The best ChatGPT alternatives

Where ChatGPT is an app you open, Cicada is in the chats you already use: iMessage and WhatsApp, one-to-one and in groups, Slack and email. Give it a job and it works in your apps on a schedule or when something happens, joins your meetings and works in your language. Workspace content isn't used to train models.

What it is

AI agents you text on iMessage and WhatsApp, mention in Slack or email, and add to your group chats, where they keep every message and file and follow up on what people promised.

Where it works

iMessage and WhatsApp (one-to-one and group chats), Slack, email and a web app

What it costs

300 free credits to start with a card at sign-up, then $25 for 200 credits when you run low, or plans from $99 a month. Credits are shared across the workspace and roll over.

Worth knowing

Built for work rather than personal shopping and errands, and phone calls are switched off for now.

The strongest pick for writing, analysis and code, with Claude Code and add-ins for Office and Google; Pro is $20 a month.

What it is

Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, coding and documents, with background and scheduled tasks and connectors to your apps.

Where it works

Web, desktop and mobile apps; Claude Tag in Slack (beta, Team and Enterprise); Office and Google add-ins; Chrome

What it costs

Free; Pro $20 a month ($17 billed yearly); Max $100; Ultra $200; Team from $20 a seat a month, billed yearly

Worth knowing

You open it to use it: no first-party iMessage, WhatsApp or SMS channel, and no notetaker that joins your calls that we could find.

If you live in Google's apps: Gemini works inside Gmail and Docs on paid plans, and Google AI Pro is $19.99 a month.

What it is

Google's AI assistant, in its own app and on the web, and inside Gmail, Docs and other Google apps on paid plans.

Where it works

The Gemini app (Android and iOS), the web, Gmail and Docs on paid plans, and Google Messages on Android

What it costs

Free; Google AI Plus $4.99, AI Pro $19.99 and AI Ultra from $99.99 a month; Gemini Enterprise from $21 a seat a month

Worth knowing

Its texting is Google Messages on Android only (no iMessage or WhatsApp that we could find), and Google gives Ultra subscribers first access to Agent Mode.

For research: every answer cites its sources, drawing on models from several labs. Pro is from $17 a month, billed yearly.

What it is

An answer engine that searches the web and answers with citations, plus Computer, an agent that builds documents and apps and can run on your Mac.

Where it works

perplexity.ai, its Mac and iPhone apps, and its Comet browser

What it costs

Free; Pro from $17 a month and Max from $167 a month, billed yearly; Enterprise plans for teams

Worth knowing

Built for answers and research rather than your chats, and its Pro and Max plans are for personal use.

A free agent from Meta that works in WhatsApp and keeps going after you close the app, in the US, Canada, Japan and Singapore.

What it is

Meta's personal AI agent, in its own app and in WhatsApp, that keeps working toward your goals after you close the app.

Where it works

The Muse app (iOS and Android), muse.ai and WhatsApp one-to-one

What it costs

Free for most use, with paid subscriptions for more; in the US and Canada, and since late October in Japan and Singapore

Worth knowing

One-to-one only (no group chats or iMessage that we could find), and your chats train Meta's models unless you opt out.

If you want an assistant in your texts rather than an app: Poke works in iMessage, WhatsApp and Telegram, free to start.

What it is

A personal assistant you text in iMessage, WhatsApp or Telegram, that connects to your email, calendar and apps and gets in touch first.

Where it works

iMessage, WhatsApp and Telegram

What it costs

Free; Pro $19 a month; Ultra $199 a month, which adds Poke Human, a real person for calls and orders

Worth knowing

A personal assistant for one phone number; its FAQ doesn't describe group chats or team use, and its maker is joining Cognition.

If you want to run your own: free, open-source software for your own machine, with the model you choose, reached from 29 chat apps.

What it is

A free, open-source AI assistant you install on your own machine or server and reach from the chat apps you already use.

Where it works

29 chat apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Signal and iMessage, in DMs and group chats

What it costs

Free and open source (MIT), with no hosted or paid tier; you pay for your model, your machine and any extra services

Worth knowing

You install, secure and update it yourself, there is no hosted version, and its docs say people who don't trust each other need separate gateways.