Best overall
ChatGPT Researched
The most widely used AI assistant, with a broad set of tools and integrations.
8.6Editorial score 8.6 out of 10Free tier; business plans from around $25–30 / user / monthIndicativeRead review
Vote
Best AI Assistants
General-purpose chat assistants for drafting, analysis, research and everyday knowledge work.
Read the full buying guide: Best AI Assistants for BusinessAlso see: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Copilot
TL;DR — quick picks
- Best overall: ChatGPT (8.6/10) — general knowledge work.
- Best value: Mistral Le Chat (value 8.6/10).
- Easiest to adopt: ChatGPT (ease 9.3/10).
- Best with a free plan: ChatGPT.
Ranked shortlist
Ranked by overall score, calculated from six weighted criteria for AI tools products. “Best for” labels come from our buying guide.
Best for Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Copilot Researched
AI built into Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, grounded in your organisation's data.
8.5Editorial score 8.5 out of 10Add-on licence around $30 / user / month for business plansIndicativeRead review
Vote
Best for writing and documents
Claude Researched
A thoughtful AI assistant known for long documents, nuanced writing and coding.
8.4Editorial score 8.4 out of 10Free tier; team plans from around $25–30 / user / monthIndicativeRead review
Vote
Best for Google Workspace
Google Gemini Researched
Google's AI assistant, built into Workspace apps like Gmail, Docs and Sheets.
8.4Editorial score 8.4 out of 10Free tier; included with many Google Workspace business plansIndicativeRead review
Vote
Best for research
Perplexity Researched
An AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources.
8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10Free; Pro around $20 / month; Enterprise from around $40 / userIndicativeRead review
Vote
7.9Editorial score 7.9 out of 10Free; Pro around $15 / month; Team from around $25 / userIndicativeRead review
Vote
Comparison table
| Tool | Score | Best for | Starting price (indicative) | Free plan | ≈ 10 seats / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 8.6 | Best overall | Free tier; business plans from around $25–30 / user / month | Yes | $250 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | 8.5 | Best for Microsoft 365 | Add-on licence around $30 / user / month for business plans | Yes | $300 |
| Claude | 8.4 | Best for writing and documents | Free tier; team plans from around $25–30 / user / month | Yes | $250 |
| Google Gemini | 8.4 | Best for Google Workspace | Free tier; included with many Google Workspace business plans | Yes | $140 |
| Perplexity | 8.2 | Best for research | Free; Pro around $20 / month; Enterprise from around $40 / user | Yes | $200 |
| Mistral Le Chat | 7.9 | Best European option | Free; Pro around $15 / month; Team from around $25 / user | Yes | $150 |
“≈ 10 seats” is the cheapest paid plan that fits ten users at indicative list prices. Flat-priced products show “—”.
Build your own decision matrix
Our ranking uses fixed weights. Your priorities may differ — re-weight the six criteria and the shortlist re-orders instantly. Print it or download a CSV to share with your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ChatGPT | 9.4 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 8.56 |
| 2. Microsoft 365 Copilot | 8.8 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 8.46 |
| 3. Claude | 8.8 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.44 |
| 4. Google Gemini | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 8.43 |
| 5. Perplexity | 8.4 | 9.0 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 8.15 |
| 6. Mistral Le Chat | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 7.2 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 7.94 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
Buyer’s guide: choosing an AI assistant
Choose a business plan for business data
Team and enterprise plans typically exclude your conversations from model training and add admin controls, shared workspaces and SSO. Consumer plans may not.
Test with your own tasks
Benchmarks rarely reflect your work. Give each assistant the same five real tasks — a client email, a spreadsheet question, a policy summary — and compare.
Consider where you already work
If your team lives in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, the assistant built into that suite may offer the smoothest experience.
Set an AI use policy first
Before rolling out, write down what data may and may not be entered, who reviews AI output, and which account type staff must use. A one-page policy prevents most AI-related incidents.
Key features to look for
Model quality
Strong reasoning, writing and analysis across everyday business tasks.
File & data analysis
Upload documents, spreadsheets and PDFs to summarise or analyse.
Business privacy controls
Admin console, no training on your data, retention controls and SSO.
Integrations
Connections to email, docs, drives and calendars.
Custom assistants
Reusable assistants or projects with your own instructions and files.
How AI assistant pricing works
| Pricing model | What to know |
|---|---|
| Per user per month | Team and business plans priced per seat, often with annual discounts. |
| Usage-based API | Pay per token for developers building their own tools. |
| Suite add-ons | Assistants sold as an add-on to an existing productivity suite. |
Run the numbers: AI Tool ROI Calculator
Evaluation checklist
- Data is excluded from training on your plan
- Admin console and usage controls
- File and document analysis
- Integration with your office suite
- Predictable per-seat pricing
Common mistakes to avoid
- Letting staff use personal free accounts with company data.
- Buying seats for everyone before running a pilot.
- Treating AI output as fact without review.
- Ignoring data-retention and training settings.
- Expecting one assistant to be best at everything.
AI assistant comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Do business AI plans train on my data?
Business and enterprise plans from major vendors generally state that customer data is not used for training by default. Check the current terms for the specific plan.
Which AI assistant is best?
It depends on your work and existing tools. Suite-integrated assistants suit heavy users of that suite; standalone assistants often lead on model quality and flexibility.
Which AI assistant is most accurate?
All current assistants can produce confident errors. Accuracy varies by task, so verify important facts and use tools that cite sources for research.
Can several people share one AI account?
Sharing personal accounts usually breaches terms and removes admin controls. Team plans are designed for multiple users.