Independent AI buying guide

No paid rankings

Last checked 26 Oct 2026

Which AIshould I buy?

The verdict

Best free AI

Don't want to pay? These are the best free AI plans right now, what they can do, and where their limits are.

The verdict

Rankings updated 26 Oct 2026

Use this

Claude Free

Free

Score 80/100 · powered by Claude Sonnet 5.5 (limited use)

Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026

Claude Free is the best free option for everyday use (80/100), thanks to Claude Sonnet 5.5.

Second-best free

Lumo Free

Free

Score 75/100 · powered by GLM 5.3 (limited use)

Source: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

Also free

Meta AI Free

Free

Score 72/100 · powered by Muse Spark (limited use)

Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

Is the free plan enough?

Mostly

The best free option, Claude Free, covers the basics: it scores 82% of the best paid subscription in the same tests.

Right as of 26 Oct 2026. New models and price changes come out often, and we re-check every week. Check back before you buy or renew.

The full ranking

Best AI overall: every subscription we could verify.

  1. Gemini Google AI Pro

    €21.99/movia Gemini 4 Argon

    98based on 4 of 5 tests

  2. Claude Pro

    $20/movia Claude Opus 5.5

    97based on 4 of 5 tests

  3. ChatGPT Plus

    $20/movia GPT-6 Astra

    92based on 4 of 5 tests

  4. Lumo Plus

    $9.99/mo, billed yearlyvia GLM 5.3

    83based on 3 of 5 tests

  5. Perplexity Pro

    $17/mo, billed yearlyvia Gemini 3.1 Pro

    82based on 5 of 5 tests

  6. Meta AI Free

    Freevia Muse Spark (limited use)

    72based on 3 of 5 tests

  7. DeepSeek Free

    Freevia DeepSeek V4 Pro (limited use)

    71based on 5 of 5 tests

  8. Vibe (Le Chat) Pro

    $14.99/movia Mistral Medium 3.5

    55based on 2 of 5 tests

Best free: Claude Free · Best value (paid): Claude Pro

How this list is made

Scores combine these independent tests (weights in brackets). 100 = the best model from the companies we cover. A subscription gets the score of the best model it includes. Full method.

  • Arena: overall chat (40%): Millions of people compare two anonymous AI answers and pick the better one. Data checked 26 Oct 2026.
  • Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (27%): A combined score over many independent tests of knowledge and reasoning. Data checked 19 Oct 2026.
  • GPQA Diamond (13%): PhD-level science questions that can't simply be googled. Data checked 26 Oct 2026.
  • SimpleQA Verified (13%): Short factual questions: does the AI know the answer or make something up? Data checked 19 Oct 2026.
  • LiveBench: reasoning (7%): Logic puzzles and spatial reasoning. Data checked 26 Oct 2026.

Leaderboard data: Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0 · Benchmark data: Artificial Analysis (artificialanalysis.ai) · Epoch AI, 'Capabilities & benchmarking', epoch.ai/benchmarks, CC BY 4.0 · Benchmark data: LiveBench (livebench.ai)

The picks up close

Our opinion first, then the sourced facts behind it.

Top pick

Claude Free

By Anthropic · Free

Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026

Our take (opinion, reviewed 7 Oct 2026)

Strong at writing and long, careful work with documents and code.

Good for

  • Long writing and editing work
  • Developers who want a coding agent included

Not for

  • People who want to make images

AI models included

  • Claude Haiku 5.5 (limited use)Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026The plan lists the model family; the version comes from the same page's list of current models.
  • Claude Sonnet 5.5 (limited use)Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026The plan lists the model family; the version comes from the same page's list of current models.

What you get with Free

  • Chat on web, desktop and mobile, with web search and file creation.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Memory carries across conversations.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Free covers everyday questions.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Chat on web, desktop, and mobile for freeSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026

Strengths

  • Free plan includes web search, file creation and code running.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Memory across conversations is included on every plan.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Claude Code is included in all paid plansSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Works in Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365 on Pro and MaxSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026

Limitations

  • Your chats may be used for model training unless you opt outSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Usage limits apply and there is no fixed message count.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Prices shown do not include applicable taxes.Source: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Usage limits reset every five hours, with weekly caps on paid plansSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Claude Code is not included in the free planSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Model training on your chats is on by default, with an opt-outSource: Anthropic · verified 26 Oct 2026

All Claude plans and prices →
Official site: claude.ai ↗

Runner-up

Lumo Free

By Proton · Free

Source: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

Our take (opinion, reviewed 9 Oct 2026)

Proton's privacy-first assistant from Switzerland, built on open-source models. Not as capable as the big names, but your chats stay private.

Good for

  • Privacy-minded people
  • People who already use Proton Mail or Drive

Not for

  • Anyone who needs the most capable AI available

AI models included

  • GLM 5.3 (limited use)Source: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

What you get with Free

  • Usage is limited for messages and chat historySource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Image generations are limitedSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Only one project includedSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Basic chat history, web search and small file uploads includedSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Limited image generations and only one projectSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Limited Max model usageSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

Strengths

  • Chats are protected by zero-access encryption so only you can read themSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • A free plan is available without creating an accountSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Lumo does not use your chats to train its AISource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • A free plan is available without a credit cardSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Chats are protected with zero-access encryptionSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Chat data is erased after each response is generatedSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Keeps no logs of questions or repliesSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Lumo is built and based in EuropeSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Lumo never keeps your data or uses it to train its AI modelsSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

Limitations

  • Free plan has limited messages, images and projectsSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Plus price shown is billed yearly at $119.88Source: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Free plan has limited usage of models, messages, images and projectsSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Web search is off by default and must be enabledSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Feedback on Apertus 1.5 answers is shared with Proton and research teams if you submit itSource: Proton · verified 26 Oct 2026

All Lumo plans and prices →
Official site: lumo.proton.me ↗

Best free option

Meta AI Free

By Meta · Free

Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

Our take (opinion, reviewed 9 Oct 2026)

Meta's free assistant, built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, powered by its Muse models.

Good for

  • Quick questions inside apps you already use
  • Trying a capable AI for free

Not for

  • People who'd rather not share data with Meta

AI models included

  • Muse Spark (limited use)Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

What you get with Free

  • Free to use for everyday useSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Thinking mode for complex questions with advanced reasoningSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Conversational voice mode in 13 languagesSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can research topics and write in-depth reports with citationsSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can help you stay organized, shop and complete tasksSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Works on phones, web, desktop, AI glasses and inside other apps.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can analyze uploaded files and images, including several at once.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can answer questions, generate images, and help with coding and shoppingSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can read photos and files you uploadSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can launch several sub-agents at once to answer a complex question fasterSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can generate images during voice conversations in the appSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can search Facebook Marketplace listings near you in shopping modeSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

Strengths

  • Meta AI is free to use for everyday use.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Works inside WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and FacebookSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Free AI assistant built by MetaSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can answer questions, reason through complex problems and generate imagesSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Available on phones, web, desktop, glasses and inside WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Can see and understand photos of what you are looking at, not only textSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Meta AI can run several subagents at once to answer a single question.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Meta AI can generate images during voice conversations.Source: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

Limitations

  • Usage limits are being tested on some compute-heavy featuresSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Heavy users may be offered a paid subscription to unlock more usageSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026
  • Paid subscription offered once daily or monthly limits are hitSource: Meta · verified 26 Oct 2026

All Meta AI plans and prices →
Official site: www.meta.ai ↗

Questions people ask

What's the catch with free AI?
Usage limits, older or smaller models on busy days, and sometimes your chats are used to improve the product. Check the privacy settings.
Can I use several free AIs?
Yes. When you hit the limit on one, switch to another.

How did we pick these? Read how we rank. Want every plan side by side? See the full comparison.

Other verdicts

Head to head

Two AIs side by side, on the same test scores as our rankings.

Is it worth it?

Prices per AI