The Best ChatGPT Alternative

There are plenty of reasons to want a ChatGPT alternative.? If the platform goes down, should your entire business come to a screeching halt?? What happens if they change their prices and things get unaffordable for you?

I have seen quite a few lists of the best ChatGPT alternatives and I notice that they are usually made by companies selling a more expensive, inferior or both type of product. I don’t like that at all.

Critical Qualities of a ChatGPT Alternative

There are a few things that a ChatGPT alternative needs to get me to consider adding it to my list of tools and this list.

1. Not ChatGPT - More than 90% of the bot, tools and “ai writers” out there are simply reskins of ChatGPT. They are built on top of ChatGPT and use their API. That’s not an alternative, that’s the same tool in a different outfit.? These tools are a waste of time and are never as good as the original.
2. Free Tier - At the very least, each AI needs a free level where you can kick the tires and really take the tool through its paces before you start to spend any money.? ChatGPT has a free tier, so any alternative needs to match that offer.
3. True AI - A lot of models are actually using heuristics rather than a true AI.? They are basically slot machines that roll a random answer, but the answer is limited by the data set in its memory. These look like AI but over time, the quality of output plummets as answers continue to repeat.
4. Monthly Subscription - For a paid AI to work, it has to use server space and computational power. When an AI tool has a “lifetime” price that is a massive red flag because it goes against the core way these tools have to function. You either have a false AI or a tool that is going to go out of business when they can no longer afford their hosting fees.
5. AI Only - There are a TON of tools that have added “AI” functionality.? From email providers to project managers. None of these are an AI at the core level, which means they are at best bolting on AI to their core framework.? Adding two tires to a motorcycle does not turn it into a care.

My Favorite AI Tools and ChatGPT Alternatives

Each of these tools meets my core criteria for this list and is something that I would actually use as part of my workflow.? None of these are expensive tools and this is not about promoting a product I have a financial relationship with. In fact, I am not an affiliate for any of these tools. (and many platforms that I am an affiliate for didn’t make the cut.)

1 - Anthropic Claude is the AI With a Long Memory

Claude was built by engineers who split off from OpenAI several years ago to pursue a slightly different vision.? This is the AI that is most similar to ChatGPT simply because most of Claude’s engineers worked on ChatGPT in the past.

Claude has a longer memory than ChatGPT and uses that advantage to full effect. If you’re working on a longer research project or a novel, it makes sense to use Claude’s longer memory.

Like ChatGPT, Claude has an API that you can use to build your own tools and bots.

2 - Perplexity is the Perfect Research Assistant

They have added some research functionality to ChatGPT via plugins and GPTs but they don’t come close to what Perplexity can do. This tool was built from the ground up as a research assistant that always shares its sources.

Other AIs have tried to add this feature, but it always feels like an afterthought.? Perplexity has the ability to use the ChatGPT API, the Claude API or their own in-house AI.? They have grown into something very interesting and this tool should definitely be in your toolbox.

3 - Bing AI is the best AI Search Engine

The relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft can be a little confusing, so I’ll try to simplify it. Microsoft invested money and resources into OpenAI and owns 49% of OpenAI.? As part of their deal, all tech flows upward from OpenAI into Microsoft.? This means that every development immediately gets copied to Microsoft. This sharing only works in one direction.

If you use the Bing Image Generator, this is actually the same engine you have to pay OpenAI to use. When you use their text and chat tools, you get free use of the paid version of ChatGPT.??

If you’re on a limited budget and only need to generate a few images or ask a few questions, Bing AI is the best solution. It will act just like ChatGPT…because it IS ChatGPT.? There is no need to learn anything new here, it’s the same tool in a different outfit.

4 - Google Bard is Better than you Think

When Google announced Bard shortly after ChatGPT 3.5 took the world by storm, they moved a little too early.? Bard answered a question wrong about a telescope and everyone decided that Bard was no good. ChatGPT has gotten tons of answers wrong, that’s why they have a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen.

They just didn’t do it at their big unveiling event.

Ever since then people have mostly ignored Bard despite the massive funds and engineering teams Google has thrown into building their AI.

That mistake was over a year ago and now Bard is worth a second look.

5 - Playground is Another way to Approach OpenAI

ChatGPT is far from OpenAI’s only AI model.? You can play with other models in their aptly named OpenAI Playground.? You can fine tune models, create complicated instructions and test different AI models all in their simple dashboard.

This is a kind of like seeing the part of the cruise ship not meant for guests. You can see the pipes and inner workings of the different models.? This is a very different approach to AI and you may prefer it to ChatGPT.??

This tool is free and the paid models are pay per use, so significantly cheaper than ChatGPT’s flat monthly fee.

6 - Stability AI is the Graphic Engine that Could

Stability is best known for creating the image generator AI that is the foundation for most of the image generator’s on the market.? The only major image generator NOT using stability’s software at the core is DALL-E? by OpenAI.

Stability is actually the best direct competitor to ChatGPT because it has a text and image model.? They recently announced a paid tier that is the same price as ChatGPT, but you only pay if you're commercializing your work. If you are just using it for fun or to grow on social media, you don’t have to pay anything.

Stability has a text model that most people forget about because their image generation is just so good, but I promise it’s worth your attention.

AI Goes Open Source

There is a good chance that the future of AI isn’t large companies but instead large collections of individual programmers building a shared future.? Every day dozens of Open

7 - Facebook’s Almost Open Source Llama

Facebook has taken a completely different approach to AI by making their code mostly open source.? This tool has been shared with the world and many other tools are built on top of the Llama dataset.

It’s a very interesting approach to AI and by it’s very nature is completely free.? Facebook release new and updated versions of the model frequently, which means it’s getting better and better.

This model relies on the power of your computer or you have to rent space on a server online for computing power.? This is the tradeoff with the open source model.

8 - Open Source AI with no Restrictions with LM Studio

Initially, I had to open up Terminal on my Mac to install and play with Open Source ChatGPT alternatives.? That was a real hassle and kep a lot of people from even considering trying to use a completely free AI.

It’s scary.

What if I do something wrong and fry my computer?

Open Source AI’s rely on your own computing power and that means you need a powerful computer to run a powerful AI, or you need to rent server space on a server farm.? That’s a LOT easier than it sounds and takes about 5 minutes to setup and you pay for the time you use.

After you finish, they erase the server.??

If you want a powerful AI with no trace of your work, this is the ultimate solution.

Your second option is to install an AI directly on to your computer.

LM Studio maintains a list of all the popular open source AI options and you can install any model with one click.? LM Studio will tell you if a model will work on your computer before you download it.

This is a massive timesaver and finally makes these models accessible to the masses.

These models have one major advantage over the competition…they are uncensored.?

As someone who works with romance novels, I know that ChatGPT won’t write the naughty bits. For those scenes, I fire up an uncensored open source AI.? It saves me a lot of time and it’s nice not to have someone looking over my shoulder.

Final Thoughts on the Best ChatGPT Alternative

ChatGPT is the main AI that I work with. It’s worth having backups and alternative tools that specialize in different tasks. You have more than one screwdriver in your toolbox don’t you?

Let me know what you think.

What’s your favorite AI tool?

• Jonathan

PS Get my bestseller ChatGPT Profits for free at: https://servenomaster.com/gift?

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