---
id: "blog-best-chatgpt-alternatives"
slug: "best-chatgpt-alternatives"
date: "2026-06-22"
title: "10 Best ChatGPT Alternatives in 2026"
summary: "The best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026, compared honestly on models, features and price. Lounge by LLM Gateway leads — every frontier model plus image generation on one membership from $9/mo."
categories: ["Guides"]
image:
  src: "/blog/best-chatgpt-alternatives.png"
  alt: "The best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026 — multiple AI models accessible through one chat app"
  width: 1536
  height: 1024
---

ChatGPT made AI chat a daily habit. But paying $20 a month for one company's models feels worse every time a different model wins on a task — Claude for writing, Gemini for long documents, an open-weight model for cheap drafts. You end up stacking subscriptions just to reach the right model.

So what's the best ChatGPT alternative in 2026? We compared ten apps people like ChatGPT actually switch to — on the things that matter: which models you get, whether you can change models mid-conversation, what extras (image generation, file uploads, search) come included, and what it costs.

The pattern is clear: most "alternatives" just swap one walled garden for another. **Lounge** (by LLM Gateway) is the one that doesn't — every frontier model side by side, image generation built in, from $9 a month. Here's the full list.

## 1. Lounge (by LLM Gateway)

**Best overall. Every model, one app, from $9/mo.**

[Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io), LLM Gateway's chat app, is a ChatGPT-style app with one difference that changes everything: it runs **200+ models** — GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini, Grok and the open-weight field — and lets you switch between them in the same conversation.

**What sets it apart:**

- **Switch models mid-chat** — ask GPT-5 to draft, hand the same thread to Claude to refine, then to a cheap model to summarize, without losing context
- **Image generation built in** — generate images alongside text in the same app, no separate tool
- **One bill replaces several** — instead of ChatGPT Plus _and_ Claude Pro _and_ a Gemini subscription, one plan reaches all of them
- **Credits worth more than you pay** — your subscription becomes credits at provider rates worth up to 3× the price, spendable across any model
- **Vision and file uploads** — drop in images and documents for any capable model to read
- **Real-time cost per message** — see exactly what each reply costs, no opaque "usage limits"

**Pricing:**

| Plan     | Price      | Credits at provider rates | Frontier models                                        |
| -------- | ---------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Starter  | $9/mo      | ~$18 (2×)                 | Most models (excludes Opus, GPT-5, Gemini Pro, Grok 4) |
| **Plus** | **$19/mo** | **~$47.50 (2.5×)**        | All frontier models included                           |
| Pro      | $49/mo     | ~$147 (3×)                | All frontier models, biggest allowance                 |

**Best for:** Anyone who wants the best model for each task — not just one company's — in a single, familiar chat interface. ([Compare it to ChatGPT](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/chatgpt).)

---

## 2. Claude (Claude Pro)

**Many people's favorite model for writing and code.**

Anthropic's Claude is a clean, ad-free assistant that's a favorite for long-form writing and coding. Claude Pro is a polished experience.

**Strengths:**

- Excellent writing and reasoning, especially with Opus and Sonnet
- Calm, distraction-free interface
- Strong document analysis with a large context window

**Weaknesses:**

- **Anthropic models only** — no GPT, no Gemini, no Grok
- No native image generation
- Usage limits are famously opaque — heavy users hit caps without warning

**Pricing:** Claude Pro $20/mo; Max tiers at $100 and $200/mo for heavy users.

**Best for:** Writers and developers who are happy on Claude alone. ([Claude vs Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/claude).)

---

## 3. Google Gemini (Google AI Pro)

**Deeply integrated with Google, strong on long documents.**

Gemini is Google's assistant, with a massive context window, native video generation, and tight integration across Google Workspace.

**Strengths:**

- Huge context window for long documents
- Native video generation
- Built into Gmail, Docs and the rest of Google

**Weaknesses:**

- **Google models only**
- Most valuable if you live inside the Google ecosystem
- Less useful the moment you want a non-Google model

**Pricing:** Google AI Pro $19.99/mo.

**Best for:** Heavy Google Workspace users. ([Gemini vs Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/gemini).)

---

## 4. Perplexity

**Search-first, with citations.**

Perplexity is built around answering questions with live web results and sources, more research engine than open-ended chat.

**Strengths:**

- Real-time web search with citations
- Great for research and fact-finding
- Clean, source-led answers

**Weaknesses:**

- Optimized for search, weaker as a general creative assistant
- Model choice is limited compared to a multi-model app
- Less suited to long, freeform conversations

**Pricing:** Free tier; Pro around $20/mo.

**Best for:** Research and questions that need current, cited answers. ([Perplexity vs Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/perplexity).)

---

## 5. Microsoft Copilot

**AI woven into Windows and Office.**

Microsoft Copilot brings OpenAI models into Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365, with deep ties to the Office apps.

**Strengths:**

- Built into Windows and Microsoft 365
- Strong for document and spreadsheet workflows
- Generous free tier

**Weaknesses:**

- Effectively OpenAI models only
- Most valuable inside the Microsoft ecosystem
- Less flexible than a dedicated multi-model app

**Pricing:** Free; Copilot now comes via Microsoft 365 Premium (~$20/mo) — standalone Copilot Pro is being retired for new users, with existing subscriptions supported until August 2026.

**Best for:** Microsoft 365 users who want AI inside the tools they already use.

---

## 6. Poe

**Many bots under one roof — but credit math to watch.**

Poe, from Quora, was an early multi-model aggregator. It hosts a wide range of bots and models behind a single subscription.

**Strengths:**

- Wide selection of models and community bots
- Single login for many models
- Mobile and web apps

**Weaknesses:**

- Per-message "compute points" make real usage hard to predict
- Heavier frontier models drain points fast
- Interface is bot-centric rather than a clean single chat

**Pricing:** Free tier; Premium $19.99/mo.

**Best for:** People who want to sample lots of models and bots and don't mind tracking points. ([Poe vs Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/poe).)

---

## 7. Grok

**Real-time access to X, with a distinct personality.**

xAI's Grok is wired into X (Twitter) for live data and has a deliberately irreverent tone.

**Strengths:**

- Real-time access to X posts and trends
- Strong reasoning on recent models
- Distinct, less-filtered voice

**Weaknesses:**

- xAI models only
- Most valuable if you're active on X
- Smaller feature set than the multi-model apps

**Pricing:** SuperGrok from $30/mo standalone (Heavy $300/mo), or bundled with X Premium+ (around $40/mo).

**Best for:** X power users who want live platform context.

---

## 8. Le Chat (Mistral)

**Fast, European, privacy-minded.**

Mistral's Le Chat is a snappy assistant built on Mistral's own open and commercial models, popular for its speed and European data posture.

**Strengths:**

- Very fast responses
- European hosting and privacy focus
- Solid free tier

**Weaknesses:**

- Mistral models only
- Smaller model lineup than the frontier labs
- Fewer extras than the all-in-one apps

**Pricing:** Free; Pro around $14.99/mo.

**Best for:** Users who prioritize speed and European data residency.

---

## 9. T3 Chat

**A fast, developer-built multi-model chat.**

T3 Chat is a lightweight, developer-favorite app that puts several models behind a cheap subscription with a focus on speed.

**Strengths:**

- Very fast, no-frills interface
- Several models in one place
- Low price

**Weaknesses:**

- Smaller model catalog than a full gateway-backed app
- Fewer extras (image generation, deep file handling)
- Leaner ecosystem

**Pricing:** Around $8/mo.

**Best for:** Developers who want a fast, cheap multi-model chat. ([T3 Chat vs Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/t3-chat).)

---

## 10. HuggingChat

**Free and open-source models.**

HuggingChat from Hugging Face is a free interface to open-source models, ideal for trying open-weight options without a bill.

**Strengths:**

- Free to use
- Open-source model focus
- Community-driven and transparent

**Weaknesses:**

- No frontier proprietary models (GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini)
- Fewer product polish and features
- Availability can vary

**Pricing:** Free.

**Best for:** Tinkerers who want open-source models at no cost.

---

## Comparison Table

| App               | Multiple model vendors | Switch model mid-chat | Image generation | Entry price |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------- | ----------- |
| **Lounge**        | **Yes (200+)**         | **Yes**               | **Yes**          | **$9/mo**   |
| Claude            | No (Anthropic)         | No                    | No               | $20/mo      |
| Gemini            | No (Google)            | No                    | Images + video   | $19.99/mo   |
| Perplexity        | Limited                | No                    | No               | $20/mo      |
| Microsoft Copilot | No (OpenAI)            | No                    | Yes              | Free / $20  |
| Poe               | Yes                    | Per-bot               | Some bots        | $19.99/mo   |
| Grok              | No (xAI)               | No                    | Yes              | From $30/mo |
| Le Chat           | No (Mistral)           | No                    | Yes              | $14.99/mo   |
| T3 Chat           | Yes                    | Yes                   | Limited          | ~$8/mo      |
| HuggingChat       | Open models            | Yes                   | No               | Free        |

## How to Choose

**You want the best model for every task:** Lounge is the only pick that puts GPT-5, Claude, Gemini and Grok in one conversation and lets you switch between them without losing context.

**You're loyal to one model:** Claude Pro, Gemini, or Copilot are clean single-vendor experiences. Just know that the day a different model wins, you're buying a second subscription.

**You mainly research:** Perplexity's cited, search-led answers are hard to beat for fact-finding — though Lounge covers general chat, images, and files in one place.

**You want the lowest price with real models:** Lounge starts at $9/mo, and your subscription becomes credits worth more than you pay — spendable across any model.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best ChatGPT alternative in 2026?

For most people it's Lounge, because it's the only option that gives you every frontier model — GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini, Grok and 200+ more — in one familiar chat app with image generation built in, starting at $9/mo. Single-vendor apps like Claude or Gemini are excellent if you're sure you'll only ever want that one company's models.

### Is there a ChatGPT alternative that includes Claude and Gemini?

Yes. Lounge runs OpenAI's GPT models alongside Claude, Gemini, Grok and hundreds of others, and you can switch between them inside the same conversation — so one subscription replaces ChatGPT Plus and the other AI subscriptions you'd otherwise stack on top.

### How does Lounge compare to ChatGPT Plus on price?

Both are around $20/mo, but ChatGPT Plus only buys OpenAI models. On Lounge the $19 Plus plan becomes about $47.50 of credits at provider rates that you can spend across every model, with pay-as-you-go top-ups as a fallback instead of a hard limit.

### Can I generate images in Lounge?

Yes. Image generation is built into the app, so you can create images alongside your text conversations without switching to a separate tool.

---

## Getting Started

Trade one company's models for all of them in under two minutes:

1. **[Pick a plan](https://chat.llmgateway.io/pricing)** — Starter, Plus, or Pro
2. Open [chat.llmgateway.io](https://chat.llmgateway.io) and start a conversation
3. Switch models mid-chat, generate images, and watch the real cost per message

One app. Every model. From $9/mo.

**[Try Lounge](https://chat.llmgateway.io)** | **[Compare to ChatGPT](https://chat.llmgateway.io/compare/chatgpt)** | **[How to choose the right LLM](/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-llm)**
