Which AI assistant belongs on an iPhone depends on the task. ChatGPT is the most versatile all-rounder with the broadest feature set, Claude is stronger on long texts and nuanced answers, Perplexity is the first choice for…
This comparison focuses on apps and prices in the German App Store. Availability and prices can differ in other regions.
Which AI assistant belongs on an iPhone depends on the task. ChatGPT is the most versatile all-rounder with the broadest feature set, Claude is stronger on long texts and nuanced answers, Perplexity is the first choice for research with citations, and Grok offers genuine real-time information and image generation free of charge. AI assistants arrived on the iPhone in 2025, according to the source; by now nearly every large technology company ships its own app. As of March 2026, Grok is highlighted as the value pick with free image generation, and Google NotebookLM has grown strongly for document analysis. The comparison weighs answer quality on complex, multi-step requests, what each free tier includes and which model powers it, whether conversations are used for training, whether the assistant has current internet access, and how well it integrates with other apps and services.
Our verdict
ChatGPT remains the all-rounder with the broadest feature set, Claude convinces on long texts and thoughtful answers, and Google Gemini scores with its integration into the Google ecosystem. Perplexity is the best choice for research, while anyone starting free can hardly avoid ChatGPT and Gemini.
Claude is Anthropic's assistant, characterized by nuanced, considered answers and a particularly strong showing at text analysis, summarization and creative writing. The app supports image analysis and long conversations, and it is pitched at people who value depth and an assistant that communicates uncertainty honestly rather than bluffing.
The base version is free; a Pro subscription at around €20 per month adds Claude Sonnet and Opus plus higher usage limits. It is less compelling for heavy users who refuse any subscription, and its audience is smaller than ChatGPT's, with fewer voice and image features. The source verdict: stronger than ChatGPT on long texts, analysis and differentiated answers.
Grok is pitched as the best free assistant: the basic version is generously usable at no cost and includes image generation and real-time search, with direct access to current news inside prompts. The source credits it with critical, low-hallucination answers and singles it out as the value pick as of March 2026.
SuperGrok, with expanded features, costs around €30 per month. The caveat is training data from X, which users should know about; it is also the wrong pick for anyone who wants premium features without paying or puts data privacy first.
Perplexity is an AI search engine that answers with cited sources rather than an opaque generated answer, the first choice when verifiable research matters more than creative tasks. It reaches current web content that ChatGPT's free tier lacks, and the source notes it can surface GPT-4- or Claude-class results without a paid subscription.
The base is free; Pro costs around €20 per month for expanded search and higher request limits. It is less suited to purely creative work, and the source also lists complex scientific research among the reasons to look elsewhere; its strength is grounded, quick retrieval.
Google NotebookLM builds AI-powered notebooks around your own documents: grounded summaries, analysis and podcast-style audio overviews of your sources, designed to minimize hallucinations by working from material you provide. The source considers it strong for document-based research and learning, not a replacement for a general chatbot.
The base version is free with generous limits; NotebookLM Plus arrives through the Google One AI Premium subscription. It is a weaker fit for anyone expecting a fully German-language interface or advanced features at no extra cost.
Le Chat is Mistral AI's assistant and the European entry in the list: Mistral models, fast responses, web search and real-time news inside the conversation, aimed at users who prioritize European data sovereignty. The base tier is free with a generous allowance and no account needed for basic functions.
A Pro subscription adds deeper research, image generation and higher limits for around €200 per year, about €16.67 per month. It is less attractive to anyone who prefers established names such as ChatGPT or Gemini.
Comet is Perplexity's AI browser with an assistant built in: it summarizes pages, answers questions about what is on screen and combines search and browsing in one app without constant switching. It suits existing Perplexity users who want the same intelligence while actually surfing.
The app is free. Whether the Perplexity Pro subscription also applies to Comet had not been finally communicated at the source date, and the source itself calls the app an early-stage product with few ratings and no long track record of stability.
ChatGPT is OpenAI's assistant for text, code and images, with the broadest feature set and largest user base in the field — voice and camera interaction, desktop continuity and the widest range of tasks. The free tier runs GPT-4o-Mini; GPT-4o and the o1 reasoning models require the Plus subscription at around €20 per month.
The source calls it the standard starting choice, while warning that it can hallucinate, so fact-critical tasks need verification, and that advanced features sit behind the subscription. For versatile everyday use it remains the default.
Google Gemini is the assistant for people who live in Google's services: Gmail, Drive, Docs and Search connect closely with it, and the free tier runs Gemini 1.5 Flash with enough capacity for most tasks. It doubles as a free ChatGPT alternative with strong research capabilities.
Gemini Advanced requires the Google One AI Premium subscription at around €22 per month. Outside the Google ecosystem the source sees no clear advantage, and anyone wanting to minimize data shared with Google should pick a different assistant.
The Google app bundles Google Search, Lens, the translator and Discover into one place, free and funded by advertising. Lens identifies objects through the camera and translates captured text in real time, which makes it useful for quick visual answers and travel.
The actual business model is personalized advertising built on search queries and usage behavior, the source notes; anyone uneasy with that trade, or only needing ordinary web search, is better served by a browser.
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
More related apps
App library · United States App Store. Prices and availability reflect the last check.
