The 20 Best AI Chatbots in 2024 (Free + Paid) (Double article)
Customer service can be one of the most time and labor-intensive parts of your business. And who can handle all those inquiries if not trained humans?
Well, while we haven’t cracked the code on what makes us tick, AI chatbots are the next best thing, at least when it comes to making your customers happy campers.
But what are the best AI chatbots in 2024? With so many options out there, it can be like information overload. But don’t worry, because that’s what we’re here for.
In this article, we’ll break down the 20 best options for you, the top contenders in the chatbot arena.
Let’s dive right in!
How to tell you’ve got a winning AI chatbot on your hands
Choosing the right AI chatbot for your business is like getting a car. It needs to fit your style, preferences, and budget. (Plus, it needs to run like a dream.)
Here's what to look for when you're shopping around:
It gets you on the first go-round: Can the chatbot understand everyday language, not just specific commands? You want a chatbot that can handle "Hey, what's your return policy?" not just "Return policy."
Dresses for the occasion: Can you tailor the chatbot's responses and personality to match your brand? A chatbot that sounds like it belongs in your company will make a better impression on your customers.
It will help you collaborate: Does the chatbot work seamlessly with your existing software and systems? This is key for automating tasks and keeping your data organized.
Social butterfly: Can it handle Qs from your website, social media, and messaging apps? This helps you meet your customers where they hang out.
It lets you scale up: Can it handle more conversations as your business gets bigger? You don't want a chatbot that gets overwhelmed when things get busy.
Lives and breathes data: Does it give you insights into how the chatbot is performing, what customers are asking, and where you can improve?
Lindy breaks the chatbot game right open: It's an extremely adaptable all-in-one AI assistant, ready to inject intelligence and scale into your customer service.
With Lindy, you can build multiple AI helpers, each trained to handle specific jobs or areas where you need support. These "Lindies" collaborate with each other to tackle complex inquiries. Do you want an AI? You have an AI team!
Why it stands out:
Scales when you need it: Create as many Lindy agents as your business needs, no matter how big or small.
Lindy learns “you”: Teach each Lindy agent about your specific data and processes, so it gets better over time.
Not islands, teams: Lindy agents share information and chat with each other, making them a powerhouse for complex tasks.
Plays ball with your tech stack: Connect Lindy to over 3,000 popular tools and platforms, including Slack, Zapier, and Google Calendar.
Pricing: Lindy offers a variety of pricing plans, starting with a free 7-day free trial and then just $49/mo after. Upper tiers are also available for teams and high-ticket users.
ChatGPT, the brainchild of OpenAI, is a popular AI chatbot known for its ability to generate human-like text and engage in conversations on a wide range of topics. This AI (And who hasn’t heard of it?) improves customer service, creates content, and even brainstorms ideas with you.
Why it stands out:
Talks like you: ChatGPT understands and responds to natural language input, making conversations flow smoothly.
Multitalented: You can use it for various tasks, from answering customer questions to sparking creative ideas.
Knows a lot: ChatGPT has learned from a massive amount of text data, giving it a broad understanding of various topics.
Always learning: OpenAI constantly updates and improves ChatGPT, expanding its capabilities.
Pricing: ChatGPT offers a free plan with limited usage and a paid subscription plan called ChatGPT Plus for $20/month, which provides priority access and faster response times.
Claude, by Anthropic, is a next-gen AI assistant that aims to be helpful, harmless, and honest. It’s been trained on a massive dataset of text and code and understands and responds to a wide range of requests in a natural and informative way.
Why it stands out:
Plays it safe: Claude prioritizes safety, aiming to avoid generating harmful or biased content.
Helpful as can be: It strives to provide accurate and useful information to users.
It “gets” you”: Claude can grasp and respond to complex prompts and questions.
Ethical AI: Anthropic has put ethics at the forefront of Claude's development, making it a more responsible AI assistant.
Pricing: While it comes with some limited free credits, Claude Pro is available at $20/mo.
Microsoft Bing AI is not a search engine: it's a smart AI chatbot baked right into Bing's search. It harnesses the power of OpenAI's language models (yes, the guys and gals behind GPT) to answer your questions, create fun content, and even whip up images from your text prompts.
Why it stands out:
Search and chat in one: Bing AI blends the best of both worlds, letting you find information and get answers in a conversational way.
Get creative: It'll help you write emails, poems, code, and more, making it a handy tool for lots of different jobs.
Say it to see it: Bing Image Creator lets you generate images from text descriptions, opening up new possibilities for creative expression.
Free for all: You don't have to pay a dime to use Bing AI – just log in with your Microsoft account and start chatting.
Gemini, developed by Google, is a new-gen family of models designed to be a creative and helpful collaborator. While it's still under development (It can get frustrating), it’s showing promise. It can generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions informatively.
Why it stands out:
Next-gen, right now: Gemini is built on Google's cutting-edge technology, allowing for nuanced and informative conversations.
The creative cousin: It can generate a wide range of creative text formats, from poems to code to assisting with screenplays.
Google access: Gemini can draw on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses.
Learns as you go: Google is constantly improving Gemini's capabilities, adding new features and functionalities.
Pricing: You get the basic dum-dum Gemini version for free, and Gemini Advanced is $19.99/mo.
Meta AI isn't a chatbot itself, but it's a research lab full of brilliant minds pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. They're developing language models, computer vision systems, and other cutting-edge technologies that could shape the future of AI chatbots.
Why it stands out:
The final frontier: Meta AI's research is paving the way for new and exciting developments in the field of AI.
Potential to create something truly groundbreaking: Their work could lead to revolutionary advancements in how chatbots understand and interact with us.
Open source (ish): Meta AI often makes their research and code available to the public, benefiting the wider AI community.
Real-world impact: They're focused on creating AI that can solve real problems and improve our lives.
Pricing: Meta AI's research isn't a product you can buy, so there's no price tag attached. But their work could shape the development of future AI chatbots, and you know you’ll have to pay for those.
Zapier, already well-known in the automation game, is stepping into the AI chatbot arena with Zapier Interfaces. This tool lets you build custom chatbots without needing to write any code.
Why it stands out:
No code is the way to go: You don't need to be a tech super-expert to create your own chatbot. Zapier Interfaces uses a simple drag-and-drop interface to make the process easy and intuitive.
Hyperconnected: Connect your chatbot to your existing apps to automate tasks, trigger workflows, and seamlessly integrate with your existing systems.
Easy to customize: Tailor the chatbot's appearance and responses to match your brand's voice and style.
Very versatile: Build chatbots for a variety of use cases, from lead generation to customer support to data collection.
Pricing: Zapier Interfaces is available on Zapier's paid plans, starting at $20 per month. for individuals, and $100 for teams.
Pi is a unique AI chatbot that aims to go a bit beyond being “just” an assistant. It's designed to be a compassionate and supportive companion, offering a listening ear and thoughtful conversations. It can also help you brainstorm ideas, work through problems, and even just chat about your day.
Why it stands out:
It’s there for you: Pi is designed to be a good listener and offer emotional support.
Open-ended conversations: It's not just about answering questions; Pi can engage in meaningful conversations on a variety of topics.
It becomes a digital friend: Pi learns your interests and preferences over time, tailoring its conversations to you.
Privacy-focused: Your conversations with Pi are confidential and secure.
Poe is a platform that gives you access to a collection of AI chatbots, including some of the most popular ones like ChatGPT and Claude. It's a great way to experiment with different chatbots and find the ones that work for you.
Why it stands out:
Wide variety of chatbots: Poe offers access to a diverse range of AI chatbots, each with its own unique strengths and capabilities.
Really easy to use: The platform is user-friendly and makes it simple to switch between different chatbots.
The community pitches in: Poe encourages users to share prompts and create new chatbots, fostering a collaborative environment.
Free to use: You can access Poe's basic features for free, with paid plans offering additional benefits.
Pricing: Poe offers a free plan with limited usage and access to certain bots. Paid plans start at $19.99/mo.
Perplexity AI is like catníp for folks who love asking questions. This chatbot is a high-IQt search engine that you can chat with. It doesn't just give you answers; it also shows you the sources it used to find them, so you can be confident in the information you're getting.
Why it stands out:
“Can I get a source?”: It doesn't just tell you stuff; it shows you where it got its info.
Ask it anything: It's great for all sorts of questions, from general knowledge to complex topics.
Ongoing evolution: Perplexity AI is always improving and expanding its knowledge base.
Intuitive and sleek: The interface is simple and intuitive, making it a pleasure to use.
Pricing: Perplexity AI offers a free version with basic features. Pro is $20/mo and offers up to 600 searches a day.
Jasper Chat is an ever-present writing buddy that helps you create all kinds of content, from blog posts and social media captions to emails and ad copy. It's great for anyone who needs help getting those creative juices flowing – and that blank page filled out.
Why it stands out:
A creative writing factory: Jasper Chat can help you brainstorm ideas, write outlines, and even generate entire articles or blog posts.
Tell it your style: You can tailor Jasper Chat's tone and style to match your brand or personal voice.
Multiple templates: Choose from a variety of templates to get started on your next writing project.
Collab features: Work with team members to brainstorm and refine your content together.
Pricing: Jasper Chat is available as part of Jasper's paid plans, which start at $39 per month for the Starter plan, and it goes up from there.
Chatsonic is an AI chatbot that combines the smarts of ChatGPT with additional features like image generation and voice commands. It's a great choice for anyone looking for a chatbot that can do nearly anything.
Why it stands out:
See it, read it, and talk to it: Chatsonic can handle text, images, and voice commands, making it a versatile communication tool.
Up-to-date data: It can access current information from Google search, keeping its responses up-to-date.
Persona mode: You can create custom personas for Chatsonic to adapt its responses to different contexts and audiences.
Plays ball: Chatsonic can be integrated with tools like Slack and Twitter for seamless communication.
Pricing: Chatsonic offers a free model, a GPT-like model for $12, and a plan for freelancers and content writers starting at $16.
Text.cortex is an AI writing assistant designed to help you with a wide range of writing tasks, from creating marketing copy to drafting emails to brainstorming ideas. It uses a combination of GPT-4 and Google Search to provide up-to-date and accurate information.
Why it stands out:
Jack of all (writing) trades: Text.cortex can tackle various writing tasks, making it a valuable tool for content creators, marketers, and anyone who writes regularly.
Ripped from the headlines: It leverages Google Search to provide up-to-the-minute information, ensuring your content is current and relevant.
Multitool: Text.cortex offers a variety of templates and writing tools to help you get started quickly and efficiently.
Integration with popular platforms: It integrates well with WordPress and other content management systems, streamlining your workflow.
Pricing: Text.cortex offers a free plan with limited usage and a paid plan starting at $23.99 per month.
ChatSpot is HubSpot's conversational marketing and sales tool. It helps businesses connect with website visitors, generate leads, and book meetings. ChatSpot can answer questions, qualify leads, and even create support tickets, all while providing a personalized experience for your customers.
Why it stands out:
Plays the HubSpot game: ChatSpot integrates seamlessly with HubSpot's CRM, marketing, and sales tools, allowing for a unified customer experience. If you’re a HubSpot person, it’s for you.
Leadgen simplified: It can proactively engage website visitors, capture lead information, and qualify them for your sales team.
Always-there customer support: ChatSpot can handle common support inquiries – giving your team time for the mission-critical stuff.
Engages visitors in their personalized tone: It can tailor conversations based on visitor behavior and data from your CRM, providing a more relevant and engaging experience.
Personal AI is a unique AI-powered platform that helps you capture, organize, and access your knowledge and memories. It acts as a personal knowledge base, allowing you to save and retrieve information from your conversations, documents, and other sources.
Why it stands out:
Your very own knowledge base: Personal AI creates a personalized repository of your knowledge, making it easy to access and reference information later.
It’s got great memory: It remembers your past conversations, allowing you to revisit important details and insights.
Search with some “Ooomph!” It uses AI to search your knowledge base for relevant information, saving you time and effort.
A compatible assistant: Personal AI can connect to your email, calendar, and other apps to capture and organize your knowledge from various sources.
Pricing: Personal AI starts at $40 for personal use and then moves right up to $1000 for “pro-trained” AIs for professional use.
OpenAI Playground isn't exactly a chatbot, but it's a sandbox where you can experiment with different AI models, including ChatGPT. It's a great way to get hands-on experience with AI and see what it can do. You can tweak settings, try different prompts, and even build your own simple chatbots.
Why it stands out:
Test drive before you buy: It's a risk-free way to see if AI is right for you.
Play around: Get a feel for how AI works and how to get the best results.
Get as creative as you want: Experiment with different models and prompts to see what you can create.
Totally free: OpenAI Playground is free to access, although usage may be limited.
Pricing: Free, with some usage limits, and you have the option to donate to OpenAI to get more tokens.
DeepAI AI Chat is another option for those who want to dip their toes into the world of AI chatbots. It's a simple yet powerful tool that can answer questions, translate languages, and even generate creative text formats like poems or code.
Why it stands out:
Easy to use: DeepAI AI Chat has a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible to beginners.
A versatile creature: It can handle a wide range of jobs, from answering simple questions to generating creative content like video and music.
Open-source: DeepAI is committed to open-source development, making its tools accessible to everyone.
As free as can be: DeepAI AI Chat is free to use, although they offer paid plans with additional features.
Pricing: Free, with a paid plan starting from $4.99, and pay-as-you-go options.
Character.AI takes chatbots to a whole new level by allowing you to create and interact with AI-powered characters. These characters can be fictional or based on real people, and you can customize their personalities, voices, and appearances.
Why it stands out:
Create your own characters: Build unique AI characters for fun, educational, or even business purposes.
Get immersive: Chat with your characters and watch them respond in their own unique ways.
Try out different personalities: Interact with characters from history, literature, or even your own imagination.
Community-driven growth: Character.AI has a thriving community of creators who are constantly building and sharing new characters.
Snapchat's My AI is a convivial chatbot built right into the Snapchat app. It's designed to be a fun and engaging way to chat with an AI, ask questions, get recommendations, and even create personalized Bitmoji stickers. The younger audiences love it (or so we’re told, as our backs crack).
Why it stands out:
Chatty fun-fun: My AI is designed for playful conversations and creative expression.
Personalized Bitmoji stickers: It can create unique Bitmoji stickers based on your conversations, adding a touch of personality to your chats.
Like a buddy: My AI can offer recommendations for places to eat, things to do, and even gifts for friends.
Woven right into Snapchat: It's easily accessible within the Snapchat app, making it a convenient tool for users.
Khanmigo is a learning assistant designed to help students learn, and teachers teach more effectively. It can provide personalized tutoring, help students practice skills, and even give feedback on their work. While it's primarily focused on education, Khanmigo shows the potential for AI chatbots to be used in a variety of learning and development contexts.
Why it stands out:
Learn your way: Khanmigo tailors its guidance to each student's individual needs and learning style.
Interactive learning: It engages students in interactive activities and conversations to reinforce their understanding.
Skill practice: It provides opportunities for students to practice and apply what they've learned.
Feedback and support: Khanmigo offers instant feedback and support to help students overcome challenges.
Pricing: Khanmigo is available at $4/mo for both families and individuals.
FAQs
What's the best AI chatbot?
Try Lindy because it can do it all – and you can teach it to do what it can’t out of the box. But, in the end, the best AI chatbot for you depends on your specific needs and budget. Some factors to consider include:
User-friendliness: How easy is it to set up and customize the chatbot?
What can it do?: Does it offer the features you need, such as natural language processing, integrations, and analytics?
Pricing: Does it fit your budget?
Industry: Some chatbots are designed for specific industries or use cases.
What AI is better than ChatGPT?
While ChatGPT is a powerful and versatile chatbot, there are other options that might be a better fit for your needs. For example, if you're looking for a chatbot that's more focused on creative writing, Lindy, Jasper Chat, or Chatsonic might be a better choice. If you need a chatbot that can access real-time information, Bing AI or Perplexity AI could be a good option. And if you're looking for a chatbot that's more empathetic and supportive, Lindy can also be a therapeutic companion.
What is the best AI for personal use?
For personal use, you might want to consider chatbots like Lindy, Pi, or Character.AI. These chatbots are great for casual conversations, brainstorming ideas, or even having (non-professional) little therapeutic chats. They can also help you with tasks like writing emails, summarizing articles, or even generating creative content.
What is the best AI for business?
The best AI chatbot for business depends on your specific needs and goals. However, some popular options include Lindy, ChatGPT, ChatSpot, and TextCortex. These chatbots offer a variety of features that can be a major boost for businesses, such as lead generation, customer support automation, and content creation.
What is the most advanced AI chatbot?
The most advanced AI chatbot is a matter of opinion and depends on how you define "advanced." However, some of the most sophisticated chatbots on the market include Lindy, Chat-GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Meta AI's as-of-yet-unnamed research projects. These chatbots are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI, and they offer a glimpse into the future of human-AI interaction.
Summing up
And that was the best AI chatbots in 2024.
With the rise of AI, these digital assistants seem to be coming right out of the woodwork, and you can feel like there’s suddenly too much of a good thing.
With everyone promising they’ve got the leading AI in an oversaturated market, it can be easy to become jaded if you can’t sort the wheat from the chaff.
The truth is whether you're a small business owner or a tech giant, there's an AI chatbot out there that can help you pump up your operations and build stronger customer relationships.
Next steps
Tired of sifting through endless articles? Look no further than Lindy, the all-in-one AI assistant.
With Lindy, you can:
Create custom AI agents: Train Lindy to perform specific tasks like summarizing articles, reports, or even entire books. Plus, Lindy is not limited to summarizing, it can do pretty much anything under the sun!
Societies of Lindies. Lindy agents can work as a team, powering up beyond their individual capabilities.
Instruct in plain English: No need for complex commands or coding knowledge. Simply tell Lindy what you need, and it will deliver.
Integrate with your existing tools: Connect Lindy to your favorite apps and platforms to automate your workflow and boost your productivity. It’s got over 3,000 integrations.
