ChatGPT alternatives: which AI instead of ChatGPT?

First the reason, then the alternative

"What is the best AI?" cannot be answered without knowing what bothers you about ChatGPT or what it lacks. The most common reasons for switching are text quality, data protection, missing sources, integration with Google or Microsoft services and, since the end of August 2026, the ads that ChatGPT shows on its free plan in Germany.

Each of these reasons leads to a different alternative. The following sections are ordered accordingly, with the scores from our tests where we have reviewed a tool ourselves. Prices are as of September 2026.

For better texts and long documents: Claude

Claude leads our overall ranking with 4.5 points, ahead of ChatGPT at 4.4. The lead comes from working with text: analysing long documents in one go, clean German prose, naming uncertainties instead of guessing. The free tier is enough to try it out; Pro costs 20 dollars a month.

What is missing is image generation. If you need that alongside text, stay with ChatGPT or add an image tool. We wrote up the head-to-head comparison in our article Claude vs. ChatGPT.

For Google users: Gemini

Gemini (4.2 points) gets the most out of its closeness to Gmail, Google Docs, Drive and Calendar. The free version is generous; the Google AI Plus subscription now costs 4.99 euros a month in Germany, AI Pro with the stronger model and plenty of storage 21.99 euros. For households already paying for Google storage, that is often the cheapest upgrade.

On data protection we gave it 3.5 points, the weakest score among the assistants: in the private version the link to the Google account is far-reaching and should be configured deliberately. For companies, processing can be governed by contract through Google Workspace.

For research with sources: Perplexity

If you mainly use ChatGPT as a search engine, Perplexity (4.2 points) serves you better. Every statement carries a footnote with its source, and that is exactly where general-purpose assistants fail most often. Pro costs 20 dollars a month, and the company's own browser, Comet, has been free for everyone since autumn 2025.

For writing longer texts, Perplexity is weaker than Claude or ChatGPT. It complements research rather than replacing everything.

From Europe: Le Chat, now Vibe

Paris-based Mistral renamed its assistant Le Chat Vibe in May 2026 and added modes for work and coding. At 4.2 points it is level with Gemini and Perplexity, but achieves the best scores among the assistants for data protection (4.5) and value for money (4.6): a vendor under European law, with open models you can run yourself if need be.

In multi-step analysis Vibe is a class behind the leading American models; for emails, summaries and drafts it is perfectly good. For public authorities, law firms and mid-sized companies with strict requirements it is the obvious alternative. Price information varies by source between 14.99 dollars and 17.99 euros a month; the pricing page at the time of purchase is what counts.

At the office: Microsoft Copilot

For companies working with Microsoft 365, Copilot is the alternative that feels least like a switch: in the Word document, in Outlook and in Teams, with the permissions that already apply, and according to Microsoft without training on the content. For consumers there is a free Copilot app; the Microsoft 365 plans for individuals include AI features with a monthly allowance.

Microsoft renamed its consumer plans several times in 2026, so a look at the current pricing page is worthwhile before subscribing. Which office tasks genuinely pay off with AI is covered in our article on AI applications in the office.

With caution: DeepSeek, Meta AI and Grok

China's DeepSeek is free and capable but problematic under data protection law. In June 2025 the Berlin data protection commissioner reported the app to Apple and Google as illegal content because data is transferred to China without adequate safeguards; Italy had the app blocked. That rules DeepSeek out for work data. Its open models can, however, be run locally, in which case nothing leaves the computer.

Meta AI is built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook and can be used there without an extra account. Meta uses public posts by European users for training unless they object; how to do so is explained in our article on Meta AI in WhatsApp. xAI's Grok processes requests in the United States. All three are fine for private curiosity, none for confidential content.

Specialists and local models

Sometimes the best alternative is not an assistant at all. For translation, DeepL beats any chatbot, and for rephrasing, DeepL Write, as our article Rewriting text with AI shows. And if you want full control over your data, run an open model on your own computer; how is explained in our article on local AI with Ollama and LM Studio.

All the assistants we have tested, with scores, prices and data protection ratings, are in the AI assistants & chatbots category.

In short: Claude for better texts, Gemini for Google users, Perplexity for research with sources, Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat) for data protection from Europe, Copilot for Microsoft 365 companies. DeepSeek, Meta AI and Grok only for harmless content. DeepL for translation, a local model for full control over your data.