Compare Perplexity - AI Search Assistant, ChatGPT - AI Assistant, and AI Assistant by xAI: Which App is the Best?
A smart search app that gives you direct answers with sources, instead of just showing you websites to visit. It is a good alternative to ChatGPT. | The official ChatGPT mobile app brings OpenAI's powerful AI assistant to your pocket with voice conversations, image generation, and seamless cross-device sync. | Grok is xAI's AI assistant that combines real-time information access with a witty personality, offering text generation, image creation, and seamless X platform integration. | |||||
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 8.2 Winner in this category | 8.1 | 7.3 | ||||
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ | — ⭐ | ||||
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free | Free | ||||
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads | Downloads | ||||
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | | | ||||
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Perplexity has all the features you'd want from an AI search tool, plus some nice extras that make it really useful. What We Like Most:
| 9.5 ChatGPT has a lot of cool features that make it useful for pretty much anyone. It's not just a chat app - it can do a bunch of different things. What ChatGPT Does Best 1. Smart Chatting: This is where ChatGPT really shines. It's better at having natural conversations than any other AI app we've tried. You can ask it anything from "What's the weather like?" to "Help me plan a trip to Japan" and it just gets it. It remembers what you talked about earlier in the conversation, so it feels like talking to someone who's actually listening. You can have long conversations and it keeps track of everything. 2. Voice Chat: This feature is really cool. You just tap the microphone button and start talking. The app shows a little wave animation so you know it's listening. It's like talking on the phone, but with an AI. We tested this a lot and it works really well. It understands what you're saying most of the time, and responds quickly. Great for when you're driving or cooking and can't type. 3. Making Pictures: You can tell ChatGPT to make pictures for you. Just describe what you want to see, and it creates an image. This costs money though - it's only in the paid version. We tried asking it to make pictures of things like:
The results were pretty good. Not perfect, but definitely usable. 4. Works Everywhere: The best part is that your conversations follow you around. Start a chat on your phone, then open it on your computer and it's all there. Really handy when you switch between devices. 5. Photo Help: You can take a picture of something and ask ChatGPT what it is. We tried this with:
It's pretty good at figuring things out. The main downside is that the free version is pretty limited. You only get the older AI model, which isn't as smart as the paid version. A lot of users complained about this - they want the good stuff without paying. Winner in this category | 8.0 Grok's feature set is impressive and comprehensive. The real-time information access is what really sets it apart - you can ask about current events and get up-to-the-minute answers that other AI assistants simply can't provide. The multimodal capabilities are particularly strong, with image generation that produces striking visuals and the ability to analyze uploaded images providing valuable insights. The integration with X platform is seamless and adds significant value for users already invested in that ecosystem. Grok's personality features, including its witty responses and rebellious tone, make interactions more engaging than typical AI assistants. Key Features:
However, we noticed that some advanced features are locked behind the X Premium+ subscription, which may limit accessibility for casual users. | ||||
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The app runs smoothly most of the time. We tested it on different devices and network conditions, and it usually responds within a few seconds. The voice recognition works well even with background noise. Search results load quickly, and the app handles complex questions without crashing or freezing. The sync between devices works reliably, so you can switch between your phone and computer seamlessly. We did notice some slowdowns during peak hours, and occasionally the app would take longer to respond to very complex questions. Some users have reported connection issues, but we didn't experience any major problems during our testing. Overall, it performs well for an AI app. The occasional hiccups are minor and don't really affect the user experience. Winner in this category | 8.0 The app runs smoothly most of the time. You can chat with the AI without any delays or problems, and it loads quickly. The voice chat works really well too. There's almost no delay between when you speak and when the AI responds. The voice recognition is accurate, and the conversation feels natural and smooth. However, we did run into some problems during busy times. The app can get slow or even stop working when lots of people are using it at once. This mostly affects free users since paid users get priority access. The sync feature works great - your conversations show up quickly on all your devices. Even with long chat histories, the app stays responsive and doesn't slow down. One area that could be better is the image generation. It can take a while to create images, especially for complicated requests. This makes sense given how much work it takes, but it can be frustrating if you're in a hurry. The app doesn't drain your battery too much, though using voice chat will use more power than just typing. Overall, it runs well and doesn't cause problems with your phone. Winner in this category | 8.0 The extension performs seamlessly, allowing you to interact with Grok without any lag or interruptions. The app handles text generation efficiently, and the image generation feature produces results quickly while maintaining good quality. The integration with X platform works smoothly, with minimal latency when accessing real-time information. Performance Highlights:
We did notice occasional performance variations, particularly during peak usage times, but these were infrequent and didn't significantly impact the user experience. The app maintains good stability across different devices and network conditions. The multimodal features, including image analysis and generation, perform consistently well, though some users have reported occasional delays with complex requests. Overall, the performance meets expectations for a modern AI assistant application. Winner in this category | ||||
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The app looks clean and modern, which makes it easy to use. We really like how simple the interface is - there's no clutter or confusing buttons.
There have been some recent updates that confused users at first, but the design team seems to be listening to feedback and making improvements. Overall, it's a good-looking app that's easy on the eyes. | 9.0 The app looks clean and simple, which makes it easy to use right away. We really like how it focuses on the conversation instead of trying to look fancy. What we love most is how easy it is to tell who said what:
Simple, but it works really well. The voice chat interface is really nice too. When you're talking, you see a little wave animation that moves with your voice. It's a small thing, but it makes you feel like the app is actually listening. Getting around the app is straightforward. There's a simple menu button that gives you access to settings and your chat history without cluttering up the main screen. Some people said the app looks a bit plain compared to other AI apps. We get that - it's not flashy, but that's actually what makes it work so well. You can focus on talking to the AI without getting distracted by fancy graphics. Winner in this category | 7.0 The design is clean and functional, following modern mobile app conventions. The interface is intuitive with a familiar chat-based layout that users will find immediately recognizable. The dark theme with X's signature styling creates a cohesive brand experience that feels premium and polished. The app's visual hierarchy is well-structured, making it easy to distinguish between different types of content - text responses, generated images, and interface elements. Design Highlights:
However, we found that the design could benefit from more customization options and that the interface occasionally feels somewhat basic compared to more feature-rich competitors. The minimalist approach works well for the core functionality but may leave power users wanting more advanced interface options. | ||||
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The free version is surprisingly good. You get most of the core features without paying anything, which is rare these days. We tested the free version extensively and found it works great for everyday use.
What we really like is that the free version doesn't feel like a limited trial. You can use it indefinitely without feeling like you're missing out on essential features. That's refreshing compared to other apps that constantly push you to upgrade. For most people, the free version is all you need. Only upgrade if you find yourself hitting the limits or need the advanced features. Winner in this category | 6.0 ChatGPT has a free version that you can use without paying anything. It gives you basic chat features with the older AI model, which is fine for simple questions and casual conversations. But the $20/month price for the good features is pretty steep. The paid version gives you:
That's a lot of money for an app that many people think should be free. Some users in the reviews were really frustrated about this. They got used to the free features and then found out the good stuff costs money. The paid version is worth it if you use AI a lot for work, school, or creative projects. The better AI model gives much more detailed and helpful responses, and the image generation can be really useful. We think it's most valuable for people who need AI help regularly. If you just want to ask the occasional question, the free version is probably fine. But if you want to do serious work with AI, the paid features are actually worth the money. The voice features and syncing work on both free and paid versions, which is nice. But the way they limit the free version to push people toward paying feels a bit aggressive. | 6.0 Grok's value proposition is somewhat mixed. The requirement for X Premium+ subscription ($16/month) creates a significant barrier to entry, especially when compared to free alternatives like ChatGPT or other AI assistants. However, for users already invested in the X ecosystem, Grok provides unique value through its real-time information access and distinctive personality. Value Breakdown:
The premium features, including advanced image generation and priority access, do offer tangible benefits, but the cost may be prohibitive for casual users. We found that the value is most apparent for power users who can leverage the real-time information capabilities and advanced features regularly. For occasional users or those primarily interested in basic AI assistance, the subscription requirement may not justify the cost compared to free alternatives. | ||||
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 9.0 This might be the easiest AI tool we've ever used. You literally just open it and start asking questions - no setup, no learning curve, no complicated menus. We tested it with people who aren't very tech-savvy, and they figured it out immediately. The voice feature is especially intuitive - you just tap the microphone and start talking. The app responds quickly, and the conversation flow feels natural. You can ask follow-up questions without having to repeat yourself, which makes it feel like talking to a real person. Everything is where you'd expect it to be:
That's why we gave it a 9 out of 10. It's so simple that anyone can use it, but it still has enough features to be useful for power users. Winner in this category | 9.0 This might be the easiest AI app to use. It works right away - no complicated setup or learning curve. Downloading it is simple, and it works on both iPhones and Android phones. Once you open it, you can just start typing or tap the microphone to talk. That's it. The voice feature is really easy to use:
The chat interface looks like any other messaging app you've used - WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc. So it feels familiar right away. Your conversations are organized clearly, and you can easily find old chats. Even though it has lots of features, nothing feels overwhelming. The advanced stuff like making images is there if you want it, but it doesn't get in the way of basic chatting. The only confusing part is figuring out what's free and what costs money. The app could do a better job of showing you what you're missing out on with the free version. That's why we gave it a 9 out of 10. It's super easy to use, though some of the fancier features take a little time to figure out. Winner in this category | 8.0 Grok is remarkably easy to use, especially for users already familiar with chat-based AI interfaces. The onboarding process is straightforward, and the app's core functionality is immediately accessible. The chat interface is intuitive, with clear input areas and well-organized response layouts. We particularly loved how the app handles different types of interactions - text conversations, image generation, and image analysis - all through a unified interface that doesn't overwhelm users. The integration with X platform is seamless, making it easy for existing X users to access Grok. What Makes It Easy:
However, we did notice that some advanced features might not be immediately discoverable for new users, and the subscription requirement could be clearer during the initial setup process. | ||||
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 7.0 Security and privacy get a 7 out of 10 from us. The app uses standard security practices like encryption, which is good. The privacy policy is clear about what data they collect and how they use it. You have some control over your data:
However, some users have concerns about how much data is being collected for AI training. The privacy controls could be more detailed and easier to access. We'd like to see more options for users who want to limit data collection. Overall, it seems safe to use, but we'd recommend reading the privacy policy if you're concerned about data collection. Winner in this category | 7.0 We gave ChatGPT a 7 out of 10 for security and privacy. It uses standard security practices, which is good, but there are some things to be aware of. The good news is that OpenAI is pretty open about how they handle your data. You can easily find their privacy policy in the app, and they explain what they do with your information. However, there are some concerns. The app collects a lot of your personal data:
OpenAI says they use this to make their AI better, but that means they're storing and potentially using your private conversations. We noticed that some users were worried about the sync feature. Since your conversations are stored on OpenAI's servers (not just on your phone), they can access everything you've said. This is what makes the cross-device sync work, but it also means your chats aren't really private. The voice chat feature is convenient, but it also means your voice is being recorded and stored. You should know that your voice conversations could be used to train the AI. OpenAI does give you some control - you can delete your chat history and opt out of some data collection. But these options are kind of hidden and not easy to find. Winner in this category | 7.0 Grok's security and privacy practices are generally solid, with xAI implementing standard industry practices for data protection. The app requires appropriate permissions and follows modern security protocols for user authentication and data transmission. However, we noted some concerns about data sharing practices, particularly regarding the integration with X platform and potential data usage for training purposes. Security & Privacy Features:
Users should be aware that conversations and interactions may be used to improve the AI model, which is common practice but worth noting for privacy-conscious users. The app does provide basic privacy controls, but we found the privacy policy could be more transparent about specific data usage and retention policies. Overall, the security measures appear adequate for typical use cases, though users with high privacy requirements may want to review the detailed privacy terms. Winner in this category | ||||
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | We've been using Perplexity for a while now and honestly, it's become our go-to when we need quick, reliable answers. It's super easy to use and the fact that it shows you where it got its information from is really helpful. The free version is great for most people, but if you use it a lot, the Pro version is worth considering. If you want a search tool that actually gives you good answers instead of just links, definitely give Perplexity a try. | ChatGPT is still the best AI chat app out there. It's really good at conversations and has lots of useful features. The free version is okay for basic stuff, but if you want the good features, you'll need to pay for the premium version. | Grok stands out as a unique AI assistant with its real-time information access and distinctive personality. While the requirement for X Premium+ subscription may be a barrier for some users, those who invest in the platform will find a powerful AI tool that combines humor, intelligence, and current awareness in an engaging package. | ||||
| Our Recommendation | |||||||
