I Tested 25+ Free AI Chatbots — These 8 Are the Absolute Best

Let me be honest, all of you know AI chatbots thanks to ChatGPT.

But over time, tons of AI chatbots have entered the market—built by different companies in the US, China, and other countries.

Now the question is: which AI chatbot should you actually use? Because every single one claims they’re better than the rest.

Even with all the progress in the AI chatbot space, it still feels like you’re missing out on some really powerful tools—while others are quietly becoming productivity machines.

Well, I’ve been using AI chatbots for over 2 years now, and I’ve tested almost all the popular ones.

No doubt, ChatGPT is amazing (I still use it daily), but for coding tasks, I prefer Claude. Same way, there are better chatbots out there for writing, research, summaries, and more.

So in this post, I’m going to share the 10 best free AI chatbots other than ChatGPT—and exactly when to use them instead.

Note: This post contains no affiliate links, and most of these AI tools are free to use up to a limit.

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Best free AI Chatbots at a Glance

1. Overchat AI

I know most of you are probably confused seeing Overchat AI in the #1 spot.

But here’s why: Overchat is a free AI chat that lets you use multiple top AI chatbots—all in one place. Yes, you can use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Deepseek, and more right inside Overchat AI.

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That means you don’t need to jump between tools or pay for every single chatbot separately.

And here’s something to prove my point:

According to recent benchmarks, ChatGPT isn’t even the best AI assistant for coding anymore.

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In fact, another benchmark shows that ChatGPT is slower and more expensive than Gemini 2.5 for certain tasks:

That’s exactly why I’m using Overchat AI—so I can use Claude AI for coding (way better) and still switch to ChatGPT or Gemini for other tasks when needed.

Getting started is easy. You just go to their website and click “Open Web App”.

From there you just sign up with your Google account: 

Then you just need to pick an AI assistant from the store:

After that, you can start asking AI questions, and this is the same as in ChatGPT.

I chose Claude and asked it to identify itself and guess what? As expected, it told me I’m chatting with Claude Sonnet 3.7:

Talking about pricing, you get 20 free AI credits per day.

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• Most AI assistants cost 1 credit per message
• Some Pro AI assistants cost 5–10 credits per day

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If you want more messages you need to upgrade to the Pro version. It costs $4.99 per week or $59.99 per year.

When you compare it to the competition, it's actually a good price.

Think about it—ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, Claude Pro is $20 per month, and Gemini Advanced is $20 per month too.

But with Overchat AI's Pro yearly plan, you're paying just $59.99 per year, which breaks down to just $5 per month.

Now, I need to be honest—Overchat AI is only 4 months old, so it’s not as polished as ChatGPT. Sure, the AI answers are solid since you’re getting the actual Sonnet 3.7 and Gemini 2.5 Pro models, but it still needs improvement.

2. Claude

Let’s move on to Claude, which is developed by Anthropic.

You’ve probably already heard of this one, but if you haven’t tried it yet, you probably should.

What is Claude? It is a large language model founded in 2021 by ex-OpenAI employees. So the people who made ChatGPT also made Claude.

They recently released the Sonnet 4 model so I was eager to test it. 

I mean, with these benchmarks one of the best free AI coders got even better.

To get started is easy, as all you have to do is visit their website and sign in with Google or your email.

And once you’ve signed up, you’re greeted with this interface:

As for pricing, you can get started for free, use up to a limit, and then if you want more, you can upgrade to a paid plan.

It’s similar to ChatGPT:

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• Pro costs $20 with monthly billing.
• Max costs $100.

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Here, I asked it to create a to-do app and it started coding live:

Once it was done, I could preview the result in a side-peek. Claude calls these “artifacts” and they’re like ChatGPT’s canvases.

But unlike ChatGPT, you get a version history with Claude.

What do I think about Claude? It’s a solid ChatGPT alternative. 

3. Gemini

Now, it’s from Google, and since it’s one of the best AI chatbots out there, of course I had to include it.

What is Google Gemini? It’s one of the best free AI chatbots developed by Google. You might have heard the name Bard—that’s the old name for this free AI tool.

There are just two models to choose from:

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• The fast Gemini 2.5 Flash
• And the most powerful one — Gemini 2.5 Pro

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But Nitin, how do I get started? Well, this one is actually super straightforward — you just visit their website and sign up with your Google account.

Now, let’s talk pricing.

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The free plan already includes both models and all features, including access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, which is what you want. 

But what are the features?

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• You can activate deep research so you don’t need to spend another minute manually searching for information online. 
• In the canvas mode, you can preview code and writing.
• The best part? Gems — you can pick an assistant for a specific task you need to complete.

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Now let’s test it by asking it to create a to-do app (with a twist).

Here’s what it looks like when the model is working:

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It shows its thinking process on the left and the code on the right.

And here’s the preview of my app I got after it completed my request:

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But you know what’s still blowing my mind? That button with the sparks icon at the bottom-right:

Do you notice what it’s doing? It’s adding AI functionality to my app, by clicking just one button. How crazy is this?

If you’re looking for one of the best free AI assistants for coding or math, this one is for you.

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4. Perplexity

Now this one is interesting—and more focused on research. I’m talking about Perplexity, an AI search engine.

The platform launched on December 7, 2022, and it combines AI chatbots with real-time online search.

Of course, other chatbots can also search the web now. But is Perplexity the best at this?

To get started, just visit their website and create an account with Google, Apple, or email.

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Or just ask AI questions.

That’s right, you can use perplexity without an account. So it’s the easiest chatbot to get started with.

But is it actually good? Let’s test it with a simple search:

Notice what happens when I start typing? It’s an autocomplete—you can see popular online searches.

And here’s what a results page looks like:

There are tabs to switch between a summary, images, sources, and the display of its thinking process. 

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What other features does this one have?

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• You can choose sources — want to get AI answers only from Wikipedia? That’s easy.
• Want to ask questions about an article? You can chat with articles and ask follow-ups.

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I really like this feature—financial reports. And you can ask questions about them.

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Now, the best part? Unlimited free searches. 

But let’s talk about Perplexity pro. It costs $20/month like ChatGPT plus.

The benefit? Higher limits for advanced features. Here’s what you get if you use their pro plan:

But you know what? This one is good enough without the paid add-on. A thumbs up. 

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5. Mistral le Chat

If there’s a chatbot that’s gone from being completely useless to being somewhat capable, it’s this one. I’m talking about Mistral’s le Chat.

But how to get started? Well, you just visit their website and open le Chat.

Then to start using it you just ask questions. This one’s definitely giving me ChatGPT vibes.

Time for a quick test. First, here’s how it replied to the same random query:

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I don’t like that it’s not giving me any sources, even though I had web search activated. 

Speaking of web search, what are le Chat’s features?

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Here they call them tools, and you can:

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• Work on documents in a canvas
• Generate images
• Search online 
• Run code — but there’s a huge caveat.

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What’s the caveat? Let’s see. I asked it to create a to-do app:

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And it gave me some code. But why is there no preview?

Well, that’s the caveat. le Chat can’t run this code, because its interpreter only works with Python. 

But Nitin, what about Codestral? Well, it’s a separate tool. I’m talking about their general-purpose AI assistant.

Comparing it to Gemini and Claude, I’ll have to give it a pass.

It’s one saving grace? Unlimited messages on the free plan and the cheaper Pro plan at $14.99/mo.

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6. Pi

Okay, onto the next one! This one's a bit different. I’m talking about Pi

Pi, which stands for "personal intelligence" and is made by Inflection AI.

Getting started with Pi is super easy. You can find it on the web, or download the app on iOS and Android. 

It starts with a quick introduction:

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After clicking on the Continue to Pi Classic (which is the only option for now), it’s gonna ask you for your name:

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Now here’s where it gets interesting. 

See that waveform icon? Well, Pi is actually talking to me right now. Not gonna lie — it doesn’t sound as good as ElevelLabs voices.

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But after you set it up the next step is easy. You can just ask your question in the chat or choose a conversation topic.

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So, what makes Pi stand out?

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• Naturally, the fact that it speaks to you.
• If you're looking to vent, brainstorm ideas in a gentle space, or just reflect, Pi tries to be that listening ear.
• From the get-go, Pi aims for a friendly, warm vibe.
• It has a "Discover" section that offers prompts and topics for discussion — that’s those tiles in the left sidebar.

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I asked Pi for some advice on dealing with a bit of creative block, and here’s a snippet of our chat:

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Now, let's talk about the best part —  pricing.

As of my last check, Pi is completely free to use. Yep, you read that right. You get full access to its voice chat, and everything. 

So, what do I think about Pi?

If you’re looking for an AI to crunch data, write long-form content, or build apps, Pi isn't the tool for that. 

As a conversational AI? It’s good.

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7. Merlin AI

Alright, let me tell you about another tool–Merlin AI. It’s an AI assistant. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking, "Nitin, another AI assistant?" And yes, there are a lot out there.

But this one is on steroids. Did you know you can add AI directly into your browser, and ask questions about any site?

So how to get started?

First, simply open their website. Then, choose how you want to use the tool:

Check this out:

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You can:

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1. Install a Chrome extension
2. Ask questions online 
3. Install it on your Android phone
4. And get it on your iPhone

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But Nitin, what can it actually do? Well, quite a bit, actually!

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• Add an AI chatbot to any website
• Summarize web content and YouTube videos
• Write emails for you
• Humanize AI text
• Translate

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If you’re wondering what else it can do, here are their highlights:

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Talking about the pricing, Merlin AI offers a free plan that gives 102 free queries per day using their access to models like GPT-4o, Claude 3 Haiku, and Gemini.

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I’ve tested the free queries, and they’re quite useful for quick summaries or email drafts.

Of course, they have Pro plans if you need more power, access to advanced models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

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Wait, $29/month?

Well, that’s expensive! But honestly, to get a feel for it and for many common tasks, the free plan is enough.

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Character-Based AI Chat Platforms

Did you know that there’s a whole niche of AI tools where you can chat with characters? 

Turns out some people are really into that (and I’ll let you guess why). But in reality, there are many reasons to use character-based AI chats. 

But Nitin, what for and how do I even get started? Well, let me explain.

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8. Perchance AI

This one is a lesser-known one that's been flying under the radar of most people. I’m talking about Perchance AI.

What is Perchance AI? Well, it’s an AI tool that lets you create and chat with characters. 

The best part? It’s completely free.

To get started, just go to their website.

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What are its features?

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• Perchance AI lets you design your own AI character with a personality chosen by you.
• You can choose from plugins that other people added to the platform.

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But Nitin… Why? Because it’s fun! 

To use it, you can choose a plugin and just chat:

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Here’s what their ai-text-plugin looks like:

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To start a chat you choose your role and type into the text area

Now this one is giving me early-days-of-internet vibes. Does anybody remember ICQ? 

When it comes to pricing there’s nothing to talk about—there is only one option and it’s a free “plan”.

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9. Talkie

And we’ll start with Talkie. This is a popular one and one reason to use it is for helpful AI characters.

Getting started is easy—you just open their website and to start a chat, first you choose a category:

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Then click on one of the characters and it opens up this screen:

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What can it do? Well, it can coach you, give life advice, help you focus, and boost your productivity.

And since we’re talking about characters, can you customize your chat?

Well, you can give the persona some of your details and switch the voice mode on and off.

Another thing you can do? You can create your own personas called Talkies:

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And there are actually lots of settings to play around with. Set the name, settings, intro, opening, skill, add an image, and choose a voice.

Talking about pricing, it’s very simple as it’s completely free.

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10. Character AI

Okay, if you've typed "AI character chat" into Google, you’ve definitely seen this one.

Yep, I’m talking about Character.AI. This platform is hugely popular and for good reason: it’s incredibly easy to jump into and start chatting with a mind-boggling array of AI personalities.

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This one was developed by former Google AI researchers who worked on LaMDA, so there's some serious tech behind it.

Now, to get started, you just have to visit their website and log in.

Nitin, is this a free AI tool? Well, there is a free version, but it’s limited.

When it comes to pricing there is just one plan, and it costs $9.99/month. Here’s what you get if you upgrade:

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Honorable Mentions

Alright, so these are some other free AI chatbots that are worth a mention.

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Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat)

Microsoft has been aggressive in integrating AI, and Copilot is a big part of that.

Nitin, why use this one? Well, sometimes it gives you access to newer OpenAI models for free, so it’s worth visiting every once in a while.

But here’s what I’m not a huge fan of: it’s tied to the Microsoft ecosystem, so you’ll need to use the Edge browser for the best experience, and have a Microsoft account.

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Poe by Quora

Poe lets you chat with bots from different creators, including some free access to Claude, Llama, and OpenAI's models.

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Nitin, why is it not on the list then?

Here’s why — it’s not as easy to get started with. I’m talking about this:

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You can’t start a chat without verifying your account by phone.

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HuggingChat

For those of you who lean more towards the open-source side of things, this is the one for you. Of course, I’m talking about HuggingChat by Hugging Face. 

Nitin, what is this?

Well, this chatbot lets you interact with some of the latest community-driven large language models.

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It’s free, open-source, and here you can chat with models you won’t find easily accessible on commercial platforms.

Why not add it to the list of the best tools then? 

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• Because these are often experimental models, the performance can be a bit more iffy. 
• It’s geared more towards developers for testing the models they host on HuggingFace.

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Which one of the best free AI chatbots to use in 2025?

Okay, we’ve looked at a ton of AI chatbots, and now you’re probably wondering, "Nitin, how do I actually pick one?" Good question!

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• First up, what’s your main goal? Think about the primary reason you want an AI chatbot. Refer back to the reviews to see which ones specialize in your area of need.

• Next, consider how easy you need it to be. Some chatbots are incredibly straightforward – sign up and go. Others might need a bit more setup.

• Then, what must-have features do you need? Make a mental checklist of non-negotiable features; this will help you quickly eliminate options that don’t fit.

• Also, consider how often you’ll use it. Many free plans come with daily message limits, credit systems, or waiting rooms during busy times.

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And a quick note on privacy: always be mindful of what you share with any AI, especially personal or sensitive information.

What’s the best way to choose? Try a few. The great thing about free tools is the low commitment. Pick two or three from the list that seem to match your needs and test.

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FAQs

What are the best 100% free AI chatbots in 2025?

But if you're looking for truly 100% free, open-source tools like Perchance AI and HuggingChat, though they’re not the best overall. If freemium is ok, Claude and Gemini are strong contenders.

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Are there any AI chatbots that don’t require sign-up?

Yes, there are! For example, Perplexity, Mistral, Overchat AI, Merlin. You can just visit their website and start asking questions right away. 

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Can I use AI chatbots with unlimited messages for free?

Several tools on my list offer unlimited (or very generous) messaging on their free plans:

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• Mistral le Chat explicitly mentions unlimited messages.
• Perplexity gives you unlimited searches.

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Which chatbot lets you talk to AI characters for free?

Perchance AI and Talkie are both completely free platforms built for this. Character.AI also has a very robust free tier that lets you interact with millions of characters, though it has a paid option for perks.

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Hope you like it.

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That’s it—thanks.

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