Which AI should I use? / Free vs paid AI plans: what do you really get?

⚖️ Free vs paid AI plans: what do you really get?

“Is the free version of ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini or Claude good enough, or should I pay?”

Short answer: For everyday questions, the free versions are good enough for most people, so start free. Pay only when you hit limits or want an AI to do chores for you: Grok Bot, our pick for chores, needs certain paid plans, as do ChatGPT's always-on helper, Gemini inside Gmail and Docs, and Claude Code and Claude in Chrome. Plans and prices change often, so check each company's current plan page before you pay.

#1 · Our pick

Grok Bot

Worth paying for when you have repeat chores to hand off; paid plans only, with its own separate usage.

Visit Grok Bot ↗

ChatGPT

Free app covers chat, voice and photos; agent features depend on your plan.

Visit ChatGPT ↗

Gemini

Free plan includes the app, Deep Research and Gemini Live; Gmail and Docs features need a paid Google AI plan.

Visit Gemini ↗

Claude

Free plan includes chat, web search, memory and connecting apps; Claude Code and Claude in Chrome need a paid plan.

Visit Claude ↗

Side by side

	Grok Bot	ChatGPT	Gemini	Claude
Free to start	No, paid plans only	Yes	Yes	Yes
What paying adds	Bots that do chores while you're away	More usage and agent features	More usage, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, more storage	More usage, scheduled tasks, Claude Code, Claude in Chrome
Where to check today's plans	x.ai Grok Bot page	Inside the ChatGPT app	gemini.google/subscriptions	claude.com/pricing

Tips

Use the free version for two weeks and write down every time you hit a limit.
Pay for one assistant at a time, not all of them.
Set a calendar reminder a few days before any free trial ends.
Watch for surprise charges; they can mean your login leaked.

Try this first prompt

I use AI for: [list what you do with it each week]. Based only on that, tell me whether a free plan is likely enough, which limits I might hit, and what questions to ask before I pay. Don't quote prices; tell me to check the current plan page. Stop after that.

Step-by-step guides

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I hit usage limits, or a cheaper or better model came out.

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Sources

Plans and features change often — check the maker's site. Picks are editorial and never for sale. Not advice.