Best free AI models compared
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and more — each is strong at different things. Here's a plain-English guide to which one to reach for, and the good news: on Tusk Central AI you don't have to commit to just one.
The short version
You can pick any model yourself. Not sure? Choose Brainiac from the model picker and it auto-selects one for your prompt. If you'd rather choose, this is the rough split:
| If you want to… | Try |
|---|---|
| Write or edit something that reads naturally | Claude, ChatGPT |
| Get quick everyday answers | ChatGPT (free GPT models), Gemini Flash Lite, Grok |
| Work through code or a technical problem | DeepSeek, Claude, ChatGPT |
| Research something current, with sources | Perplexity Sonar, Grok (with web search) |
| Handle a long document | Claude, Kimi |
| Think through a hard, multi-step problem | Deep-thinking models: GPT-5.5, Claude Sonnet, Gemini Pro |
How they compare on Tusk Central AI
| Model | Strengths | Free tier here |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | All-rounder for writing, coding, and everyday questions | Several GPT models free |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Natural writing, long documents, careful reasoning | Haiku free |
| Gemini (Google) | Fast answers, images and documents | Flash Lite free |
| Grok (xAI) | Conversational answers, current-info questions | Free |
| DeepSeek | Coding, math, step-by-step reasoning | Free |
| Sonar (Perplexity) | Research grounded in live web sources | Free |
| Kimi (MoonshotAI) | Long documents and reasoning | Free |
| Llama (Meta) | Open-model general-purpose chat | Free |
| Mistral | Efficient answers, coding, multilingual | Free |
So which should you use?
Honestly, the best answer is "more than one." Different models get different things right, and the only way to know which suits your task is to see them side by side. That's the whole point of having them in one chat: ask once, and if the answer misses, run it again on another model without opening a new tab or paying a second subscription.
If you'd rather not decide, pick Brainiac and it auto-selects for you; otherwise choose any model in the picker yourself.
Are these really free?
Most are free and unlimited, supported by privacy-respecting ads. A few deep-thinking models use credits — a free monthly allowance, then optional pay-as-you-go. No subscription. See the full breakdown on the models page.
Writing fiction? Try the AI story generator, or browse all 30+ models.