails, documents and posts.
AI content platform for marketing teams.
Paid plans with a free trial.
Who it suits: Marketing teams producing on-brand content at scale.
Microsoft's AI assistant across Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365.
Free plan available. Paid plans add more features and limits.
Who it suits: Microsoft 365 users who want AI in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
AI assistants answer questions, write and edit text, summarise documents and help with research and code. Specialist tools focus on marketing copy, grammar or meeting notes.
Prices and features change often. Check each vendor’s website for current plans before you buy.
