Which AI to Choose as a Beginner? A Guide by Use

You want to try an AI, but there are many of them and you don’t know which one to pick. This guide does not name a winner. It gives you simple criteria to choose based on your situation.

This site is independent. It is not affiliated with any AI provider and does not earn any commission.

Start with what you want to do

Start with the use, not the name of an AI. Here is what to look at for each need.

• Write an email or a letter. Check whether the tone of the text suits you and whether you can easily ask for a new version. See reply to an email with an AI and write a letter in Word.
• Summarize a PDF. Check whether the AI accepts file uploads in its free version, and whether the summary stays faithful to the document. See summarize a PDF with an AI.
• Look up information with sources. Check whether the AI says where each piece of information comes from, and whether you can open those sources. See find reliable information.
• Work in Word or Excel. Check whether the AI works inside these programs or whether you have to copy and paste. See an Excel formula with an AI.
• Use it on your phone. Check whether an app exists for your device (iPhone or Android) and whether it suits how you plan to use it.

Compare the six AIs on the same criteria

The two tables below use the same columns for every AI. The rows are in alphabetical order, with no ranking.

Account, free use, age

AI	Try without an account	Free version	Minimum age
ChatGPT	Yes: you can use it without an account, but conversations are not saved	Yes	13; between 13 and 18, parental consent
Claude	No: an account is required	Yes, with a usage limit	18
Copilot	Yes on the web: signing in is optional according to Microsoft (it gives access to conversation history)	Yes	13 according to Microsoft, sometimes higher depending on the country
Gemini	Partly: some features without signing in, others with a Google account	Yes (free plan and paid plans)	13, or the age allowed in your country for a personal Google account; 18 for a work account
Mistral (Vibe, formerly Le Chat)	To check on the official site chat.mistral.ai	Yes (“Free” plan)	13; between 13 and 18, consent from a parent or guardian
Perplexity	Yes, with limits (Pro search, file uploads and history require signing in)	Yes	13; between 13 and the age of majority, a parent or guardian must accept the terms

All free plans have usage limits that vary. Paid plans and their prices are on the official websites: no prices are given here.

Where to use it

AI	Web browser	PC app (Windows, Mac)	Mobile app (iPhone, Android)	In the browser
ChatGPT	Yes	Yes	Yes	Extension for Chrome and Edge
Claude	Yes	Yes	Yes	Chrome extension, reserved for paid plans
Copilot	Yes	Yes	Yes	Built into the Microsoft Edge browser
Gemini	Yes	Yes (for Mac: Apple Silicon chip)	Yes	“Gemini in Chrome”: In France, Gemini in Chrome is not on the official list of supported countries as of the verification date
Mistral	Yes	No: use it in the browser	Yes	No extension
Perplexity	Yes	Yes	Yes	No extension

The exact requirements (Windows or macOS version, type of Mac) are in each installation guide.

When you have an idea, move on to installation: ChatGPT on the web, Claude on the web, Copilot on the web, Gemini on the web, Mistral on the web or Perplexity on the web.

Look at your environment

The tools you already use can guide your choice.

• Word, Excel, Outlook. All AIs can help you if you copy and paste a text or a table (anonymized). Some work directly inside these programs, depending on your subscription. This is the case for Copilot with an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription: see Copilot in Word.
• Google account. Gemini works with a Google account.
• Where the company is based. If this matters to you, Mistral AI is a French company based in Paris, according to its terms of use.
• Copy and paste. If you have none of these tools, that is not a problem: copy and paste is enough.

Check account, free use and age before you choose

Before you install, check three things: whether you need an account, whether the free version is enough, and whether you meet the minimum age. The first table gives the general picture. Offers change, so confirm on the provider’s official website.

To go further, read free AIs in French and create an account and sign in.

Test two AIs on the same task

The most reliable method is still to try. Here is how.

1. Copy and paste the same request into two AIs.
2. Use the same data, either fictional or anonymized.
3. Compare the answers on four points: clarity, accuracy, tone, ease of use.
4. Check the facts yourself, without relying on how confident the answer sounds.

Example request Write a polite email to postpone an appointment from [day] to [day]. The tone should be courteous and the message short.

Example request Explain what [concept] is in three simple sentences, as if I knew nothing about it.

To write more precise requests, see how to write a good prompt. A “prompt” is simply the request you write to the AI.

Take the quiz

The quiz is free, requires no sign-up, and does not use AI. It runs entirely in your browser: your answers are not sent to a server. It points you toward options based on how you plan to use it, your devices and your budget. It is not a ranking. Its rules are public on how we make recommendations.

To go further: the differences between AI tools, criterion by criterion, free or paid AI and how to recognize an AI’s official site.

Good habits

• Check. An AI can make mistakes. Re-read and verify important information, especially on health, money and law.
• Protect your data. According to the CNIL, avoid entering personal data into a generative AI as much as possible. Never share confidential information.
• Use [brackets]. Ask the AI to leave [brackets] in place of personal information, then fill them in yourself.
• Re-read before you send. The final text is yours.
• Go back to the official sites. Screens and offers change: ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Mistral, Perplexity.