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Side-by-side comparison · AI Assistants & LLMs

ChatGPT vs Google AI Studio vs Le Chat

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Best overall

ChatGPT

4.3

From $8/mo

Google AI Studio

3.9

From $19.99/mo

Le Chat

4.1

From $14.99/mo

Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.

At a glance

Best overallEasiest to use

Pick it if: Anyone who wants one general-purpose assistant that handles most everyday jobs.

Pick it if: Founders, marketers and developers who want to test Google's models or build a quick app without paying.

Best value

Pick it if: Teams that care where their data lives, and anyone after a capable assistant for less money.

ChatGPT scores highest overall, but Le Chat gives you more for your money. Which one is right comes down to what you value most.

Overview

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
In one lineOpenAI's all-rounder: chat, images, voice, web search and agents in one app.Google's free workspace for testing Gemini models and building apps from a description.Mistral's fast European assistant, with a usable free plan and a cheaper Pro plan.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$8/mo$19.99/mo$14.99/mo
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No Yes No

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Overall rating4.3Winner3.94.1
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.5
3.0
4.0
FeaturesHow completely it covers the job it's built for, and how well the pieces fit together.
5.0
4.5
3.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
4.0
4.5
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.0
4.0
4.5
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.0
3.5
5.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes No Yes
Desktop app Yes No Yes
Browser extension Yes No No
API access Yes Yes Yes
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes No Yes
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes Yes Yes
Connects to other apps Yes Yes Yes
Open source or self-hosted No No Yes
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes Yes
Understands images Yes Yes Yes
Makes images Yes Yes Yes
Makes video No Yes No
Writes code Yes Yes Yes
Runs agents or automations Yes Yes Yes
Learns your brand or style Yes No Yes
Works in many languages Yes Yes Yes
Capabilities score15/ 1711/ 1715/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Plans

Free

Free

Trying it out and everyday questions.

FreeOur pick

Free

Testing models and building small prototypes.

Free

Free

Everyday questions and a look at the Work and Code modes.

Go

$8/mo

Casual users who hit the free limits.

Google AI Pro

$19.99/mo

Regular users who also want the Gemini app upgrade.

ProOur pick

$14.99/mo

Anyone who wants a capable daily assistant for less.

PlusOur pick

$20/mo

Anyone using it most days for work.

Google AI Ultra

From $99.99/mo

Heavy builders who want the highest limits.

Team

$24.99/user/mo

Small teams that want shared billing and higher limits.

Pro

From $100/mo

Heavy users and people living in Codex.

Paid API

Pay as you go, $10 prepay to start

Apps in production and anyone with sensitive data.

Enterprise

Custom

Organisations with compliance and custom needs.

Business

See website

Teams from 2 people up.

Which plan to pickThe free plan is now good enough to use properly, so stay on it until the image, voice or research limits annoy you. Plus is the sensible upgrade. Only look at Pro if you run Codex or deep research all day, and read the current tier details first: Pro 200 now comes with a smaller allowance than it did before 29 September.Start free. If you're putting anything sensitive in or building something people will use, switch to a paid API key so your prompts aren't used for training. Google AI Pro only makes sense if you'd use the Gemini app upgrade too.The free plan is enough to see if the speed and tone suit you. Pro is good value at $14.99 and a sensible second assistant next to Claude. Students can get Pro for $5.99 a month for up to 12 months.

Key features

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Standout features
  • Image generation and editing
  • Voice mode
  • Deep research
  • ChatGPT Work
  • Plugins and connectors
  • Codex and Sites
  • Playground
  • Build mode
  • Image, speech and video models
  • API keys
  • Long context
  • Export to Antigravity
  • Fast answers
  • Work mode
  • Code mode
  • Documents and images
  • Memory
  • EU hosting and open models

Pros and cons

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Pros
  • The widest set of built-in tools of any assistant
  • Free plan includes unlimited text chat with GPT-6 Luna
  • Image generation and voice mode are the best in the category
  • Huge ecosystem of plugins, connectors and guides
  • One subscription covers the Codex coding agent too
  • Free access to Google's Flash models with full control over settings
  • Build mode turns a description into a working, publishable app
  • Handles very long documents, audio and video
  • The quickest way to get a Gemini API key
  • EU hosting by default and open-weight models
  • Fastest responses in the category
  • Pro is cheaper than the equivalent OpenAI or Anthropic plan
  • Work mode runs real multi-step jobs across your apps
  • Clear, less preachy answers
Cons
  • Writing sounds generic unless you work hard on the prompt
  • Plans and limits change often, and Pro now runs to $500 a month
  • Free and Go plans may show ads
  • It's confident when it's wrong, so check facts before you publish
  • Custom GPTs are being retired, so anything built on them needs moving to plugins
  • Free-tier prompts may be used to improve Google's products and reviewed by people
  • Daily limits are unpublished and users report them being cut, including for paying Pro subscribers
  • Confusing for non-developers, and it overlaps with the Gemini app and Antigravity
  • Gemini 4 Argon and Veo video need a paid plan or API billing
  • The site can be buggy and slow on long chats
  • Reasoning and long-document quality trail Claude and ChatGPT
  • Smaller ecosystem of guides, plugins and community help
  • Free plan limits aren't published in plain numbers
  • The rename to Vibe and the new modes make it harder to find your way around

Who each one is for

AttributeChatGPTGoogle AI StudioLe Chat
Best for
  • Everyday questions and brainstorming
  • Making and editing images in the chat
  • Voice conversations on your phone
  • Quick research with web search
  • Prototyping an app or internal tool by describing it
  • Testing new Gemini models before they reach the app
  • Getting a Gemini API key
  • Long documents and video transcription
  • Fast everyday questions
  • Privacy-conscious organisations
  • A cheaper paid plan
  • Reading and summarising documents
You'll find it used by
  • Marketers
  • Small business owners
  • Students
  • Developers
  • Developers
  • Founders
  • Technical marketers
  • AI hobbyists
  • Privacy-conscious teams
  • European businesses
  • Solo founders
  • Developers

Questions people ask

Which is better, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio or Le Chat?

ChatGPT scores highest overall in our ratings (ChatGPT 4.3/5, Google AI Studio 3.9/5 and Le Chat 4.1/5). ChatGPT is best for everyday questions and brainstorming and making and editing images in the chat. Google AI Studio is best for prototyping an app or internal tool by describing it and testing new Gemini models before they reach the app. Le Chat is best for fast everyday questions and privacy-conscious organisations.

Which is cheaper, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio or Le Chat?

ChatGPT: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $8/mo. Google AI Studio: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $19.99/mo. Le Chat: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $14.99/mo.

Which is easier to use, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio or Le Chat?

ChatGPT rates highest for ease of use in our scores. Anyone who wants one general-purpose assistant that handles most everyday jobs.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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