Too many options, too little time
When you first decide to try AI, you run into a dozen names: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Perplexity… They all promise something similar, and it's hard to know where to start. The good news: at their core they're very similar — all are "large language models" (LLMs) that understand and write text. The differences are in the nuances, and those nuances are exactly what help you choose.
The main players
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Most versatileThe best-known and most versatile. A huge community, plenty of guides, good for almost everything — from copy to ideas. It has a free tier and a paid one (more advanced models, image and document processing).
Google Gemini
Google ecosystemBest if you already live in the Google world — connected to your account, Gmail, and Docs. Handy for search and working with documents.
Claude (Anthropic)
Longer textsKnown for a pleasant tone and working with long documents — excellent for writing, summarizing, and analyzing larger texts.
Microsoft Copilot
Built into OfficeIf you work in Word, Outlook, and Excel, Copilot is right there — helping directly inside the tools you already use.
Perplexity
Search + sourcesA different approach: it answers and cites sources. Best when you need information with a reference you can verify.
Which one for what?
- For everyday writing and ideas → ChatGPT or Claude
- If you use Google tools → Gemini
- If you write in Office → Copilot
- When you need a source for the information → Perplexity
Free or paid?
Almost all offer a free tier that's plenty to get started. Paid versions (usually around €20/month) bring smarter models, image processing, and higher limits. My advice: start free, and only pay once you feel the limits getting in your way.
My recommendation
Don't look for "the best" — look for the one that fits you. Pick two or three, give them the same task (e.g. "write an email to a patient who's late for a check-up"), and compare the answers. Within a week you'll know exactly which one became your right hand.
Conclusion
All of these tools are powerful and all of them will save you time. The difference isn't "who's the smartest," but which one fits your way of working best. Try them — it's free, and first-hand experience is worth more than any comparison table.
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