Three tools dominate the consumer AI world right now. You'll hear all three names constantly. Here's the plain-English version.
ChatGPT (from OpenAI)
The one that started it all when it launched in late 2022. Still the default for most people.
- Best at: general writing, brainstorming, explanations. Huge ecosystem of custom "GPTs" built by other people.
- Quirks: confident tone, even when wrong. Can sound a bit "corporate AI".
- Free tier: yes, good enough for most casual use.
- Paid (ChatGPT Plus, around £20/mo): faster model, image generation, voice mode.
Gemini (from Google)
Google's answer. Baked into Gmail, Docs, and your Android phone.
- Best at: anything that needs to look things up on the web. Gemini has Google Search under the hood. Also very strong on images and documents you upload.
- Quirks: cautious. Refuses more requests than the others. Heavy Google-ecosystem vibe.
- Free tier: yes.
- Paid (Gemini Advanced, around £19/mo): better model, deeper integration with your Google account.
Claude (from Anthropic)
The thoughtful one. A favourite of writers, coders, and anyone who wants long, careful replies.
- Best at: long-form writing, nuanced analysis, code. Feels the most "human" to talk to.
- Quirks: slightly more conservative on some topics. No image generation built in.
- Free tier: yes.
- Paid (Claude Pro, around £18/mo): higher usage limits, access to the best model.
If you only pick one
Honestly, for 80% of tasks, any of the three will do. But if you're starting from scratch:
- Just want to dip in? ChatGPT free tier.
- Google already runs your life? Gemini.
- You write a lot and care about quality? Claude.
Try it: the same prompt, two different AIs
Reading about the differences is one thing. Seeing them is another. Type any prompt below and watch ChatGPT and Claude answer side by side. You'll quickly learn which one feels right for which kind of work.
Try a few different prompts. A creative one, a factual one, something you'd actually ask AI tomorrow morning. Notice which one you prefer the answer from, and ask yourself why. That is you building a real intuition for which tool to reach for.
The real tip
The biggest gains don't come from switching tools. They come from writing better prompts. A weak prompt in the "best" AI will lose to a strong prompt in the free tier of any of these every single time.
That's what the next module is all about.