15 Best Free AI Tools in 2026 (Actually Free, No Catch)

You do not need to spend money to use powerful AI. The best models in the world — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — all offer free tiers. And beyond the big chatbots, there are free tools for coding, image generation, video creation, research, and productivity that hold their own against paid alternatives. We tested over 40 free AI tools and narrowed the list to 20 that are genuinely useful, not just “free for 3 days.” Every tool here offers meaningful functionality at zero cost with no credit card required. For more details, check out our ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini. For more details, check out our best AI chatbots ranked. For more details, check out our free Midjourney alternatives. For more details, check out our best AI for coding. For more details, see our AI tools for students guide.

TL;DR: Top 3 Free AI Tools

1. ChatGPT Free — The most versatile free AI chatbot. GPT-4o access, image generation with DALL-E, file uploads, and web browsing.
2. Google NotebookLM — Upload documents and get AI-powered summaries, Q&A, and even audio podcast overviews. Completely free.
3. GitHub Copilot Free — 2,000 code completions per month and 50 chat messages. The best free AI coding tool.

All 20 Free AI Tools at a Glance

Tool	Category	What You Get Free	Paid Upgrade
ChatGPT	Chatbot	GPT-4o, DALL-E, web search	Plus $20/mo
Claude	Chatbot	Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5, Artifacts	Pro $20/mo
Gemini	Chatbot	Gemini 2.5 Flash, limited 2.5 Pro	AI Pro ~$20/mo
DeepSeek	Chatbot	Unlimited chat with V3.2	API pay-per-token
Perplexity	Research	Basic search with citations	Pro $20/mo
Google NotebookLM	Research	100 notebooks, 50 sources each	N/A (free)
GitHub Copilot	Coding	2,000 completions, 50 premium requests	Pro $10/mo
Codeium	Coding	Unlimited code completions	Teams $12/mo
Leonardo AI	Image	150 daily tokens for image generation	Pro $12/mo
Ideogram	Image	~25 free generations/day	Plus $8/mo
Recraft AI	Image/Design	30 credits/day, vector SVG output	Pro $25/mo
DALL-E (via ChatGPT)	Image	Included in ChatGPT free	ChatGPT Plus
Veo (Google)	Video	Limited clips via Flow/Whisk	AI Pro plan
Gamma	Presentations	AI-generated slide decks	Pro $10/mo
Copy.ai	Writing	2,000 words/month	Pro $49/mo
Canva AI	Design	Basic AI features in free Canva	Pro $13/mo
Otter.ai	Transcription	300 min/month transcription	Pro $17/mo
Grammarly	Writing	Basic grammar and spelling	Premium $12/mo
Read.ai	Meetings	Meeting summaries and action items	Pro $20/mo
Suno AI	Music	10 songs/day	Pro $10/mo

Chatbots & General AI Assistants

1. ChatGPT (OpenAI) — Best All-Around Free AI

ChatGPT’s free tier gives you access to GPT-4o, which is the same model powering most paid AI tools. You can chat, generate images with DALL-E, browse the web, upload files, and use custom GPTs — all without paying. You might also find our AI resume writing tools guide useful. If you’re exploring options, check out our guide to free ChatGPT alternatives.

What you get free:
– GPT-4o model access
– Image generation with DALL-E
– Web browsing and search
– File and image uploads
– Access to the GPT Store
– Voice conversations See also: free AI writing tools.

Limitations: The free plan caps you at roughly 10 messages every 5 hours on GPT-5.2, so you are mostly using GPT-4o. No access to the Thinking mode, Sora video, or advanced reasoning models. See also: free AI image generators.

Best for: General-purpose tasks — writing, brainstorming, research, light coding, and image generation.

For a deeper comparison, check our ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini breakdown.

2. Claude (Anthropic) — Best Free AI for Long Documents

Claude’s free tier provides access to Sonnet 4.5 and Haiku 4.5 with a 200K token context window. That means you can upload entire documents — even short books — and Claude will process the full content. The writing quality is excellent, often more natural-sounding than ChatGPT. See also our guide to AI tools for Excel. We also cover this in our roundup of AI productivity tools.

What you get free:
– Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Haiku 4.5
– 200K context window
– Artifacts (interactive code, documents, visualizations)
– Basic web search (~20 searches/day)
– File uploads

Limitations: Message caps that can be exhausted in under an hour during peak times. No Claude Code, no extended reasoning, no project features.

Best for: Long-form writing, document analysis, structured reasoning, and coding tasks.

3. Google Gemini — Best Free AI for Google Users

If you live in Google’s ecosystem — Gmail, Drive, Docs — Gemini’s free tier makes the most sense. It accesses Gemini 2.5 Flash with limited 2.5 Pro access and connects to your Google account for contextual help.

What you get free:
– Gemini 2.5 Flash model
– Limited Gemini 2.5 Pro access
– Deep Research (limited)
– Gemini Live voice conversations
– 100 monthly AI credits for video tools
– Canvas and Gems

Limitations: Daily limits on 2.5 Pro. No Gemini in Gmail/Docs/Slides (requires paid plan). Video generation is limited.

Best for: Users already in Google Workspace who want AI integrated with their existing tools. See also: best AI tools for small business.

4. DeepSeek — Best Completely Free AI Chatbot

DeepSeek stands out because there are no paid subscription tiers for individual users. The chat interface is free with unlimited messages using DeepSeek V3.2 — one of the strongest open-source models available. Heavy users may hit daily fair-use caps, but they reset every 24 hours.

What you get free:
– Unlimited chat with DeepSeek V3.2
– File uploads
– Reasoning mode
– Code generation

Limitations: Data routes through servers in China, which raises privacy concerns for some users. Can be slow during peak hours. No image or video generation.

Best for: Developers, researchers, and budget-conscious users who want strong reasoning without any subscription. See our DeepSeek vs ChatGPT comparison for details.

Research & Learning Tools

5. Perplexity — Best Free AI Search Engine

Perplexity answers questions with cited sources, making it more reliable for research than a standard chatbot. The free tier provides solid search capabilities with source links for every answer. Also see: best AI tools for teachers.

What you get free:
– Conversational search with citations
– Basic model access
– Follow-up questions
– Limited daily searches

Limitations: No Pro searches (multi-step reasoning), no file analysis, no image generation. Limited to the default model.

Best for: Quick research, fact-checking, and getting sourced answers.

6. Google NotebookLM — Best Free Research Assistant

NotebookLM is genuinely impressive and completely free. Upload PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, or audio files, and it creates an AI expert grounded only in your sources — no hallucinations from outside data. The Audio Overview feature turns your documents into a two-person AI podcast discussion.

What you get free:
– 100 notebooks
– 50 sources per notebook (up to 500,000 words each)
– Audio Overview podcast generation
– Grounded Q&A from your sources
– Sharing and collaboration

Limitations: Only works with content you upload — it cannot search the web or use general knowledge. Audio Overviews take a few minutes to generate.

Best for: Students, researchers, and anyone who needs to quickly understand large documents.

7. Khan Academy (Khanmigo) — Best Free AI Tutor

Khan Academy’s AI tutor uses GPT-4 to guide students through problems step by step. Unlike a regular chatbot, Khanmigo does not just give answers — it asks guiding questions to help you learn the concept.

What you get free:
– AI tutoring across math, science, humanities
– Step-by-step problem guidance
– Personalized learning recommendations

Limitations: Focused on educational content only. Not useful for general tasks.

Best for: Students and self-learners who want structured, guided learning.

AI Coding Tools

8. GitHub Copilot Free — Best Free AI Coding Tool

GitHub’s free tier launched in late 2024 and gives every developer 2,000 inline code completions and 50 premium chat requests per month. That is enough for casual coding and learning. It works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and more.

What you get free:
– 2,000 code completions per month
– 50 premium requests (chat, agent mode)
– Works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Visual Studio
– Multiple language support

Limitations: 50 premium requests is thin for heavy use. No unlimited chat like the Pro plan.

Best for: Students, hobbyists, and developers who want AI assistance without paying. Read our Copilot vs Cursor comparison for how it stacks up against the competition.

9. Codeium — Best Free Unlimited Code Completions

Codeium gives you unlimited AI code completions in VS Code and other editors — no monthly caps. The suggestions are context-aware and surprisingly accurate for a free tool. It also integrates with JetBrains, Vim, and other editors.

What you get free:
– Unlimited code completions
– Context-aware suggestions
– Multi-IDE support (VS Code, JetBrains, Vim)
– Chat assistance

Limitations: Advanced features like team collaboration and codebase indexing require paid plans.

Best for: Developers who want unlimited free completions across multiple editors.

Image Generation

10. DALL-E via ChatGPT — Simplest Free Image Generator

DALL-E image generation is built into ChatGPT’s free tier. Just ask ChatGPT to create an image, and it generates one using DALL-E. No separate tool needed.

What you get free:
– Image generation through ChatGPT
– Text rendering in images
– Style and format control via prompts

Limitations: Limited to the free ChatGPT message caps. Lower resolution than paid tier.

Best for: Quick image generation without signing up for another tool.

11. Leonardo AI — Best Free AI Image Generator

Leonardo AI provides 150 daily tokens for image generation, which translates to roughly 30-50 images per day depending on settings. The quality is strong, and it offers multiple model options and styles.

What you get free:
– 150 daily tokens (refreshed every 24 hours)
– Multiple AI models and styles
– Image editing tools
– Prompt enhancement

Limitations: Higher-quality models and faster generation require paid plans.

Best for: Regular image generation needs — marketing, social media, concept art.

12. Ideogram — Best Free AI for Text in Images

Ideogram’s standout feature is accurate text rendering. Most AI image generators struggle with spelling — Ideogram rarely makes text errors. It also includes Magic Prompt, which automatically enhances your descriptions for better results.

What you get free:
– ~25 generations per day
– Accurate text rendering
– Magic Prompt enhancement
– Multiple aspect ratios

Limitations: Free images may be public. Higher resolution and private generation require paid plans.

Best for: Marketing materials, social media graphics, and any image that needs readable text.

13. Recraft AI — Best Free Vector/SVG Generator

Recraft is the only free tool that generates vector (SVG) artwork. Icons, logos, and illustrations come out infinitely scalable without pixelation. It also enforces brand color palettes.

What you get free:
– 30 credits daily
– Vector SVG output
– Brand color palette enforcement
– Multiple illustration styles

Limitations: All free-tier images are public. Do not use it for confidential brand work.

Best for: Designers who need scalable icons, logos, and illustrations.

Video & Presentations

14. Veo (Google) — Best Free AI Video Generator

Google’s Veo 3.2 generates short video clips from text prompts or images. The quality is impressive — realistic lighting, smooth camera movement, and synchronized sound. Access is through Google’s Flow and Whisk tools.

What you get free:
– Short video clip generation
– 100 monthly AI credits (in free Google plan)
– Text-to-video and image-to-video
– Realistic lighting and motion

Limitations: Limited monthly credits. Full-quality generation requires Google AI Pro subscription.

Best for: Short social media clips, mood boards, and concept videos.

15. Gamma — Best Free AI Presentation Maker

Gamma generates complete presentation decks from a text prompt. Describe your topic and slide count, and it creates a structured, designed presentation in seconds. You can edit slides and export to PowerPoint.

What you get free:
– AI-generated presentations
– Modern design templates
– PowerPoint export
– Easy editing interface

Limitations: Free plan includes Gamma branding on exports. Advanced features require Pro ($10/month).

Best for: Quick presentations for meetings, pitches, and school projects.

Writing & Productivity

16. Copy.ai — Best Free AI Copywriting Tool

Copy.ai generates marketing copy, blog intros, product descriptions, email subject lines, and social media posts. The free tier includes 2,000 words per month — enough for occasional use.

What you get free:
– 2,000 words per month
– Multiple content templates
– Blog writing, email, social media copy
– Brand voice settings

Limitations: 2,000 words runs out fast. Unlimited content requires Pro at $49/month.

Best for: Marketers and small business owners who need occasional copy assistance.

17. Grammarly — Best Free Writing Assistant

Grammarly’s free tier catches grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors across browsers, documents, and email. The AI writing features in the free plan are basic but functional for everyday writing.

What you get free:
– Grammar and spelling corrections
– Tone detection
– Browser extension
– Works in Google Docs, email, social media

Limitations: Style suggestions, full-sentence rewrites, and plagiarism detection require Premium ($12/month).

Best for: Anyone who writes emails, documents, or social media posts and wants basic error catching.

18. Canva AI — Best Free AI Design Tool

Canva’s free tier includes basic AI features — Magic Write for text generation, background removal, and template-based design. It is not a dedicated AI tool, but the AI features inside free Canva are genuinely useful.

What you get free:
– Magic Write AI text generation
– Basic background removal
– Thousands of templates
– Image editing tools

Limitations: Advanced AI features (Magic Eraser, style transfer, brand kit) require Canva Pro ($13/month).

Best for: Non-designers who need quick social media graphics, presentations, and basic marketing materials.

Transcription & Meetings

19. Otter.ai — Best Free Meeting Transcription

Otter.ai transcribes meetings in real-time and generates summaries with action items. The free tier includes 300 minutes per month — enough for most professionals who attend a few meetings per week.

What you get free:
– 300 transcription minutes per month
– Real-time transcription
– Meeting summaries
– Speaker identification

Limitations: 30-minute limit per conversation on free plan. Longer meetings require Pro ($17/month).

Best for: Professionals who need to record and review meetings without manual note-taking.

20. Suno AI — Best Free AI Music Generator

Suno generates complete songs — vocals, instruments, and production — from a text prompt. The free tier gives you 10 songs per day, which is generous for experimentation and creative projects.

What you get free:
– 10 songs per day
– Multiple genres and styles
– Custom lyrics or auto-generated lyrics
– Full production (vocals, instruments, mixing)

Limitations: Free songs cannot be used commercially. Commercial use requires Pro ($10/month).

Best for: Content creators, hobbyists, and anyone who wants to experiment with AI-generated music.

Privacy Warning

Most free AI tools default to using your data for model training unless you explicitly opt out. Before uploading sensitive documents, check each tool’s privacy settings. DeepSeek routes all data through servers in China. NotebookLM keeps data within your Google account. ChatGPT and Claude offer data opt-out toggles in settings.

FAQ

Are free AI tools good enough for professional work?

For many tasks, yes. ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, and GitHub Copilot Free handle writing, coding, and research at a professional level. The main limitations are usage caps — you will hit message limits during heavy work sessions.

What is the best free AI tool overall?

ChatGPT Free, because of its versatility. It handles writing, coding, image generation, web search, and file analysis in one tool. But if you need specific capabilities, specialized tools like NotebookLM (research) or Codeium (coding) outperform it in their niches.

Do free AI tools sell my data?

Most free tools use your conversations to improve their models by default. Check each tool’s privacy policy and opt out if needed. Google NotebookLM is an exception — it processes your uploaded documents without using them for training.

Which free AI tool is best for students?

Google NotebookLM for research, Khan Academy (Khanmigo) for tutoring, ChatGPT Free for writing assistance, and GitHub Copilot Free for learning to code. Students also get free access to GitHub Copilot Pro and discounted Perplexity Pro.

Conclusion

The free AI landscape in 2026 is strong enough that many users will never need to upgrade. ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, and DeepSeek cover general AI tasks. GitHub Copilot and Codeium handle coding. NotebookLM handles research. Leonardo AI and Ideogram handle images. Start with the free tiers, and only upgrade when you consistently hit usage limits. For more specialized comparisons, explore our guides on AI coding tools and the ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini matchup. We also cover this topic in our guide to best free AI tools updated.