If you want an AI like ChatGPT, the useful question is what you want it to do differently. Some alternatives are better suited to sourced web research. Others focus on documents, coding, social apps, fewer refusals, or keeping chat history off the provider's servers. A free label can still mean a small daily allowance, fewer models, or limited tools.
This comparison covers 11 standalone chatbots and Secret Chat AI. It uses official product and help pages for competitor facts. The table gives the quick view; the notes below explain the limit that may change your choice.
AI Tools Like ChatGPT at a Glance
| Name | Maker | Free tier | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Anthropic | Yes | Writing, coding, files and web search |
| Gemini | Yes | Mixed media, Google tools and complex questions | |
| Grok | xAI | Yes | Web and X search, files, voice and media |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek | Yes | Reasoning, web search and text extraction |
| Perplexity | Perplexity | Yes | Web answers with source links |
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft | Yes | Web-grounded chat, writing and images |
| Meta AI | Meta | Yes | Voice, images and social-app access |
| Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat) | Mistral AI | Yes | Web search, documents and coding |
| Duck.ai | DuckDuckGo | Yes | Anonymous access to several chat models |
| Proton Lumo | Proton | Yes | Writing, summaries and encrypted saved history |
| Venice | Venice AI | Yes | Open models and local browser history |
| Secret Chat AI | OPOSSUM DOO | Yes | Several model families, AI Council and generators |
11 Chatbots and Websites Like ChatGPT
Claude
Anthropic's Claude is a strong fit for writing, coding, file work and web search. Its free plan includes chat on web, desktop and mobile, plus files, code execution and Artifacts. Research and some higher-end tools are excluded, and usage limits still apply.
Gemini
Google's Gemini handles everyday drafting and summaries as well as text, files, images and video on its more capable models. People without a paid AI plan still get model access, though Google sets lower limits and a smaller context window for that tier. Some features also require a Google account.
Grok
xAI makes Grok, a general assistant with real-time web and X search. It also accepts files and offers voice, image and video tools. You can start free, but paid plans raise the limits and unlock more of the product.
DeepSeek
DeepSeek's official app combines chat with web search, a reasoning mode, file uploads and text extraction. The company presents the app as free. Its terms of use say it may use de-identified inputs and outputs to improve the service, with an opt-out in the settings, which matters if you are comparing data practices as well as model quality.
Perplexity
Perplexity is closer to a conversational search engine than a blank writing canvas. It searches the web, summarizes what it finds and links to the original sources, so it is useful when you want a trail to check. It has a free plan, and paid plans add more.
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is useful for web-grounded questions, brainstorming, summaries and image creation. Basic chat is free and does not require sign-in. A Microsoft account is needed for chat history, longer conversations, voice and some creation features, while deeper Microsoft 365 integration depends on an eligible plan.
Meta AI
Meta AI runs in its own app and across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. It is useful for voice chat, web questions, image creation and tasks tied to Meta's social products, and its everyday core remains free. Features vary by country, and personalized answers can draw on profile information and activity you have shared across Meta products.
Mistral Vibe
Mistral AI's Vibe, called Le Chat until May 2026, combines web search and document work with a coding agent and image generation. It has a free plan, which makes it a capable general-purpose alternative. The free plan limits messages, web searches, coding sessions and image generation.
Duck.ai
DuckDuckGo's Duck.ai routes chats to several third-party models through its anonymizing service. It needs no account for basic use, keeps recent chats on the device and works well for quick questions, summaries and email drafts. The free service has a daily usage limit, and its most advanced models sit outside the free tier.
Proton Lumo
Proton's Lumo focuses on writing, summaries, translation, coding and web-assisted answers. Guest access is free, while a free Proton account adds saved history protected with zero-access encryption. That free history lasts 7 days, and messages, image generations and stronger-model use are limited.
Venice
Venice AI offers chat mainly through open models and stores conversation history in the local browser rather than on its servers. Its providers can see the text of the individual request they process, though Venice says they do not see the user's identity or full history. Free access is capped each day, and premium models and media tools use separate allowances.
Free AI Like ChatGPT
Every standalone service in this roundup offers a free route, but they are not interchangeable. DeepSeek presents its official app as free. Claude, Gemini, Grok, Perplexity, Vibe and Venice limit usage or reserve some models and tools. Duck.ai has a daily cap. Lumo allows guest use, then gives registered free users a limited saved history. Microsoft Copilot works without sign-in, though signing in opens more features. Meta AI keeps its everyday core free.
Secret Chat AI has a free daily quota of $0.02 per browser or device. It covers ChatGPT and Gemini on their fast tiers, DeepSeek USA, Perplexity and the free AI Council Duet of DeepSeek plus ChatGPT. It resets at 00:00 UTC. Claude, Grok, attachments, voice, work generators and media generation are paid.
Where Secret Chat AI Fits
Most apps in this list give you one company's assistant. Secret Chat AI puts ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek USA, GLM Abliterated and Perplexity behind one interface and one prepaid dollar balance. There is no subscription. Packs start at $12, the balance never expires, and failed generations cost nothing.
The AI Council sends one question to several models in parallel. A referee compares their claims, builds a disagreement table, keeps claims that at least two models support, and flags points to verify. Agreement is useful evidence, but it is not proof.
There are also 11 work generators for presentations, charts, tables, documents, resumes and other common jobs, plus Image and Video generators. Standard and Uncensored levels let you choose a stricter or lighter screen. The lighter level is for lawful fiction, satire, dark themes, clinical material, politics and creative work; it still blocks sexual content involving minors, terrorism and real threats of violence, and each provider can still refuse a request. Read the full explanation on the uncensored AI hub.
The Privacy Trade-Off
Secret Chat AI stores no chat archive on its side. History lives in your browser, no profile is built from your chats, providers see the service rather than the person asking, and requests are never used for training. That is the useful part of the design.
The limit matters just as much. Every prompt, picture and document goes verbatim to the chosen third-party model provider, and the OpenAI moderation classifier sees each request before it is sent. Provider retention may still apply. Remove names and sensitive details yourself before sending anything.
For a closer comparison, see Secret Chat AI vs Duck.ai, Secret Chat AI vs Proton Lumo, or Secret Chat AI vs Venice AI.