ChatGPT Alternatives: features and Tech Comparison!

Are you struggling to catch up with the rapidly growing AI Chatbot industry? With numerous platforms to choose from, it's difficult to compare and understand what each chatbot app brings to the table. In this article, I take a deep dive into the features and technology behind some well-known chatbot alternatives.

In this post, I answer the following questions:

What is ChatGPT?
What are the alternatives to ChatGPT?
ChatGPT competitors

While my original video provides a comprehensive overview, this post will be a go-to source for quick comparisons and interesting facts.

ChatGPT:

Models: 5 different models, including ChatGPT GPT-3.5 Turbo, GPT-4, and Beta models
Available for free (basic version) or $20/month (Pro version)
API access available

Google Bard:

Model: PaLM2, equivalent to GPT-4
Free to use
Offers internet access

Microsoft Bing:

Models: 3 options with varying capabilities (factual, creative, etc.)
Operates on Microsoft's Azure cloud infrastructure
Free access, but requires using Edge browser or mobile app

Perplexity.ai:

Models: 7 available
Features an AI co-pilot to refine search queries
Free to use and no login required
Offers internet access

Character.ai:

Creates engaging experiences by simulating favorite characters
Popular among the younger audience
Valued at $1 billion

Poe:

Aggregates multiple models in one platform
Requires a subscription for advanced features ($200/year)

ChatBotUI

Open Source (can copy and deploy yours)
Use Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
Can use Both OpenAI and Google API key (for search)
prompt templates
maintained by Open source Twitter indie hacker

TypingMind:

Use Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
prompt templates
ready to use prompt templates library
maintained by Open source Twitter indie hacker

UI: Next.js, streaming and Dark Theme

It appears that a significant number of chatbot apps are leveraging Next.js for their development, with most of them utilizing Edge, streaming, and a dark theme. In fact, ready-to-use examples are available in Next.js that can be easily deployed on Vercel using Vercel AI templates. I think the rise in popularity of ChatGPT could be attributed, to some extent, to its engaging conversational UI, which was partly built using Next.js, streaming, and a dark theme. As discussed in my video, this innovative approach to UI, especially the conversational aspect, has played a role in capturing the attention of users and driving the success of ChatGPT and other similar chatbot platforms. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the impact of Next.js and this modern UI approach on the AI chatbot industry.

ref:

Vercel Chat bot example using native fetch

For a complete comparison table and further discussion of each AI chatbot mentioned, watch my original video. Don't hesitate to comment if you have questions or you spot anything that needs to be updated.

Here is the comprehensive spreadsheet with all the data