AI chatbots are changing how businesses and people handle daily tasks. They help with things like answering questions about products, managing returns, and gathering feedback from customers. While ready-made chatbots offer basic help, many companies now use special platforms to create custom chatbots. These connect with their own systems, handle tricky choices, and manage step-by-step tasks. Modern platforms have easy-to-use designs and strong AI tools, so businesses of all sizes can make their own chatbots, even without knowing how to code.
What Are AI Chatbot Apps?
An AI chatbot is a software application powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) technologies, designed to simulate human-like conversations. These advanced systems leverage machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) to understand, interpret, and respond to user queries in a contextual and intelligent manner. Businesses deploy AI chatbots across various platforms—such as websites, messaging apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), and social media (Instagram)—to automate customer support, enhance engagement, and streamline operations.
Depending on their architecture, chatbots may operate on rule-based systems with predefined responses or utilize AI-driven models for dynamic, adaptive interactions. Modern AI chatbot platforms offer customizable solutions, allowing organizations to tailor conversational flows, integrate APIs, and continuously optimize performance based on user interactions.
How Do AI Chatbot Apps Work?
AI chatbot apps utilize natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to interpret user intent and generate contextually relevant responses. When receiving a query, the system first analyzes linguistic patterns to discern meaning, then retrieves information from its knowledge base or connected databases. For complex inquiries, advanced models employ Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), converting queries into vector embeddings to semantically search and rank relevant data before synthesizing precise answers. Modern platforms streamline development through intuitive interfaces, enabling no-code deployment while maintaining robust intent recognition and response accuracy.
Benefits of Using AI Chatbots
AI chatbots bring many advantages to businesses, making them quicker, smarter, and more helpful. Here are the main benefits:
l Always Available: Chatbots work all day and night. Customers get help even when the business is closed.
l Fast Answers: They reply to common questions right away, so customers don’t wait long.
l Less Work, Lower Costs: Chatbots handle simple questions like order status or returns. This lets human workers focus on bigger tasks, saving time and money.
l Personal Touch: When linked to CRM systems, chatbots can greet customers by name, remember past talks, and suggest products they might like.
l Finding Leads: Chatbots collect leads, check if they’re good prospects, and set up meetings, helping sales grow.
l Handles Many Users: They can talk to thousands of people at once without slowing down or making mistakes.
l Better Accuracy: With advanced NLP, chatbots understand questions, even if there are typos or casual words. They get better over time by learning from data.
l Speaks Many Languages: Many chatbots can translate, so they help customers from all over the world.
Top 10 AI Chatbot Apps in 2025
The chatbot world has many options, each with special strengths for different needs. Here are ten great AI chatbot platforms to check out:
1. ChatGPT
ChatGPT, made by OpenAI, is a top AI chatbot. It uses GPT-4o and GPT-o models (or GPT-4o mini when busy for free users). It’s great for tasks like writing stories, doing research, solving problems, and coding. It can create and understand images, process files, and search the web for fresh information.
ChatGPT has a simple, clean design and remembers past chats for context. Recent updates made its advanced tools available to free users. It can also act as an “Operator” AI to search the web for specific tasks.
Pros:
l Easy and fun to use
l Strong at research, problem-solving, and writing
l Great at finding up-to-date information
l Top-notch image creation and recognition
l Free with advanced features
l Supports text-to-image, data analysis, and voice chats
Cons:
l Premium features can cost a lot
l Sometimes gives wrong answers
l Limits on GPT-4o; may switch to GPT-4o mini for free users
l Doesn’t always show sources clearly
Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans (Plus and Pro) start at $20 and $200 per month. Team plans cost $20–30 per user per month. Custom Enterprise options are available.
2. DeepSeek
DeepSeek is an open-source chatbot known for its smart problem-solving, similar to OpenAI’s o3 series. It uses DeepSeek V3 and R1 models. You can send text, ask for web searches, upload documents for text extraction (but not images), and review past chats.
Its web and mobile apps are simple but powerful. DeepSeek is free, but it’s hosted in China, so some worry about data privacy. You can also use it through apps like Perplexity, which may have different hosting locations.
Pros:
l Free to use
l Very smart R1 reasoning model
l Open source for local use
Cons:
l Basic design
l Possible privacy concerns due to hosting in China
l Can’t read images in documents
3. Solvea
Solvea AI Agent is a complete AI support tool. It offers instant, round-the-clock customer help in many languages with human-like accuracy and care. You can set it up with one click, and it learns from existing human workflows, getting smarter as it handles new issues. Solvea works with big platforms like Shopify, Zendesk, and Intercom.
It has top-level security, follows U.S. data laws, and is ISO 27001:2022 certified. Solvea handles 90% of complex queries accurately and can manage over 1,000 chats at once. It offers pre-trained AI experts for common support tasks and includes AI Safeguard to follow platform rules. Solvea helps with troubleshooting, logistics, pre-sales suggestions, and post-sales fixes. It also analyzes customer questions to spot product or service problems.
Pros:
l High accuracy (90%+ resolution rate)
l Pre-trained industry experts & AI Safeguard
l Unified omnichannel support
l Self-learning knowledge base
l Enterprise security certifications
Cons:
l No transparent public pricing
Pricing:
With Solvea’s flexible and outcome-based pricing model (you can also use their calculator tool to estimate savings based on your ticket volume and team size), you only pay for what aligns with your goals. You can contact its sales team for a customized solution.
Customer Stories
Solvea has changed customer service for big brands in many industries. For Aosom, a global e-commerce company, Solvea handled 50% of logistics questions and unified different platforms. Anker Innovation, a top Amazon seller, cut resolution times to 5 minutes and reduced workload by 70%, lowering returns by 40%. Oceania, an e-commerce group, saved 2.37 full-time staff and sped up support 5x with multilingual help. Across all clients, Solvea delivers 40-70% cost reductions, 50-92% automation rates, and dramatically improved efficiency through AI-powered unified platforms and intelligent knowledge management. The more it works, the smarter it gets.
4. Claude
Claude AI, from Anthropic, is a general-purpose chatbot focused on safe and ethical practices, great for businesses. It uses the Claude 3 model family: Claude Haiku (fast), Claude Sonnet (smart reasoning), and Claude Opus (best for language and content creation). Claude gives caring responses and can remember up to 150,000 words per chat, perfect for big documents.
Its Artifacts feature lets users build dashboards with data and interactive tools in the chat. It also has an experimental “computer use” feature, where the AI acts like a human user. Claude’s design is simple, with easy access to help and past chats. Anthropic promises not to use user prompts for training unless you opt in or flag them.
Pros:
l Focuses on privacy and ethical AI
l Kind conversational tone
l Large memory for big documents
l Artifacts for interactive dashboards
l Supports document uploads
l Clean, easy design
Cons:
l Free plan limits vary
l Knowledge cutoff at 2023
l May not cite sources
Pricing: Free version with changing limits. Claude Pro costs $20 per month for more use.
5. Meta AI
Meta AI is part of Meta’s platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, and also works as a standalone app. It uses the Llama AI models. Meta AI is great at making and animating images for free.
It can search the web, but it’s not as strong as Gemini or ChatGPT, so you should check its answers. Meta offers a free licensing framework for developers to build apps with Llama models, with no cost until high revenue levels.
Pros:
l Free image creation and animation
l Built into WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook
l Free licensing for developers
Cons:
l Limited as a standalone chatbot
l Weaker web search
l Needs fact-checking
Pricing: Free to use.
6. Google Gemini
Google Gemini, once called Google Bard, is Google’s chatbot, similar to Microsoft Copilot. It uses Gemini 1.5 Flash (standard) and Gemini 1.5 Pro (advanced) models, with Imagen 3 for images. Gemini works well with Google apps like Gmail, Google Docs, Maps, and YouTube.
It has a long memory for big conversations and a sleek, simple design. It warns users to check answers for accuracy. Gems let you customize the chatbot, like ChatGPT’s GPTs. Gemini Live is a free voice assistant for natural, back-and-forth talks on iOS and Android.
Pros:
l Works well with Google apps for tasks like summarizing files
l Good at reasoning, file processing, and web searches
l Creates videos with audio
l Has a “Google it” feature
l Offers customizable Gems
l Gives clear text and images fast
Cons:
l Answers can be uneven
l Deep research can be hard
l Image creation not as good as others
l Limited coding help
Pricing: Free version available. Gemini Advanced is free for one month, then $19.99/month with 2TB Google One storage and Gemini in Gmail and Docs.
7. Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo, similar to GPT-4o, with Bing data for up-to-date answers. It works on desktop, mobile, and web, and in Windows and Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Copilot Voice is a free feature like ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode. It creates code, answers questions, makes images, and summarizes web info with source links. The design is modern and easy to use.
Pros:
l Built into Microsoft Edge and Office
l Finds current events with source links
l Uses OpenAI’s strong GPT-4
l Offers lots of free features
Cons:
l Answers can be slow
l Weak computer control in Windows
l Relies on Bing
Pricing: Free edition available. Copilot Pro includes the latest models and priority access. Special versions exist for sales, finance, and security.
8. Zapier Agents
Zapier Agents is an experimental AI workspace where you can teach AI to work with thousands of apps. It’s as easy as using ChatGPT and runs on OpenAI’s models.
You can connect agents to company data in apps like HubSpot, Notion, and Zendesk, and data syncs automatically. Agents can do tasks like writing, sending info, updating data, or searching the web when triggered. It combines AI chat, automation, and data analysis.
Pros:
l Links chatbot data to many apps
l Easy to make custom AI agents
l Handles data across business apps
l No-code approach
Cons:
l Limited without automation or app links
Pricing: Free to start.
9. Poe
Poe is an AI model hub, giving access to models like OpenAI’s, StableDiffusionXL, Claude, Gemini, Llama, and Mistral. You buy compute points instead of a fixed plan. Poe lets models work together in one chat, like using a GPT model for text, then an image model to animate it.
You can make custom bots by setting prompts, adding a knowledge base, and choosing a greeting. Unlike ChatGPT’s GPTs, Poe lets you pick the base model and sell your bots.
Pros:
l Access to many AI models in one place
l Can sell custom bots
l Models can work together in a chat
Cons:
l Limits on high-quality models
Pricing: Uses compute points, not a fixed plan.
10. Perplexity
Perplexity is a chatbot for personalized searches, a great alternative to search engines. It summarizes results and cites sources, making it trustworthy for deep research. It uses OpenAI, Claude, and DeepSeek models (GPT-3 and GPT-4 for subscribers).
Its design is simple and easy. It suggests follow-up questions and related searches to keep exploring. The Copilot feature helps with product or hotel searches by asking questions to narrow down choices. It translates 80+ languages and shows confidence scores for answers.
Pros:
l Great for deep web searches with sources
l Easy-to-use design
l Suggests follow-up questions
l Supports branding and custom themes
l Available on mobile
Cons:
l Interface can feel busy with many results
l AI depends on training data quality
l GPT-4 needs a paid plan
Pricing: Free version with limits on Pro queries. Pro version is $20/month with 300 Pro queries daily, file analysis, and visual answers.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an AI Chatbot
With so many chatbot platforms, picking the right one means looking at key factors:
1. Purpose and Use Case
Know what you want the chatbot to do. Will it answer customer questions, generate leads, or handle HR tasks? Different chatbots are better for different jobs. For example, Solvea’s flexible agents work well for broad support.
2. Integration Capabilities
Check if the chatbot works with your current tools, like CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot), help desks, or e-commerce platforms. Look for strong APIs, webhooks, and authentication to make it fit smoothly into your workflows.
3. Language Support
For global customers, choose a chatbot that speaks many languages. Good translation boosts customer happiness and engagement.
4. Customization and Scalability
Pick platforms with tools to control conversations based on user input and history. Visual builders with logic branches make complex chats easy without coding. Customizing tone and responses keeps your brand consistent. Scalability ensures the chatbot grows with your business.
5. Security and Compliance
Customer data needs protection. Choose platforms that follow laws like GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001:2022. Look for data encryption, role-based access, and custom domain hosting.
6. Cost and ROI
Know your budget and the pricing model. Some charge per chat, message, or user, which can add up. Check for extra costs for features like knowledge bases or analytics. Think about ROI—how the chatbot saves time, boosts efficiency, or increases sales. Many offer free trials to test before buying.
5 Real Examples of Using AI Chatbot Apps
Businesses in many industries use AI chatbots to automate tasks, improve customer experiences, and streamline work. Solvea’s case studies show how powerful these tools can be:
1. Aosom
Aosom, a global e-commerce company, had trouble managing high volumes of customer questions across platforms, countries, and brands. Their team switched between systems, slowing them down.
With VOC.AI’s platform and Solvea AI agents, Aosom got a single system for all channels. Solvea handled routine and complex questions, automating 50%+ of logistics queries. This cut costs and improved service across regions.
2. Anker
Anker Innovation, a top Amazon seller, served 100 million users but had a 300-person team handling 2 million tickets yearly, each taking over 30 minutes across eight platforms.
VOC.AI’s platform with Solvea cut resolution times to 5 minutes, integrating 270+ channels. Solvea saved 150+ hours weekly, achieved a 92% resolution rate in 5 turns, and cut workload by 70%. It also reduced returns by 40% with smart analytics.
3. Oceania
Oceania, an e-commerce group with 10 million users, struggled with staffing and training. Senior agents took three months to train, and turnover hurt service.
Solvea saved 2.37 full-time staff and sped up support 5x, cutting order processing from 3 minutes to 30 seconds. It offered 24/7 multilingual support in 10 languages, improving customer satisfaction and boosting conversions by 25% with product recommendations.
4. Holy Stone
Holy Stone, a toy drone brand, faced high demand and complex troubleshooting. Traditional chatbots couldn’t handle nuanced questions.
VOC.AI’s Solvea, using GPT-4o, cut ticket processing from 3.5 hours to 30 minutes. It handled peak seasons, reduced labor costs by 35%, improved resolution by 50%, and cut churn by 10%. Solvea also helped pre-sales by finding products and stock links.
5. Apeman
Apeman, a tech company, needed a hub for global customer insights. They faced staffing gaps, holiday delays, and peak-season backlogs.
VOC.AI’s Solvea unified inquiries into one hub with 24/7 responses. It handled 65% of routine queries, cutting labor costs by 40%. Apeman achieved a 70% NPS, matching human agents, thanks to Solvea’s smart triage and knowledge updates.
Conclusion
AI chatbots are must-have tools for businesses in 2025. They offer constant availability, quick replies, and cost savings while making customers happier with personal touches. From all-purpose platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to specialized ones like Solvea for customer service and Perplexity for research, there’s something for every need.
Big brands like Anker, Aosom, Oceania, Holy Stone, and Apeman show how chatbots save time, cut costs, and improve service. When picking a chatbot, match it to your goals, check integrations, language support, customization, security, and costs. With free trials, businesses can test platforms to find the perfect fit for success.
FAQs
1. Which is the best AI chatbot?
The best overall AI chatbot is ChatGPT due to its exceptional performance powered by OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT-4o language model. It is proficient in a wide range of tasks, including writing, summarization, coding, multimodality, translation, and conversation, and has access to current events. For specific needs, other platforms might be better; For instance, Solvea is highlighted as a solid choice for customer service for organizations seeking a solution with built-in guardrails and user-friendly implementation.
2. Is there a free AI chatbot?
Yes, many chatbots have free versions or trials, like Solvea, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Perplexity.ai, DeepSeek, HuggingChat, and Pi. They have limits but offer good features for personal or business use.
3. What is an AI chat app?
AI chatbot apps are advanced software applications that use artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML) to simulate human-like conversations, enabling businesses to automate interactions, improve customer engagement, and streamline operations across platforms like websites, messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), and social media. These chatbots can be rule-based (following predefined scripts) or AI-driven (leveraging large language models for dynamic responses), with customizable features allowing organizations to tailor conversational flows, integrate external systems, and continuously enhance performance based on user interactions.
4. What AI app is everyone using?
ChatGPT is widely popular and has almost become synonymous with AI chatbots since its launch. It achieved global recognition and motivated many competitors to develop their own versions. Other highly used and recommended AI apps include Solvea (especially for commercial customer service), Microsoft Copilot (for Microsoft users), and Perplexity.ai (for search-focused tasks with sources). Many businesses are also adopting specialized chatbot platforms like Solvea for customer service automation.