Free plans compared
Best Free AI Chatbots & Assistants (2026)
The main AI assistants all offer a free plan, but the limits differ: some cap messages or advanced models, some limit uploads and some include ads. This guide compares the free plans we have checked so you can match one to your everyday use.
Disclosure: some Visit links may be affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details come from official pricing and product pages, last reviewed 2026-10-15; this is not a hands-on test. Confirm current limits with the provider.
What to check before you choose
- Which models are available on the free plan, and when does it switch to a smaller one?
- Are uploads, image creation and voice included?
- Can you use it without signing up, or does it need an account?
- How is your data used, and can you turn off training on your chats?
How we chose: tools listed here have an active product, a free plan or free tier, and pricing we could confirm from the provider. Retired or paid-only tools are left out automatically.
Quick comparison of free plans
| Tool | Free plan | No card needed | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Free is $0 with unlimited text chats on GPT-6 under abuse guardrails, plus limited uploads, image creation, voice, deep research and Codex access. | — | Web, macOS, Windows |
| Claude | Free usage is limited. Pro is $20/month or $200/year; Max starts at $100/month. | — | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Google Gemini | Basic Gemini access and paid Google AI plans have different model and feature limits. | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| DeepSeek | Consumer chat and API access are separate. API tokens deduct from purchased or granted balance; free chat does not mean free API inference. | — | Web, API |
| Microsoft Copilot | Standalone Copilot and Microsoft 365 subscriptions have different access. | — | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Perplexity | Standard (free): 3 Pro Searches per day, 1 research query per month, practically unlimited basic searches, limited file uploads; no advanced AI models, file/app creation… | — | Web |
| Poe | Non-paying users receive daily points that reset without rolling over. | — | Web |
| Duck.ai | Free chat is available with limits; DuckDuckGo subscriptions add model access. | — | Web |
| Mistral Vibe | Free includes limited messages, searches, and coding sessions. | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| HuggingChat | The hosted chat service is accessible without a subscription purchase shown on its public page. | — | Web |
| Brave Leo | Leo has continuing free browser access without a separate signup. | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
The tools, in detail
OpenAI's AI assistant for writing, coding, research, file analysis, and connected work across chats and projects.
Best for: Writing, research, coding, and file-based tasks in one assistant
Free plan: Free is $0 with unlimited text chats on GPT-6 under abuse guardrails, plus limited uploads, image creation, voice, deep research and Codex access. Go is $8 a month and may include ads, Plus is $20, and Pro starts at $100 with three usage tiers.
Key features
- Projects and chats
- Web search
- File and image inputs
- Voice conversations
Limits to know
- The ChatGPT Free plan includes limited image creation. Uploads and other advanced features have plan-dependent allowances. API billing is separate; check current account availability and provider pricing.
- For tightly bounded evidence, give it source text instead of relying on recollection.
Anthropic's AI assistant for research, writing, code, files, and connected tasks, with free and paid plans.
Best for: Research, documents, coding, and connected knowledge work
Free plan: Free usage is limited. Pro is $20/month or $200/year; Max starts at $100/month. Model, context, and task limits vary by plan.
Key features
- Web search
- Artifacts
- File creation and code execution
- App connections
Limits to know
- A polished reply still needs a policy check; fluent wording does not establish entitlement.
Google's AI assistant for writing, planning, research, and multimodal tasks, with optional Google AI subscriptions.
Best for: Everyday writing, planning, and multimodal assistance
Free plan: Basic Gemini access and paid Google AI plans have different model and feature limits. Availability depends on country, account, and eligibility.
Key features
- Writing assistance
- Planning and brainstorming
- Multimodal questions
- Google AI subscription upgrades
Limits to know
- Image availability and controls depend on the current account; identity fidelity is not guaranteed.
AI assistant and model platform for reasoning, coding, writing, and conversational work, with separately billed APIs.
Best for: Chat assistance or separately metered model API workflows
Free plan: Consumer chat and API access are separate. API tokens deduct from purchased or granted balance; free chat does not mean free API inference.
Key features
- AI conversations
- Reasoning tasks
- Coding assistance
- Writing help
Microsoft's AI assistant for everyday questions and work, with additional Copilot capabilities in Microsoft 365 plans.
Best for: Everyday assistance and eligible Microsoft 365 workflows
Free plan: Standalone Copilot and Microsoft 365 subscriptions have different access. Premium app features require a qualifying plan; do not assume all Office features are free.
Key features
- Conversational assistance
- Word drafting assistance
- Excel analysis assistance
- PowerPoint creation
AI search and research assistant that returns source-linked answers, with free and paid research options.
Best for: Source-linked web research and questions
Free plan: Standard (free): 3 Pro Searches per day, 1 research query per month, practically unlimited basic searches, limited file uploads; no advanced AI models, file/app creation, image generation or Comet Assistant queries. API is pay-as-you-go with no complimentary credits.
Key features
- Source-linked answers
- Web search
- Research tools
- Model choice on eligible plans
Limits to know
- Standard is free with basic access and limited advanced usage. Paid plans increase research and model allowances; API usage is billed separately.
- Citations are starting points: a real URL can still support a different claim.
Explore text, image, video, and audio AI bots in one platform, including official models and community-created bots.
Best for: Comparing AI models and exploring specialised bots
Free plan: Non-paying users receive daily points that reset without rolling over. Subscriptions add points and access; each bot has its own consumption rate.
Key features
- Official model bots
- Community-created bots
- Image and video models
- Per-bot point budgets
Duck.ai offers browser-based AI conversations with a choice of models.
Best for: Private browser chat and short drafts
Free plan: Free chat is available with limits; DuckDuckGo subscriptions add model access. Check the official access page rather than assuming every model is free.
Key features
- Browser chat
- Model selection
- Text summaries
- Email drafting
Limits to know
- Browser history is device-specific, not a cross-device project archive
- Model availability and usage caps differ between free access and subscriptions
Mistral's Vibe assistant, formerly Le Chat, for chat, research, document work, coding sessions, and connected tasks.
Best for: AI chat and Web search
Free plan: Free includes limited messages, searches, and coding sessions. Pro, Team, and Enterprise expand access; API billing is separate.
Key features
- AI chat
- Web search
- Document work
- Coding sessions
Hugging Face's chat interface for exploring open-model assistants with automatic or manual model selection.
Best for: Exploring community and open-model chat assistants
Free plan: The hosted chat service is accessible without a subscription purchase shown on its public page. Model availability can change; no unlimited-usage guarantee is made.
Key features
- Open-model chat
- Automatic model selection
- Manual model selection
- ML Intern mode
An AI assistant built into Brave for webpage and PDF questions, summaries, translation, search, and connected model choices.
Best for: Brave Leo suits readers who want to ask questions about the page already open in their browser.
Free plan: Leo has continuing free browser access without a separate signup. Availability and usage limits can depend on traffic; Premium offers higher access and model choices. Bringing your own model can introduce separate provider or local hardware costs. Verify the current model list in the browser and read its processing settings.
Key features
- Webpage questions
- PDF summaries
- Brave Search context
- Bring-your-own-model connections
Limits to know
- Usage availability varies with the access tier
- Browser and model settings affect supported workflows
Quick decision guide
- Want to avoid entering a card? Brave Leo.
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which free AI chatbot should I try first?
Try two with the same real task, such as summarizing a document you know well. Compare accuracy, tone and how quickly you hit limits.
Do free chatbots keep my conversations private?
Policies differ. Some use chats to improve models unless you opt out. Avoid sharing confidential data and review each provider's privacy settings.
Which chatbots and assistants here need no credit card?
Based on the official pages we reviewed, Brave Leo is listed as not needing a credit card to start. Confirm at sign-up, because plans change.
How current is this list?
Tool details were last reviewed 2026-10-15 from official pages. Free plans change often, so check the linked pricing page before you rely on a limit.