You do not need six accounts before you can ask your first useful question. Start with one assistant that fits your task, learn its basics, and compare another when you have a reason.
This is a quick introduction to six options: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, DeepSeek and Mistral’s assistant. It is a practical shortlist, not a measured popularity ranking.
First: an app is not the same as a model
The app is the service you open and talk to. The model is the system generating the answer underneath. Think of the app as the café and the model as the person making your coffee. The menu, tools and person on shift can change.
Some services offer several models. Features also depend on your plan, region and settings. You can learn the basics without memorising every model name—or collecting subscriptions like novelty mugs.
Six assistants, plain and simple
ChatGPT
A general assistant for asking questions, shaping ideas, writing and working through tasks.
Try this: Turn a short set of notes into a clear plan, then ask for a simpler version.
Claude
An assistant for tasks such as drafting, bringing information together and developing ideas.
Try this: Give it a draft email and ask for a clearer version that preserves your meaning.
Gemini
Google’s assistant. Supported connected apps can bring other services into a task when you allow them.
Try this: Try a simple explanation first. Check which app connections are actually available in your account.
Perplexity
A starting point for web research with source links you can open and check.
Try this: Ask a factual question, then open the citations and check whether they support the answer.
DeepSeek
An AI service with a web chat and a separate platform for developers.
Try this: Try a small problem or ask for an explanation. Check the reasoning instead of trusting its confident tone.
Mistral’s assistant
An assistant from a French AI company. Its current product page calls it Vibe; you may also know the earlier name Le Chat.
Try this: Try the same small writing task. If European data handling matters to you, review the exact service and plan.
How do I choose?
- A writing or planning task: try a small request in one general assistant. Judge the actual result.
- A current factual question: use a source-backed research feature and open the sources. Perplexity is one option to explore.
- Work tied to another app: check supported connections, permissions and your account’s access before depending on them.
- Private or work information: check the service’s terms and your organisation’s rules before sharing it.
Those are starting points for your own comparison. They do not mean one provider is always better, or that the others cannot do the same task.
What about Mistral, Europe and GDPR?
Mistral AI identifies itself as a French company. That is useful context, but a European company name is not a blanket GDPR guarantee for every way you might use its products. Its privacy policy distinguishes consumer use from business processing. Mistral’s privacy policy.
For work involving personal information, check the exact product, plan, processing agreement, storage/transfer arrangements and your organisation’s requirements. The European Commission’s GDPR guidance explains the wider obligations. For a first practice task, use made-up information.
Try one small task
Paste the same fictional request into one or two assistants:
Help me plan a 30-minute English conversation club for adult beginners.
Use these three parts: a greeting activity, café-ordering practice and a recap.
Give the time for each part and one simple example question.
Use only a board and paper. No learner names or personal information.
Keep the instructions short and make the times add up to 30 minutes.Check whether the times total 30, the activities use the stated materials, and the language is easy to follow. Ask for one focused revision. You are choosing a useful helper, not crowning a champion after one answer.
Next: learn to ask clearly
Once you have chosen an assistant, try fixing a vague prompt, then learn to check an answer against its source.
Prepared for review on 30 October 2026. Product names, features and plans change. This is a new draft guide; it has not been published to WordPress.