--- title: "The 4 best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026" description: "These ChatGPT alternatives will fill the gaps left by ChatGPT. Based on extensive testing and research, we'll help you pick the best ChatGPT alternative for you." image: "https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/1ICQPXTVA7xWQESBXqvfAi/8ab3b7ff214718884bd0a9cc8c1bf34d/chatgpt-alternatives-hero.jpg" --- # The 4 best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026 These ChatGPT alternatives will fill the gaps left by ChatGPT. Based on extensive testing and research, we'll help you pick the best ChatGPT alternative for you. [ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt/) is the biggest name in [AI chatbots](https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-chatbot/), but it's far from the only one around. And depending on what you're trying to do, it might not even be the best option for you. ChatGPT is a great general-purpose chatbot, but like most jacks-of-all-trades, it can lose out to more specific tools for certain jobs. So if you need something that better suits your needs, your workflows, or even your personality, there are plenty of ChatGPT alternatives to consider. I've been using and writing about ChatGPT since it launched—and have been writing about [developments in AI](https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-statistics) for the last decade. My job is now figuring out what AI is good at—and where it falls short. That also means I've spent a lot of time testing all the ChatGPT alternatives out there. So, let's get into it. ## The best ChatGPT alternatives - [Claude](#claude) for professionals - [Google Gemini](#gemini) for Google integrations - [Microsoft Copilot](#copilot) for an integrated experience - [Perplexity](#perplexity) for searching the web ## What makes the best ChatGPT alternative? What makes ChatGPT great is that it's actually useful and usable. When you're using ChatGPT, you don't have to frame your questions in weird ways or cram in certain keywords to get it to answer your questions correctly (or at least, [mostly correctly](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-hallucinations/)). You can just talk to it the same way you would another person. Sure, [the clearer you are](https://zapier.com/blog/gpt-prompt/), the better the results you'll get—but that's true with people, too.  For any chatbot to be a legitimate alternative to ChatGPT, it has to capture this same chatbot magic. Using it needs to be easy and seamless, and you have to be able to just chat away to it, confident that it understands what you're asking.  Over the past year or so, chatbots have generally become more similar. My top picks can all search the web, work with documents and images, and have some kind of reasoning model for tackling harder problems. If they don't have these features, they really have to stand out in some other way. So, to be a great ChatGPT alternative, an app needs to: - **Do something better than ChatGPT**. ChatGPT is still the best general-purpose chatbot, so to make this list, an AI chatbot had to be the best at something else specific. A lot of chatbots feel like tech demos for the underlying models rather than usable standalone apps. - **Be easy to use**. AI tools are still rapidly developing. Some of the [most exciting ones](https://zapier.com/blog/openclaw/) require you to run your own [AI models](https://zapier.com/blog/types-of-ai-models/ ), either locally or on a cloud computing platform. While this gives you a lot of options, it's a lot harder than signing up for ChatGPT. To make this list, an app needs to be as easy as signing up and starting to chat. Some have more customization options or a steeper learning curve, but none of them require technical expertise to use. - **Work reliably**.** **Some AI tools I've tested are constantly offline or throwing errors. To make this list, the chatbots had to work reliably so you can count on them when you need them. - **Stay up-to-date**. Six months is a long time in AI right now. Unless these chatbots are getting updated every couple of months, they quickly fall behind. Over the past few months, I've tested all these apps extensively—and then tested them again when they updated the next week—and the Zapier team has also spent hundreds, if not thousands, of collective hours in them.  I'll continue to test these apps because they keep getting better and adding new features. But fair warning: this means that some details of this list will be out of date the second we hit publish. But I still stand over all these picks being great at what they do—and if the model numbers go up a digit or a new feature gets added, I'm confident the apps will only be better.  ## The best ChatGPT alternatives at a glance **Best for** **Pricing** [**Claude**](#claude) Professionals Free; Pro is $17/month (billed annually) [**Google Gemini**](#gemini) Google integrations Free; Google AI Plus is $7.99/month [**Microsoft Copilot**](#copilot) An integrated experience Free; from $9.99/month in Microsoft 365 [**Perplexity**](#perplexity) Searching the web Free; Pro is $17/month (billed annually) ## The best ChatGPT alternative for professionals ### [Claude](https://claude.ai/) **Claude pros: ** - Professional and powerful - Plain old nice to use - A full-stack productivity tool for all levels of technical ability **Claude cons: ** - There's a focus on code and automation features over other things like image generation (maybe not a con for everyone, though) [Claude](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-ai/) has a lot going for it. Most people will tell you its default writing style feels more natural than ChatGPT, for starters. And that extends beyond its tone and word choice—it tends to respond more empathetically than ChatGPT (for uncanny valley better or worse). Anthropic, the maker of Claude, is also known for its commitment to "helpful, harmless, and honest" AI, and it has carefully designed Claude's safety guardrails to help maintain that. The AI is instructed to respond in [ways that wouldn't offend a child](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claudes-constitution), as well as dozens of other similar instructions to steer it toward good answers—and when it fails, to stay away from harmful or offensive ones. While it can be hard to demonstrate this in practical terms, it's worth pointing out that Claude hasn't made as many headlines as ChatGPT. Of course, every app on this list—including ChatGPT—is designed to be as safe as possible, but Anthropic takes things a bit more seriously than some of the others. Claude has lots of similar features as ChatGPT, like Projects, which allows you to add project knowledge that Claude will use in any chats about that project. Claude also led the charge in letting you code small apps that run inside the chatbot—Claude calls them [Artifacts](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-artifacts/). And Anthropic was the brains behind the [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://zapier.com/blog/mcp/), a protocol that makes it easier for [AI apps like Claude to talk to other software](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-mcp-servers/). Claude is also known for its coding abilities: [Claude Code](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-code/) is one of the most competent [AI coding tools](https://zapier.com/blog/ai-coding-tools/), and the latest Claude models are some of the best at coding. If you're less technical, [Claude Cowork](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-cowork/) is an [agentic AI](https://zapier.com/blog/agentic-ai/) feature, layered on top of the Claude chatbot interface, that can take actions for you in designated files and apps. These are fairly groundbreaking features that OpenAI is trying to catch up with. Combined, this all makes Claude a great choice for professionals. With its focus on coding, automation, and safety, it just feels a touch more serious than ChatGPT. Plus, [Claude also integrates with Zapier](https://zapier.com/apps/anthropic-claude/integrations), so you can connect it to thousands of other apps and automate your AI-powered workflows. Learn more about [how to automate Claude](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-claude/), or learn how you can [take action in thousands of apps straight from Claude using Zapier MCP](https://zapier.com/blog/zapier-mcp-guide/). **Claude pricing: **Free; Claude Pro is $17/month (billed annually) **Read more: **[Claude vs. ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-vs-chatgpt/) ## The best ChatGPT alternative for integration with Google services ### [Google Gemini](https://gemini.google.com/) **Gemini pros: ** - Google Gemini's models are some of the best available - Integrates with Google's apps **Gemini cons**: - Lacks polish and features - Has the odd bug [Google Gemini](https://zapier.com/blog/google-gemini/) has one big standout feature: the company behind it. Gemini has solid integrations with Google's other products. There are [one-click integrations](https://zapier.com/blog/gemini-apps/) with Google Docs and Gmail, and it can also retrieve information from other Google apps, including Gmail, Google Drive, Hotels, Flights, Maps, and YouTube. There are workarounds to make some of this happen in ChatGPT, too, but it's a lot simpler with Gemini. The [Personal Intelligence](https://gemini.google/us/overview/personal-intelligence/) feature even pulls in context from the rest of your Google apps proactively. Seriously, if you live in Google's apps, it's hard to ignore these kinds of features. Plus, Gemini is embedded directly in Chrome and Android, so it's basically everywhere you are. ChatGPT still takes the win on a few aspects: its data analysis and reasoning features are a lot more advanced, and it's also much more customizable. But if Google apps are where you live and work, Gemini is your best bet for an alternative to ChatGPT. It's also home to some of the best AI image generation models, including [Nano Banana Pro](https://zapier.com/blog/gemini-nano-banana/), and it lets you create videos too, which ChatGPT no longer does. With Zapier's [Google AI Studio](https://zapier.com/apps/google-ai-studio/integrations) integrations, you can also access the model behind Gemini from all the apps you use at work. Learn more about [how to automate Google AI Studio](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-google-ai-studio/). **Gemini pricing: **Free; Google AI Plus is $7.99/month (discounts often offered for the first couple months) **Read more: **[Gemini vs. ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/gemini-vs-chatgpt/) ## The best ChatGPT alternative for an integrated experience ### [Microsoft Copilot](https://copilot.microsoft.com/) **Microsoft Copilot pros: ** - Shares models with ChatGPT and Claude - Integrations across Microsoft's apps **Microsoft Copilot cons**: - Lags behind ChatGPT in features Microsoft is an investor in OpenAI and Anthropic, so it makes sense that [Copilot](https://zapier.com/blog/microsoft-copilot/) is powered by the same models as ChatGPT and Claude. (ChatGPT's web search feature is also powered by Bing.) But the experience of using each one has a different vibe. The main difference here is that Copilot (formerly Bing Chat) is built into Microsoft Edge and [whatever the Office apps like Word and Excel](https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/01/18/microsoft-just-renamed-office-to-microsoft-365-copilot-on-windows-11-for-everyone/) are called today. If you use Microsoft's products, this makes for a more integrated experience. ChatGPT and Claude just don't integrate as cohesively with any other tool—though its desktop app is still very good.  Copilot is at its best in Microsoft Edge. It's integrated into the sidebar and includes extra features that you can use while you're browsing the web—for example, you can ask it questions about the page you're currently on. It's not that ChatGPT can't do the things Copilot can—it just requires a lot more context-switching. **Copilot pricing: **Free; from $9.99/month in Microsoft 365 **Read more: **[Copilot vs. ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-vs-bing-chat/) ## The best ChatGPT alternative for searching the web ### [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/) **Perplexity pros: ** - Search and research features are the best around **Perplexity cons:** - For general tasks, it's more awkward to use than ChatGPT [Perplexity](https://zapier.com/blog/perplexity-ai/) is technically a ChatGPT alternative, but it's billed more as an [alternative to traditional search engines](https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-search-engine/). It works a little like a typical conversational AI chatbot, but it's designed to be more accurate and up to date—not unlike [Google's AI overviews](https://zapier.com/blog/google-ai-overviews/), though without as much bad publicity. Perplexity will typically give you more sources than ChatGPT, and it even gives you control over which sources it uses. For example, you can direct it to search the entire internet, just academic papers, or social sites like Reddit, depending on what you think makes the most sense for your query. Similarly, it lets you choose which AI model to use, including the latest GPT, Gemini, and Claude models, as well as Perplexity's own Sonar model. Perplexity is also pushing hard into automation. Its [Comet browser](https://www.perplexity.ai/comet) and [Computer features](https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-computer) both allow AI agents to take real actions on the web or your computer. They're basically a more powerful version of [ChatGPT's computer use](https://zapier.com/blog/claude-computer-use-openai-operator/), though they're still finicky to get the most from. If you primarily want an AI chatbot to help with deep dives on complicated topics, Perplexity is a great option. It can still do all the things you expect of ChatGPT, like answer questions and write emails, but it's best as a research tool. If you want the automation features, it's worth a look too. And because [Perplexity integrates with Zapier](https://zapier.com/apps/perplexity/integrations), you can pull the power of its AI research into all your other business tools, automatically. Learn more about [how to automate Perplexity](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-perplexity/), or get started with a pre-made template. **Perplexity pricing: **Free; Perplexity Pro is $20/month ($17/month billed annually) **Read more: **[Perplexity vs. ChatGPT](https://zapier.com/blog/perplexity-vs-chatgpt/) ## Which ChatGPT alternative should you use? If you want something similar to ChatGPT with a bit more focus on safety and professional features, Claude is your best bet. On the other hand, if you use [Google's Workspace apps](https://zapier.com/blog/gemini-for-workspace/), browser, and smartphone OS, Gemini is an obvious choice. Honestly, there's a case for every app on this list—that's why they're on here. One other thing I should mention: [Meta AI](https://zapier.com/blog/meta-ai-vs-chatgpt/) and [Grok](https://zapier.com/blog/grok-vs-chatgpt/) used to be on this list. I cut them for the most recent update because I just can't get behind them as strong alternatives to ChatGPT. But if you're looking for social integration—with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp for Meta, and with X for Grok—they're worth a look. Whichever AI chatbot you pick, there's one more step worth taking: install Zapier so your chatbot can actually act on what you ask it to do. [Zapier MCP](https://zapier.com/blog/zapier-mcp-guide/) safely connects Claude, ChatGPT, or any other MCP-compatible AI to app integrations, with built-in governance and no credentials exposed to the model. So instead of copying outputs into other tools manually, your AI can update your CRM, send messages, and route tasks all on its own. **Read more:** - [How does ChatGPT work?](https://zapier.com/blog/how-does-chatgpt-work/) - [ChatGPT vs. GPT: What's the difference?](https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-vs-gpt/) - [How to train ChatGPT on your own data](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-train-chatgpt-on-your-own-data/) - [The best free AI tools](https://zapier.com/blog/free-ai-tools/) - [The best AI browsers](https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-browser) _This article was originally published in June 2024. The most recent update was in May 2026._