Everyone arguing about which AI is best is arguing about the wrong thing. Benchmarks measure narrow tasks in controlled conditions. The question that actually matters is simpler: which AI should you open when you have a specific problem to solve right now?
I use all four of these tools regularly. After two years of daily use, here is the honest breakdown of where each one wins, where each one wastes your time, and when paying for multiple subscriptions actually makes sense.
A practical routing guide
Writing, analysis, or tasks where reasoning quality matters most: Claude first. Add Perplexity when you need current sourced facts to support the work.
Work that lives inside Google Workspace: Gemini. The native integration removes enough friction that it beats a slightly stronger external tool every time.
Image generation, quick factual questions, or anything needing a third-party plugin: ChatGPT. The ecosystem is larger than any competitor right now.
Research that needs to be verifiable and current: Perplexity, with Deep Research enabled for anything complex.
On paying for multiple subscriptions
Most people do not need all four. Most need one primary tool and occasional access to a second.
The stack I recommend for most knowledge workers: Claude Pro as the primary (for work that matters) and ChatGPT free or Plus as backup for image generation and integrations. If your work requires verifiable current research, add Perplexity Pro. If you live in Google Workspace, swap Claude for Gemini as your primary.
Paying $60 to $80 a month for all four is defensible if you are a genuine daily user of each. Most people who pay for all four are actively using two. Check your last month of actual usage before the next billing cycle.
About the author
Shahid Saleem writes PickGearLab — a practical blog about AI tools, tutorials, and automation workflows for people who want real results, not another listicle. Certified in Microsoft AZ-900, CompTIA Security+, and AWS AI Practitioner, with 10+ years in enterprise IT.
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