Since the launch of ChatGPT, AI chatbots have exploded in popularity. Their ability to perform a wide array of tasks, from coding and email composition to report drafting and art generation, has revolutionized both personal and professional workflows. But with the rise of ChatGPT, many competitors emerged, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. This post explores ten of the best AI chatbots available in 2025 to Talk to AI Characters Online, based on extensive testing and expert reviews.
What is the Best AI Chatbot Right Now?
As of May 2024, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, supercharged with its GPT-4o language model, takes the crown as the best overall AI chatbot. Its improvements addressed major pain points, surpassing competitors in capabilities. However, occasional server outages necessitate having a reliable backup option.
The Best AI Chatbots of 2025
This list encompasses a range of chatbots catering to diverse needs and preferences. Each entry details key features, pros, cons, pricing, and the underlying Large Language Model (LLM).
1. ChatGPT
ChatGPT leverages OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT-4o (and GPT-4o mini during peak usage) language model, providing exceptional performance across numerous tasks, including writing, summarization, coding, translation, and conversation. Its access to current events and free availability make it an incredibly valuable resource.
- Price: Free
- Language Model: OpenAI’s GPT-4o
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date
- Key Features: Text generation, math problem solving, coding, conversational capabilities.
2. Microsoft Copilot
Powered by GPT-4 Turbo, Copilot offers comparable intelligence to ChatGPT. Its October 2024 rebranding introduced a modern, user-friendly interface and several new features, including Copilot Voice (similar to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode), all for free. Copilot already possessed many of the features later added to the free version of ChatGPT, such as access to current events, source attribution, internet browsing, and image/document uploading.
- Price: Free
- Language Model: OpenAI GPT-4
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date; functions like a search engine.
- Pros: Internet access, source linking.
- Cons: Bing-based; not as robust as ChatGPT.
3. Anthropic’s Claude
Launched in February 2023, Claude excels in conversational responses across various domains (coding, math, writing, research). Its significant advantage lies in its privacy-focused approach. Anthropic transparently states that user prompts are only used for model training under specific circumstances (Trust & Safety review, explicit reporting, or user opt-in). While a free version exists, Claude Pro offers increased usage limits for $20/month.
- Price: Free (with limitations), $20/month (Pro)
- Language Model: Claude 3 model family
- Current Events Capability: Limited (knowledge cutoff at 2023)
- Pros: Document upload support, chat controls, light/dark mode.
- Cons: Unclear usage cap, knowledge cutoff.
4. Jasper
Jasper is a paid AI chatbot specifically designed for integrating into workflows. It lacks a free plan; access requires a subscription. The least expensive option, the Creator plan ($49/month), targets freelancers and solopreneurs. Its strength lies in its extensive tools for generating marketing copy, including grammar and plagiarism checks, over 50 writing templates, SEO insights, and brand voice memory.
- Price: Starts at $49/month
- Language Model: Various LLMs
- Current Events Capability: Varies depending on the chosen model
- Pros: Diverse writing templates, copyediting features, plagiarism checker.
- Cons: Requires a subscription, steep cost.
5. You.com
You.com functions as an AI-powered search engine, providing real-time web results alongside conversational responses. Its standout feature is the Custom Model Selector, allowing users to switch between several leading AI models (OpenAI’s GPT-4, Anthropic’s Claude variants, Google’s Gemini Pro, and Zephyr). This offers convenient access to various advanced models within a single platform.
- Price: Free (with limitations for GPT-4 access)
- Language Model: Multiple leading LLMs
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date; accesses the internet.
- Pros: Readily available, free, source citing.
- Cons: Answer quality varies, GPT-4 requires a subscription.
6. Writesonic’s Chatsonic
Chatsonic is an AI chatbot within the Writesonic platform, focusing on professional writing. It functions similarly to ChatGPT, assisting with various writing tasks. Writesonic also offers other tools like an instant article writer, article rewriter, and SEO tools. A free version exists but limits daily generations to 25. Paid plans start at $12/month.
- Price: Starts at $12/month
- Language Model: Model-agnostic LLM framework
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date
- Pros: Current events awareness, various use cases, free trial.
- Cons: Requires sign-in, potential lag.
7. Google Socratic
Socratic is an AI chatbot app (iOS and Android) designed for educational purposes, particularly for children. It assists with homework by providing conversational answers to questions, accompanied by engaging graphics. It also allows students to scan worksheets for curated answers. The app deliberately avoids generating essays or stories, encouraging active learning.
- Price: Free
- Language Model: Google’s model
- Current Events Capability: Not applicable; focuses on educational content.
- Pros: Free, educational, user-friendly.
- Cons: Does not generate text, no desktop version.
8. HuggingChat
HuggingChat is an open-source chatbot developed by Hugging Face. While usable as a standard chatbot, its primary value lies in its customizability. It provides a platform for building and deploying personalized chatbots tailored to specific needs. This is ideal for developers and AI enthusiasts seeking control over the chatbot’s functionality.
- Price: Free
- Language Model: Customizable
- Current Events Capability: Potentially up-to-date, depending on the model used.
- Pros: Free, clean UI, customizable.
- Cons: Requires intermediate/advanced skills, account creation needed.
9. Perplexity.ai
Perplexity.ai blends the best of AI chatbots and search engines. It provides conversational responses while simultaneously delivering relevant web results, akin to a more sophisticated search experience. It offers prompt suggestions based on current events, enhancing its usefulness.
- Price: Free (with GPT-3), Paid (with GPT-4)
- Language Model: OpenAI’s GPT-3 and GPT-4 (subscription)
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date; accesses the internet.
- Key Features: Hybrid search and chatbot functionality, prompt suggestions.
10. Gemini (formerly Google Bard)
Gemini is Google’s offering, integrating the familiar Google experience into an AI chatbot. Its LLM and user interface are designed for ease of use and efficiency. It benefits from Google’s vast knowledge base and access to the internet through Google Search, providing relevant and helpful writing assistance.
- Price: Free
- Language Model: Gemini 1.5 Flash
- Current Events Capability: Up-to-date via Google Search
- Key Features: Writing assistance, integration with Google ecosystem.
Which AI Chatbot is Right for talk to ai characters?
While ChatGPT emerges as the best overall chatbot, the ideal choice depends on specific needs. Jasper excels in business-ready copy, Perplexity combines search and chat seamlessly, and Socratic caters to educational needs. The table below summarizes the best use cases for each chatbot:
| Need | Recommended Chatbot |
|---|---|
| Best overall, wide range of capabilities | ChatGPT |
| Up-to-date information, free, easy to use | Copilot |
| Privacy-focused | Claude |
| Optimized hybrid search and chatbot | Perplexity.ai |
| Marketing copy generation, extensive writing tools | Jasper |
| Access to multiple advanced LLMs | You.com |
| Article writing, current events awareness | Chatsonic |
| Google-integrated experience | Gemini |
| Educational tool for children | Socratic |
| Customizable chatbot development | HuggingChat |
Factors to Consider When Choosing to talk to ai characters
Several factors influence chatbot selection to talk to ai characters online:
- Price: Free vs. subscription-based.
- Language Model (LLM): The underlying AI model determining capabilities.
- Knowledge Cutoff: The latest date the chatbot’s knowledge base is updated to.
- Internet Access: Whether the chatbot accesses real-time information.
- Source Linking: Whether the chatbot provides citations for its information.
- Best Use Cases: The tasks the chatbot excels at.
This comprehensive overview should empower you to select the AI chatbot that best aligns with your requirements and preferences. Discover the 10 best AI chatbots to talk to AI characters online! Explore top AI-powered platforms for roleplaying, storytelling, and fun conversations with virtual personalities. Read more on Update Valley.
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