The rise of ChatGPT has been nothing short of extraordinary, with millions of users flocking to experience this innovative AI-powered chatbot. Based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, ChatGPT enables users to engage in seamless conversations with artificial intelligence. However, this surge in popularity comes with a downside—overloaded servers. Many users have found themselves locked out of ChatGPT, unable to access the bot when needed most.
If you’re one of the users affected by ChatGPT’s frequent downtime, fret not. There are many reliable alternatives available. Here’s a list of the top ChatGPT alternatives in 2024 that you can try:
1. Google Gemini (Formerly Bard)
Google Gemini, previously known as Bard, has emerged as one of the strongest competitors to ChatGPT. Powered by the Gemini 1.5 models (Flash and Pro), it excels in creative tasks such as image generation and even allows file uploads, including PDFs and documents. Gemini integrates with Google Search for real-time information and supports chatting with YouTube videos, Google Docs, and Google Drive files.
The free version of Gemini uses the Gemini 1.5 Flash model, while the paid version, Gemini Pro, offers enhanced reasoning and coding abilities. In direct comparisons, Gemini’s free version outperformed ChatGPT’s free tier in reasoning tests, making it an excellent alternative.
- Key Features: Creative tasks, file uploads, image generation, and Google Search integration.
- Pricing: Free, Gemini Advanced starts at $20/month.
2. Claude
Claude, developed by Anthropic and backed by tech giants like Google and Amazon, has proven to be a powerful rival to ChatGPT. Claude 3.5 Sonnet, its most advanced model, excels in coding, reasoning, and multilingual support, with a large 200K token context window—much larger than ChatGPT’s.
Claude is particularly useful for handling large amounts of data and processing complex graphs and charts. Its free version is powered by the Claude 3.5 Sonnet model, though the usage is capped. For unlimited access, users can subscribe to Claude Pro.
- Key Features: Large context window, multilingual support, and document uploads.
- Pricing: Free, Claude Pro starts at $23.60/month.
3. Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot offers free access to GPT-4 Turbo during non-peak times, making it a worthy ChatGPT alternative. The paid version, Copilot Pro, provides priority access to the GPT-4 Turbo model and integrates with Microsoft Office apps. Copilot also includes Bing integration for real-time information, free image generation via DALL-E 3, and image analysis capabilities.
In tests, Microsoft Copilot performed admirably, often outperforming ChatGPT in free-tier comparisons. It also offers additional features such as travel planning, recipes, and general advice.
- Key Features: GPT-4 Turbo access, Bing integration, free image generation, and Office app integration.
- Pricing: Free, Copilot Pro starts at $20/month.
4. Meta AI
Meta AI, powered by Llama 3.1 models, offers a completely free alternative to ChatGPT. It can generate images and is available on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. While it doesn’t yet support file analysis, Meta promises to add multimodal capabilities soon, which will include vision and speech features.
Meta AI has shown good performance in creative and conversational tasks, though it lags slightly behind ChatGPT in reasoning and coding challenges.
- Key Features: Free to use, image generation, and integration with Meta platforms.
- Pricing: Free.
5. Mistral Chat
Mistral Chat, powered by the Mistral Large 2 model, is another open-source alternative to ChatGPT. It performs exceptionally well in reasoning tasks, making it a strong competitor to GPT-4. Mistral’s Large 2 model supports a 128K token context window and advanced function-calling capabilities, giving it an edge in complex tasks.
If you’re looking for a free alternative to GPT-4 that offers reliable performance in reasoning and multilingual support, Mistral Chat is an excellent option.
- Key Features: Advanced reasoning, large context window, and function calling.
- Pricing: Free.
6. Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI combines search engine capabilities with AI assistance, giving users access to both GPT-4 and Claude 3 models. It’s particularly good for finding real-time information and product recommendations. Perplexity cites its sources, allowing for reliable fact-checking, and can upload and analyze files such as PDFs and images.
Though it may not be as strong in reasoning tasks as some of its competitors, Perplexity’s search capabilities and integration with various platforms like Reddit and YouTube make it a powerful tool.
- Key Features: Real-time information retrieval, file uploads, and source citation.
- Pricing: Free, Perplexity Pro costs $20/month.
7. Grok 2
Developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, Grok-2 is an exciting newcomer to the AI landscape. Available on x.com (formerly Twitter), Grok-2 scored impressively high on benchmark tests, almost matching ChatGPT’s performance. While it does support image generation, the platform has faced criticism for generating controversial content.
Despite some limitations, Grok-2 is a capable and cost-effective alternative for those already using x.com.
- Key Features: Advanced reasoning, image generation, and access through X Premium.
- Pricing: Paid, requires X Premium subscription at $8/month.
8. GroqChat
GroqChat offers lightning-fast performance thanks to its custom AI hardware, the Language Processing Unit (LPU). Users can run open-source models like Llama 3.1 70B and Mixtral 8x7B to complete tasks rapidly. While Llama 3.1 70B occasionally falls short in reasoning tasks, GroqChat is still a solid option for those looking for a fast and free AI chatbot.
- Key Features: Fast performance, open-source models, and free to use.
- Pricing: Free.
9. HuggingChat
HuggingChat is an open-source AI chatbot hosted by HuggingFace, offering users access to a range of models, including Llama 3.1 405B and Mixtral-8x7B. It’s a great choice for those who want to experiment with different language models and generate creative content, HTML code, and more.
While the bot occasionally faces network errors, it remains a favorite among those looking for free alternatives to ChatGPT.
- Key Features: Open-source models, web access, and creative capabilities.
- Pricing: Free.
10. Pi, Your Personal AI
Pi offers a unique experience as an emotionally intelligent personal AI chatbot. Its focus is on engaging, supportive conversations rather than task completion. Pi offers a variety of realistic voice options and can even converse with you in an almost therapeutic manner.
If you’re seeking mental relief or a more conversational experience, Pi is an ideal ChatGPT alternative.
- Key Features: Emotionally intelligent conversations, custom podcasts, and audio chat.
- Pricing: Free.
Bonus: Poe
Poe by Quora is a platform for exploring various AI chatbots, including GPT-4 and Claude 3.5 models. With access to over 100 language models, Poe allows users to experiment with different AI characters and capabilities. However, access to GPT-4 and Claude 3.5 is limited for free users.
If you enjoy testing multiple AI chatbots in one place, Poe could be your go-to platform.
- Key Features: Variety of models, web search, and file uploads.
- Pricing: Free, Paid plan costs $19.99/month.
