Looking for the best AI apps to simplify work and life? You’re in the right place. From smart chatbots that answer questions fast to creative tools that turn ideas into images and videos, today’s AI apps are practical, friendly, and often free to start. Below you’ll find the best AI apps by task and device, plus quick picks and buying tips so you can choose confidently.
Quick picks: the best AI apps by what you want to do
Here are standout options you can trust right now:
- Ask questions & research: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini
- Write & edit: Notion AI, Grammarly, QuillBot
- Meetings & audio: Otter.ai (notes), Krisp (noise removal), Descript (recording/editing)
- Design & images: Canva Magic Studio, Adobe Firefly (Photoshop), Midjourney
- Photo enhancement: Remini, Topaz Photo AI
- Video creation: CapCut, Runway, Descript, Pika
- Coding help: GitHub Copilot, Replit Ghostwriter
- Automation & productivity: Zapier AI, Notion AI
Free picks to try first
If you want the best free AI apps to get started, begin with ChatGPT (free tier), Perplexity (generous free plan), Microsoft Copilot (free on web/mobile), Canva (free with Magic tools), and CapCut (free core tools). Most offer optional upgrades – great once you know what you’ll actually use.
Best AI chatbots and personal assistants
If you’re searching for the best AI chatbot to handle everyday questions, drafting, or brainstorming, these four are reliable and widely available:
- ChatGPT: Excellent for writing help, summaries, and explanations. The free version is powerful; paid tiers add faster, more capable models and file/image features.
- Perplexity: Ideal for research. It cites sources and keeps answers grounded in real webpages. Great when accuracy and links matter.
- Microsoft Copilot: Handy for quick answers, Bing image creation, and integration with Microsoft tools. Available on web, Windows, iOS, and Android.
- Google Gemini: Strong for Google ecosystem users, mobile-friendly, and useful for quick tasks, email drafts, and image-based queries.
What to look for in a chatbot:
- Grounded answers: Prefer tools that show citations for research-heavy tasks (Perplexity shines here).
- Privacy options: Check data settings; most apps let you opt out of training on your content.
- File handling: If you’ll analyze PDFs, spreadsheets, or images, confirm file upload features on your plan.
Tip: For complex topics, ask the model to show sources, request alternatives, and have it list assumptions to improve accuracy.
Best AI apps for iPhone and Android
Whether you’re team iPhone or Android, the best AI apps now feel native, fast, and secure. Here’s what to install first.
Best AI apps for iPhone
- ChatGPT (iOS): Crisp interface for drafting messages, summarizing notes, and quick learning.
- Perplexity (iOS): The research-friendly companion with citations and focused answers.
- Microsoft Copilot (iOS): Fast, capable, and useful for image generation on the go.
- Notion (iOS) + Notion AI: Turn rough notes into tidy docs, action items, and summaries.
- Otter.ai (iOS): Transcribes meetings and creates shareable summaries.
- Remini / Lensa (iOS): Quick photo enhancement and creative portraits.
Best AI apps for Android
- Google Gemini (Android): Easy access from your phone for questions, drafts, and image queries.
- Perplexity (Android): Great for cited answers and deep dives.
- Microsoft Copilot (Android): Snappy answers plus image tools.
- Notion (Android) + Notion AI: Organize projects with AI-assisted writing.
- Otter.ai (Android): Meeting notes and summaries in seconds.
- CapCut (Android): Smart edits and AI effects for short-form video.
Prefer desktop? The best AI apps for PC include Microsoft Copilot in Windows 11 for quick tasks, Grammarly for writing assistance, Notion AI on desktop for project workflows, and Descript for recording and editing.
Best AI apps for photos and videos
If visuals are your focus, these are the best AI apps for photos and the best AI apps for videos that creators consistently recommend.
Photos: enhance, retouch, create
- Remini: One-tap photo enhancement and cleanup.
- Lensa: Portrait-friendly edits, backgrounds, and styles.
- Topaz Photo AI: Upscaling, sharpening, and denoising for higher-quality shots.
- Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom (with Firefly): Generative fill, object removal, and smart edits inside pro tools.
- Canva Magic Studio: Background remover, Magic Expand, and quick branded graphics – no design degree needed.
Videos: edit, animate, and generate
- CapCut: Social-first editor with AI captions, effects, and templates.
- Runway: Cutting-edge video generation and AI editing (green-screen, motion tracking, more).
- Descript: Edit video by editing text, remove filler words, and auto-caption with ease.
- Pika: Experimental, fast-moving AI video generation for creative concepts.
- VEED: Browser-based editing with subtitles, cleanup, and templates.
Pro tip for creators: Build a simple pipeline. For example, script in ChatGPT -> design with Canva -> record and rough cut in Descript -> polish in CapCut or Runway. You’ll save time and keep quality high.
How to choose the right AI app (and avoid overpaying)
A few quick guidelines will keep your stack lean and useful:
- Start with one core assistant: Pick a primary chatbot (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Copilot, or Gemini). Learn prompts that match your goals.
- Buy for outcomes, not features: If a paid tier saves you 1-2 hours a week, it’s usually worth it. If not, stick to free.
- Mind your data: Review privacy settings and project-level controls, especially for work files.
- Template your wins: Turn successful prompts into reusable templates so results are consistent.
- Sense-check with sources: For research and news, prefer tools that cite references. When in doubt, verify.
Want real-world experiences? Searching “best AI apps Reddit” can surface practical workflows and gotchas from everyday users – just remember to verify claims.
Conclusion: your perfect AI toolkit
The best ai apps make everyday tasks faster – research with Perplexity, brainstorm and draft in ChatGPT, tidy writing with Grammarly, capture meetings via Otter, and create with Canva, Remini, CapCut, or Runway. Start with free tiers, add paid tools that clearly save time, and keep your workflow simple. With a small, thoughtful set of AI apps, you’ll get more done in less time – and have fun doing it.
Bently's Blog 