Everybody has an opinion about AI assistants. Few people have actually used all three seriously.
I use AI tools every day – for coding, writing, research, and building a startup. I’ve spent real money on ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced. Here’s what I actually think after months of daily use.
The short answer
If you’re in a hurry:
- Best for writing and analysis: Claude
- Best for everyday tasks and plugins: ChatGPT
- Best if you’re already in Google’s ecosystem: Gemini
- Best free option: Gemini (most generous free tier)
Now let me explain why.
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
The one that started it all. GPT-4o is fast and capable. The plugin ecosystem and custom GPTs give it an edge for specific workflows.
What it does best:
- Image generation (DALL-E built in)
- Plugin ecosystem (browsing, code interpreter, third-party tools)
- Custom GPTs for repeated tasks
- Voice mode is genuinely useful
Where it falls short:
- Often “too helpful” – gives you what you want to hear instead of what’s true
- Longer responses tend to lose coherence
- The free version (GPT-4o mini) is noticeably worse
Price: Free (limited) / Plus $20/month / Pro $200/month
Best for: People who want one tool that does everything okay.
Claude (Anthropic)
My personal daily driver for serious work. Claude is better at understanding nuance, following complex instructions, and producing genuinely useful long-form content.
What it does best:
- Long document analysis (200K token context window)
- Coding assistance (especially debugging and refactoring)
- Honest answers – more likely to say “I don’t know” than hallucinate
- Writing that sounds human, not robotic
- Artifacts feature for creating documents, code, and visualizations
Where it falls short:
- No image generation
- Smaller plugin/integration ecosystem than ChatGPT
- Can be overly cautious sometimes
Price: Free (limited) / Pro $20/month
Best for: Developers, writers, analysts, and anyone who values accuracy over flash.
Gemini (Google)
Google’s entry into the AI race. Tightly integrated with Google Workspace, which is its biggest strength and limitation.
What it does best:
- Google Workspace integration (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive)
- Real-time web access built in
- Most generous free tier – Gemini 2.0 Flash is free and very capable
- Strong at research and fact-checking with sources
- Google Lens integration for image understanding
Where it falls short:
- Responses can feel generic and corporate
- Creative writing is weaker than ChatGPT and Claude
- Less predictable – quality varies more between queries
Price: Free (Gemini 2.0 Flash) / Advanced $20/month (Gemini 2.0 Pro)
Best for: People deep in the Google ecosystem who want AI integrated into their existing workflow.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | ChatGPT | Claude | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Coding help | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Research | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Image generation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Free tier | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Integrations | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Accuracy | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price (paid) | $20/mo | $20/mo | $20/mo |
What I actually use
Honestly? I use Claude for 80% of my work. Coding, writing, analysis, brainstorming. When I need image generation I open ChatGPT. When I need to search my Gmail or summarize a Google Doc, I use Gemini.
The “best” AI assistant is the one that fits your workflow. But if I had to pick just one, it would be Claude.
My recommendation
Just starting out with AI? Start with Gemini free. It’s the most capable free option and you probably already have a Google account.
Ready to pay for better results? Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus – both $20/month. Try both for a month and keep the one you use more.
Using AI for work every day? You probably need two. I’d pick Claude + ChatGPT.
Don’t overthink it. All three are good enough. The real difference is whether you actually use AI daily or just think about it. Pick one and start.
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Updated: February 9, 2026