General assistants that help you write, plan, code, and get things done. We compare the top AI assistants on capability and price.
An AI assistant is a general helper you talk to in plain language. It writes and edits, explains and researches, plans and codes, and works through problems with you. For many people it has become the first place they turn for almost any task.
This category covers broad, all round assistants rather than narrow single purpose tools. Below you can compare them on how well they reason, what they can do, and price.
One interface for GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Llama, and more — compare AI models side by side
Modern assistants draft and edit writing, summarise documents, explain hard topics, brainstorm, write and debug code, analyse data, and hold a conversation that builds on what you said before. Many can also work with images and files and search the web for current information, which widens what they can help with.
Most people are best served trying two or three with their own tasks, since the feel matters as much as any benchmark. Favour reasoning and file handling for work, tone and editing for writing, and web access if you need current answers. Free tiers are usually generous enough to judge fit.
Give context and be specific about what you want, including format and length. If the first answer misses, say what was off rather than starting over, because the back and forth is where these tools shine. Verify anything factual, since a confident tone is not the same as being right.