16 Best Free AI Tools in 2026 (Actually Free, No Catch)
Actually Free vs "Free Trial"
Most "free AI tools" lists include tools with 7-day trials. This list only includes tools with permanent free tiers that are genuinely useful. No bait-and-switch.
The Big Three (Free AI Assistants)
ChatGPT — GPT-4o mini is unlimited and surprisingly capable. You also get limited GPT-4o access, DALL-E 3 image generation, and web browsing. The best free starting point.
Claude — The free tier gives you Claude Sonnet, which has the best writing quality of any free AI. Daily message limits are the main constraint.
Google Gemini — Free image generation, Google Workspace integration, and a massive context window. Great if you're already in the Google ecosystem.
The Free Power Tools
DeepSeek — Completely free with no limits. Rivals GPT-4 for coding and math. The catch: it's a Chinese company, so data sovereignty may be a concern.
Meta AI — 100% free, built into WhatsApp and Instagram. Less capable but zero friction.
Perplexity — Unlimited quick searches with sources. The best free research tool available.
The Free Specialists
Grammarly — Free grammar checking across all your apps. Worth installing even if you never upgrade.
Canva AI — Generous free design platform. Create professional graphics without design skills.
Leonardo AI — 150 free image generation tokens daily. The best free AI image tool.
GitHub Copilot — Free for students and open-source maintainers. 2,000 free completions/month for everyone else.
For the complete list with details on every free tier, check our Free AI Tools page.