Which chatbot should I use?

by Sarah MacPherson, a product manager, ai enthusiast trying to find the best and most interesting ways to work with this new frontier

They're all pretty good

Here's the truth: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are all capable chatbots. For many everyday tasks (answering questions, drafting emails, brainstorming ideas), they perform similarly. The "best" one often comes down to personal preference and specific use cases rather than dramatic differences in quality.

That said, each tool has strengths that might make it a better fit depending on what you need.

ChatGPT: The most popular and versatile

Best for: General-purpose use, creative writing, coding, and exploring plugins

Strengths:

Largest user base and most mature ecosystem
Access to plugins that extend capabilities (web browsing, data analysis, third-party integrations)
DALL-E integration for AI image generation (with ChatGPT Plus)
Strong creative writing and brainstorming abilities
Extensive community resources and tutorials online

Limitations:

Knowledge cutoff means it doesn't know recent events (unless using web browsing)
Can be overconfident and make mistakes
May produce generic responses on some topics

AI prompt: "Write a creative short story about a time traveler who accidentally changes the past"

Pricing: Free version (GPT-3.5), $20/month for Plus (GPT-4)

Try ChatGPT if you want the most established tool with the largest community and plugin ecosystem.

Claude: The thoughtful analyst

Best for: Long document analysis, nuanced writing, careful reasoning

Strengths:

Exceptional at handling long documents and extended conversations (huge context window)
Produces thoughtful, balanced responses on complex or ambiguous topics
Excellent for analyzing research papers, contracts, or lengthy reports
Tends to be more careful and less overconfident
Strong at maintaining context across complex discussions

Limitations:

Can be slower than competitors
May be overly cautious or formal for casual creative tasks
Less playful or quirky than ChatGPT for creative brainstorming

AI prompt: "I'm uploading a 40-page policy document. Summarize the main recommendations and identify any potential contradictions or unclear sections."

Pricing: Free version, $20/month for Claude Pro

Try Claude if you work with long documents, need careful analysis, or value nuanced, thoughtful responses.

Gemini: The Google-integrated option

Best for: Image analysis, integration with Google services, web-connected queries

Strengths:

Strong multimodal capabilities (can work with text and images)
Integrates with Google services like Gmail, Docs, and Drive
Good at analyzing photos, diagrams, and charts
Access to Google's infrastructure and data
Gemini Advanced includes 2 TB of cloud storage

Limitations:

Can be inconsistent in response quality
Some users find it less conversational or engaging than alternatives
Privacy concerns for those wary of Google's data practices

AI prompt with image: "I'm uploading a photo of a rash on my arm. What might it be, and should I see a doctor?"

Pricing: Free version, $19.99/month for Gemini Advanced (includes Google One benefits)

Try Gemini if you're embedded in the Google ecosystem, need strong image analysis, or want cloud storage bundled with AI.

Microsoft Copilot: The Microsoft ecosystem choice

Best for: Microsoft 365 integration, web-connected responses, Windows users

Strengths:

Built into Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge for convenient access
Web-connected by default (can access current information)
Deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (with Copilot Pro and Microsoft 365)
Good for users already in the Microsoft ecosystem
Free version is quite capable

Limitations:

Full integration requires both Copilot Pro AND Microsoft 365 subscription
Some features overlap with ChatGPT (since both use OpenAI models)
May not be as polished or consistent as ChatGPT

AI prompt in Word: "Help me draft the introduction and conclusion for this report on customer satisfaction trends"

Pricing: Free version, $20/month for Copilot Pro (app integration requires separate Microsoft 365 subscription)

Try Copilot if you use Microsoft apps heavily and want AI integrated into Word, Excel, and Outlook.

How to choose

Here's a simple decision framework:

Choose ChatGPT if you want the most versatile, popular tool with plugins and a large community.

Choose Claude if you work with long documents or need careful, thoughtful analysis.

Choose Gemini if you're a Google user who wants image analysis and integration with Gmail and Docs.

Choose Copilot if you use Microsoft 365 apps and want AI built into Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Try them all (they're free)

The good news is that all four tools offer free versions. We recommend trying each one for a week or two to see which interface, tone, and capabilities you prefer. Since they're all free to start, there's no risk in experimenting.

AI prompt: "What are some test questions I can ask different AI tools to compare their responses?"

You can use more than one

Many people use multiple AI tools and choose based on the task. For example:

ChatGPT for creative writing and brainstorming
Claude for analyzing lengthy reports
Copilot for working within Microsoft Word

See Can I use multiple AI tools together? for more on this approach.

Related resources

For detailed guides on each tool, check out:

Wondering if you should pay for a premium version? See Should I pay for AI or stick with free?.