7 BEST ChatGPT Alternatives (Free & Paid)

Robert_Stark

ChatGPT has been making headlines, but it's not the only AI bot in town. Often the ChatGPT servers are overloaded, you're locked out, or it lacks answers due to its lack of current event knowledge. So why settle for the status quo?

We'll break down the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular alternatives to ChatGPT. Whether you're a business owner looking to streamline your marketing or simply curious about the latest AI chatbots, we've got you covered.

What is ChatGPT? 

Chatbots are a staple of science fiction and are fast becoming a reality with artificial intelligence (AI) advances. ChatGPT is at the forefront with reams of press coverage.

ChatGPT is an AI language model which uses natural language processing (NLP) to communicate with people in human-like speech. Our ChatGPT primer covers its use extensively. You can ask a question, and ChatGPT will answer it similarly to a teacher, friend, or guide.

GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is an AI trained on vast text data, including books, articles, and web pages. ChatGPT can answer questions, provide information, and even act as a companion.

But as with any technology, ChatGPT has its limitations. One of its most significant drawbacks is that its training and knowledge only goes up to September 2021, which means it may lack up-to-date information on current events or knowledge. So, it doesn't know who won the Superbowl and can't directly access the internet to find out.

Despite its limitations, ChatGPT's popularity has fueled significant interest in AI-powered chatbots. Now, many companies offer alternatives, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Whether you seek a more sophisticated chatbot or want to explore cutting-edge AI technology, we are looking at the best alternatives to ChatGPT.

Best ChatGPT Alternatives 

1) ChatSonic: ChatGPT writing alternative 

ChatSonic is ideal for writing blog posts as it uses the same AI technology as ChatGPT while improving on its limitations. For instance, accuracy is likely to be enhanced with ChatSonic because it's integrated with Google and can access the public internet to stay up to date with current trends.

ChatSonic can understand voice commands like Siri or Alexa do. You can create a custom persona to help with your questions/writing, providing a more personalized approach to AI. 

Geared toward businesses, ChatSonic can generate digital artwork to help with your design. If you're looking to write blog posts, create engaging content, or streamline your business operations, ChatSonic is a promising alternative to ChatGPT worth exploring. 

Cost: Free trial for the first 6250 words. A sliding payment scale starting at $12.70 per month (depending on the number and quality of the words.) 

Available to public: Yes 

G2 score: 4.8 stars, 1161 reviews 

2) Jasper: ChatGPT alternative for generating marketing content 

Jasper is an AI-powered content platform for businesses and content creators. Built on the same technology as ChatGPT - GPT-3.5 - Jasper offers over 50 copywriting templates designed to meet your business marketing needs. For instance, it can help generate Facebook ads or long-form content.

Jasper Chat is an extension with a chat-style interface similar to ChatGPT. However, its proprietary algorithm targets business use prompts, providing a shorter learning curve than ChatGPT.

One of the standout features is its multilingual support, allowing businesses to create content or communicate easily with global audiences. With the ability to understand at least 30 languages, Jasper Chat is a powerful tool for bridging language barriers and connecting with audiences worldwide.

Jasper streamlines content creation, engages audiences, and drives conversions for businesses and content creators. Its advanced natural language processing and copywriting templates offer a powerful alternative to traditional writing methods.

Cost: Free trial. A paid subscription starts at $49 monthly for 50,000 words and up to 5 users. Prices increase when you require more words or users. 

Available to public: Yes 

G2 score: 4.7 stars, 1125 reviews

3) Perplexity AI: Best ChatGPT alternative for search 

Perplexity AI is a chatbot-style search engine that scours the web for relevant information and compiles it into an answer. It also uses OpenAI's GPT-3 model to answer complex questions accurately.

At first click, it seems like the no-frills version of chatbots as there is no need to create an account, the layout is plain, and the maximum answer length is 255 characters. But one primary difference from other chatbots is you can check the source of the information as it provides hyperlinks.

This handy feature verifies the provided information is accurate before you use it as your own. One drawback is that, like ChatGPT, it may sometimes be unavailable due to the number of people using it.

Cost: Free 

Available to the public: Yes 

G2 score: Not available 

4) Replika: My AI Friend 

Seeking an AI chatbot designed to be your friend and provide emotional support? Meet Replika, available on your smartphone.

Replika is a unique chatbot powered by artificial intelligence that creates a safe, judgment-free space to talk about your thoughts and feelings. With its advanced NLP capabilities, Replika can help you understand your emotions, track your mood, and work towards your goals.

One standout feature is that you can customize your avatar to look and act like you. As you chat with Replika, it develops its own personality and memories alongside you, making it feel like a natural companion.

Whether looking for a friend, romantic partner, or mentor, Replika is here to help you improve your mental well-being and work towards a happier, more fulfilling life. With over 10M+ users, Replika provides a trendy format.

Cost: Free version to chat. Monthly charge from $5 per month. 

Available to public: Yes 

Google Play score: 3.4

5) Character AI: Your AI companion 

Experience a new level of AI-powered conversation with Character AI, the ultimate chatbot experience for entertainment and creativity.

Character AI lets you chat with over 100 different personalities, including:

• Elon Musk 
• Super Mario  
• Karl Marx 
• Tony Stark

What's more, the AI changes its conversational style to match the personality of the character you're interacting with. So, if you're chatting with Elon Musk, expect some ego!

Built on advanced neural language models, Character AI is designed for fun and entertainment, and you can even create your own bot.

It's free, but to access all its features you'll need to create an account. And while everything is made up, it's still a great way to pass the time and explore your imagination.

Cost: Free 

Available to public: Yes 

G2 score: NA

The following two NLP chatbot programs – Google Bard and Microsoft's Prometheus Model – are publicly unavailable. They are still in the trial phase but will be released to the market quickly. 

6) Google Bard: Your new AI chat companion 

Google Bard, the search giant's latest experimental AI technology, has recently entered the testing phase. Built on a super-light version of LaMDA, Google's most advanced language and conversation model, Bard promises to deliver next-level chat capabilities without any heavy lifting. One difference is Bard will continually draw new information from the internet, whereas the ChatGPT dataset is historical.

Google Bard's first public demonstration on Twitter resulted in an incorrect answer, causing a $100 billion drop in market value.

But as with any new technology, there are potential risks to consider. Ethicists warn of biased answers, increased plagiarism, and the spread of misinformation, as AI bots are designed to fill gaps in knowledge, sometimes leading to incorrect answers. 

Currently only available to "trusted testers," Google plans to make Bard more widely accessible in the coming weeks, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-powered chat capabilities. 

Cost: TBA 

Available to the public: Not yet. 

G2 score: NA 

7) Microsoft Prometheus: A Google Search Alternative 

Microsoft is shaking up the world of search with a new ChatGPT-style search technology. Powered by ChatGPT, it's touted as your web browsing co-pilot and designed to provide a seamless experience that combines search, browsing, and chat.

With the release of new versions of its Bing search engine and Edge browser, Microsoft aims to revolutionize how we use the internet with a chat GPT-style interface.

As the race to win the new era of search heats up, this announcement is just the starting pistol. However, the question remains whether Bing's integration with ChatGPT technology will be enough to win users away from Google. Watch this space for more updates on the next generation of AI-powered probes.

Cost: TBA 

Available to the public: You can sign up at Bing while still in the trial phase. 

G2 score: NA

Chatbot Limitations and Concerns  

AI has come a long way recently, and chatbots are increasingly popular. While these chatbots offer numerous benefits, all AI chatbots have limitations. 

• Lack of Common Sense: Chatbots can only operate within their programmed parameters and lack the intuition and knowledge we have. They can't interpret and understand contextual clues. As a result, they may provide incomplete or inaccurate responses and struggle with abstract or complex concepts. 
• Responses: Chatbots rely on their training data to generate answers; if that data isn't factual and reliable, they will not provide you with accurate or correct information. 
• Bias and Inaccuracies: Chatbots are susceptible to bias and inaccuracies in their responses, especially when trained on partial or incomplete data. 
• Communication: Chatbots are very good at generating human-like language, but they don't have emotional intelligence, so if you are upset and trying to have a conversation, they may not respond appropriately to frustration or sadness. In certain situations, this is a definite disadvantage. 
• Lack of Creativity: While chatbots can generate text and respond to questions, they don't possess true creativity, as they are limited to the data they have been trained on and cannot generate new ideas or concepts. 
• Privacy Concerns: As chatbots are not generally programmed to store conversations, there is no particular concern about privacy. However, knowing that the API (application programming interface) you use to access the program could do this is essential.

Looking to explore the world of AI-powered chatbots beyond ChatGPT? Whether you're a business looking to improve content marketing, a writer needing inspiration, or just looking for a companion to talk to, there's a chatbot for you.

While these chatbots offer exciting possibilities, it's important to remember that they are not without limitations. As AI technology evolves, it's crucial to consider the potential risks of biased answers, increased plagiarism, and the spread of disinformation.

Understanding these concerns and taking appropriate steps to mitigate them is crucial. By doing so, we can utilize the power of AI chatbots and reap the benefits of making our lives more productive, efficient, and enjoyable.