Which General AI Tool Is Best For You?

A simple guide for new AI users navigating the crowded landscape

With hundreds of AI tools out there—and new ones launching every day—it can be overwhelming for a new user to finally bite the bullet and try one. These tools are supposed to save time and money, but where do you even begin? We’ll evaluate each model by: Price, Live internet searching, Best use case, Weakness, and Standout feature.

Let’s break it down. Here's a look at the top general-use AI models and when to use each one.

The Current Most Popular AI Models

• ChatGPT by OpenAI
• Grok by X (formerly Twitter)
• Gemini by Google
• Llama by Meta
• Claude by Anthropic
• DeepSeek by DeepSeek (China)

Best All-Purpose AI Tool: Perplexity

Wait you didn't list this model. That is because Perplexity is a combination of different models and you can choose which one you would like to use for each task. The current selection of models is ChatGPT-4, Claude 3, Mixtral, and their in house model PX. The ability to switch between models will give new users the experience they need in navigating AI tools for different tasks. Some of these models have the ability to search the live web, so your information will be accurate and up-to-date. You can sign up for the free or paid version of $20/mnth. With Perplexity you may not get the latest AI models when it is first released, but they have done a good job of acquiring the powerful models within a few months.

Most Customizable Tool: ChatGPT

ChatGPT is my go to model. I have spent hours on it's Assistant feature which is a separate backend that allows you to create custom AI's and connect them to other programs. Although the front end is very powerful and competes with the other top AI models, ChatGPT's unique backend is what makes it standout. Open AI currently has 7 active models a pro user can choose between. Some models are best for image generation while other are best for browsing research papers, the ability to choose your model makes ChatGPT a very versatile AI tool. Much like Perplexity there is a free version to test and a pro version for $20/mnth.

Best for News and Trends: Grok

It is no surprise that Grok created by X (Twitter) is the best at providing up-to-date information of current world events. Grok searches through posts on X as it's news source which can also make it limiting if you are looking for information that is more formal like City bylaws. Grok is also known for it's more casual answers, while other AI models can be patronizing and longwinded. Although it lacks customization Grok is the best in it's niche for social media use cases. The pro version is also a lower price of $8/mnth.

Best Free Models: Llama or DeepSeek

Llama by Meta and DeepSeek are both open source free models that anyone can use. Open source means anyone can view the code under the hood which allows people to take models and customize AI be programming. Open source usually requires more industry knowledge and you will need to follow the respective companies to know when updates are being released. Llama being linked to Meta and Facebook is most powerful with social media tasks and automations. On the other hand DeepSeek is owned and operated out of China which presents a risk on if governments will limits it's future use and it's use of data collection, but it is still a powerful all around AI tool.

Best for Google Users: Gemini

Not surprisingly Gemini, created by Google, integrates very well with Google products like Gmail, Android Phones, Google Sheets and Docs. Like the other models it is a general use case AI tool that can handle most problems and can use Google itself to search the web for live results. Although Gemini's longer thread problem solving seems to go off track after many responses, for Google business and individuals Gemini offers the full suite of the power of AI tools and provides a perfect setup for new users and is worth the $20/mnth for the pro version for those users.

Summary Comparison

The goal of this article is to inform people who have never used AI to try one of the tool listed above so they can cut through the hype of the current AI landscape. Hopefully the information provided allows you to avoid frustration and guides you into choosing a platform that can grow with your use. There are many other AI tools that are great for general use like Claude and other's that specialise in specific uses like Mistral for coders, Midjourney for Images, HeyGen for video, but I will cover specific AI Tools next week.

Thanks for reading! Follow for more tips on Everyday AI Use.