{"profile":"wrs-ai-tool-guide-2","edition":"2026-10-28.1","checked_on":"2026-10-28","title":"Find an AI that fits your day","lead":"An email that sounds like you. A useful study guide. A small app that actually works. Find a starting option, inspect real experiences and know what you would be paying for.","scope":"These are consumer products, not a ranking of model intelligence. Official pages support access and price facts; dated external tests and individual public accounts support narrower observations. Mainland Chinese apps can differ from international products. Recommendations are editorial starting points, not scientific grades or guaranteed results.","products":[{"id":"chatgpt","name":"ChatGPT","maker":"OpenAI","entry":"https://chatgpt.com/","fit":"A flexible starting point for questions, drafts and source-linked work, with a path from a conversation to a reviewable file or coding task.","capabilities":["Discuss and revise a draft","Search for current sources","Compare supplied documents and data","Use Work or Codex for supported tool tasks"],"watch":"New Terra reports concern Work/Codex or an API harness, not free Chat. Small patch and invoice tests show useful results alongside screen-reading and arithmetic failures. Effort, tools and checking change the cost. Inspect the product surface and keep a copy of the original input.","access":"Consumer Chat and Work/Codex are separate surfaces. OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Terra is available in Work/Codex on eligible paid plans, but not in ordinary Chat; GPT-6.1 Sol is also a Work/Codex model. Check your account, workspace controls and allowance. Work/Codex share plan usage; the developer API is billed separately.","plans":[{"name":"Free","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"Official subscription list; included usage is limited."},{"name":"Plus","monthly_usd":20,"basis":"Listed monthly subscription price in USD; check regional checkout and taxes. API usage is billed separately."}],"sources":[{"title":"OpenAI: choosing Chat, Work or Codex and working with files","url":"https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/use-chatgpt","kind":"Official product guide","published":null},{"title":"OpenAI: subscription prices and separate API billing","url":"https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing","kind":"Official pricing page","published":null},{"title":"OpenAI: web search and source review","url":"https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/web-search","kind":"Official feature guide","published":null},{"title":"OpenAI: GPT-6.1 Terra access in Work and Codex","url":"https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/whats-new/october-26-30-2026","kind":"Official product update","published":null}]},{"id":"claude","name":"Claude","maker":"Anthropic","entry":"https://claude.ai/","fit":"A useful candidate when the result should become an editable document, spreadsheet, presentation or small interactive artifact.","capabilities":["Draft and revise text","Search the web","Create downloadable files","Build an artifact or use Claude Code on eligible plans"],"watch":"Selected everyday tests favoured its detailed planning; a user’s Opus 5.5 email report also shows why paid extra usage can surprise you. Neither establishes a population result. A higher effort setting or a longer answer is not automatically a better email. Keep facts and the final send under your control.","access":"Web, desktop and mobile. Organization settings can restrict tools or network access. Usage limits apply to free and paid plans.","plans":[{"name":"Free","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"Official free tier with usage limits."},{"name":"Pro","monthly_usd":20,"basis":"US monthly billing; the advertised annual discount requires an upfront annual payment. Taxes and local pricing vary."}],"sources":[{"title":"Anthropic: consumer plans and included features","url":"https://claude.com/pricing","kind":"Official pricing page","published":null},{"title":"Anthropic: creating and editing files","url":"https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12111783-create-and-edit-files-with-claude","kind":"Official feature guide","published":null}]},{"id":"gemini","name":"Gemini","maker":"Google","entry":"https://gemini.google.com/","fit":"Start here when Google apps are already part of your day, or when you want to explore an image, a conversation or a Canvas project in that ecosystem.","capabilities":["Chat and explore a topic","Use image tools and Canvas","Use Deep Research within plan limits","Use eligible Gemini features in Google apps"],"watch":"Current Argon user reports disagree sharply on allowance consumption. They are paid or unspecified accounts, not a measurement of free use. Google-app integration, stronger-model access and ordinary standalone chat have different conditions. Check the output and your own usage meter.","access":"A free Gemini app entry is available. The current US subscription page advertises Gemini 4 Argon with AI Pro and Ultra. AI Plus, app integrations and stronger-model access are not interchangeable; confirm your region and account entitlements.","plans":[{"name":"Free","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"US personal-plan page, with usage limits."},{"name":"Google AI Plus","monthly_usd":4.99,"basis":"Observed US monthly list price; check the actual features and local checkout."},{"name":"Google AI Pro","monthly_usd":19.99,"basis":"Observed US monthly list price; regional prices, taxes and promotions vary."}],"sources":[{"title":"Google: Gemini personal plans and regional availability","url":"https://gemini.google/us/subscriptions/?hl=en","kind":"Official localized pricing page; US view recorded","published":null}]},{"id":"deepseek","name":"DeepSeek","maker":"DeepSeek","entry":"https://chat.deepseek.com/","fit":"An accessible option to include in a no-subscription chat trial, especially if you prefer starting from Chinese-language product guidance.","capabilities":["Ask questions and revise text","Use the app's documented search and thinking features","Work with uploaded text where available"],"watch":"The company reported the web/app update; V4.1 tests and the low-bill story in this guide use the API. They do not establish the performance, allowance or reliability of your own chat session. Check the model if your app displays it; otherwise treat it as unknown. Verify search claims against original sources.","access":"The official download page advertises free app use. DeepSeek reported on 17 October that its web and app models had moved to V4.1 Flash 1017. Availability, the model shown in a particular session and account limits may differ; we have not measured the free allowance.","plans":[{"name":"App free entry","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"Free use advertised on the current official download page. Developer API and other services are separate; exact app quotas remain unknown."}],"sources":[{"title":"DeepSeek: current official app and desktop downloads (Chinese)","url":"https://www.deepseek.com/download/","kind":"Official product page","published":null},{"title":"DeepSeek: original app capabilities","url":"https://api-docs.deepseek.com/news/news250115/","kind":"Historical official app announcement","published":"2025-01-15"},{"title":"DeepSeek: 17 October 2026 web, app and API update","url":"https://api-docs.deepseek.com/updates/","kind":"Official provider change log","published":"2026-10-17"}]},{"id":"grok","name":"Grok","maker":"xAI","entry":"https://grok.com/","fit":"Try it for a short everyday explanation or a message you want to sound natural. Test whether it follows your word limit and keeps every practical constraint.","capabilities":["Chat on the web or in the official mobile apps.","Explore voice, image and file features where your account provides them.","Ask for original links when checking a current topic."],"watch":"A conversational style you enjoy is useful, but is not a fact-checking guarantee. The latest everyday case has unknown model/settings; the explicit Grok 4.7 review is a coding comparison. Neither supplies a fixed free-message count. Verify linked claims, quantities and any additional spend.","access":"Open grok.com or its official iOS/Android app. Signing in and linking an X subscription are distinct steps. Available features, billing channel and regional checkout determine your actual access.","plans":[{"name":"Free entry","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"Limited usage. The current public page lists a $0 entry."},{"name":"Plus · current public web listing","monthly_usd":8,"basis":"US web list price before tax. Included activities share a weekly Grok/Cursor pool; Grok API usage is billed separately. Premium $30, Super $100 and Ultra $200 are higher listed tiers. Check account naming, renewal and top-ups."}],"sources":[{"title":"Current public plan comparison","url":"https://x.ai/pricing","kind":"Official living page","published":null},{"title":"Consumer account, billing and usage help","url":"https://docs.x.ai/grok/faq","kind":"Official living page","published":null}]},{"id":"qwen","name":"Qwen / Qianwen (千问)","maker":"Alibaba","entry":"https://www.qianwen.com/","fit":"A useful starting point for Chinese writing, documents and everyday planning. Choose the mainland Qianwen app for its local integrations; the international Qwen product is a separate surface.","capabilities":["Draft and revise Chinese text; ask questions about supplied files.","Try the mainland app’s document, slide and work-assistant tools within your allowance.","Check shopping suggestions against actual sellers and quantities."],"watch":"A 23 October newsroom inspection observed in-app shopping checkout. Offers and eligibility can change; compare the final basket and seller. This does not measure document accuracy, free PPT capacity or international Qwen. API and Qianwen Work evidence also cover different surfaces.","access":"Mainland entry: qianwen.com and the official 千问 app. International entry: qwen.ai. Account, location, language and integrations can differ; a feature advertised for one is not promised for the other. Free entry does not make every office or creative action unlimited.","plans":[{"name":"Free entry","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"The official China App Store listing is free with in-app purchases. International Qwen is a different product surface; no paid international consumer tariff is established here."},{"name":"Qianwen work assistant · Advanced","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":19},"basis":"China App Store recurring monthly listing. This is an office allowance, not unlimited model or API use."},{"name":"Qianwen work assistant · Elite","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":49},"basis":"China App Store recurring monthly listing. The same listing shows a Flagship tier at CNY128/month and separate creative purchases. Confirm the selected item and renewal before payment."}],"sources":[{"title":"Official mainland product","url":"https://www.qianwen.com/","kind":"Official living page","published":null},{"title":"Official international product","url":"https://qwen.ai/","kind":"Official living page","published":null},{"title":"China App Store: features, developer and actual purchase items","url":"https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/%E5%8D%83%E9%97%AE-%E9%98%BF%E9%87%8Cai%E5%8A%A9%E6%89%8B/id6466733523","kind":"Official developer listing / regional prices","published":null},{"title":"Qianwen membership agreement: rolling and monthly limits","url":"https://terms.alicdn.com/legal-agreement/terms/c_end_product_protocol/20260728154300619/20260728154300619.html","kind":"Official membership terms","published":"2026-08-07"}]},{"id":"kimi","name":"Kimi","maker":"Moonshot AI","entry":"https://www.kimi.com/","fit":"Try turning a small set of documents into an editable brief, slides or a simple prototype. Give it a concrete output and check the finished file, rather than judging only the conversation.","capabilities":["Ask questions about a small document set.","Try slides, documents, tables and research tools within account limits.","Check a small generated website in a real browser before sharing it."],"watch":"K3.1 Pro has reports of useful builds and repairs. One user reported rapid Highspeed allowance use on 23 October. On 26 October Kimi said it had adjusted settings after usage complaints; we have not verified the effect. Plans share a monthly pool and Code has a rolling limit. App and Code evidence differ; one account cannot establish your free capacity.","access":"Use kimi.com or the official Moonshot AI app. Domestic plans below are quoted in CNY; overseas offers and account eligibility can differ. Tools share an allowance, so a large research or coding run can reduce what remains for other work.","plans":[{"name":"Free entry","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"The official app is free to install with in-app purchases; inspect the allowance before beginning a long task. No fixed free task count is established here."},{"name":"Domestic Go · recurring monthly","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":49},"basis":"Current official new-plan table. Includes Office/research tools; excludes Kimi Code. Annual CNY468 is paid up front, not CNY39 billed monthly."},{"name":"Domestic Plus · recurring monthly","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":99},"basis":"Current official new-plan table: includes Kimi Code, which also has a rolling five-hour limit. Shared monthly allowance still applies."},{"name":"Domestic Pro · recurring monthly","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":199},"basis":"Current official new-plan table. Higher tiers exist; paying more buys plan entitlements and allowance, not a guarantee that a particular output works."}],"sources":[{"title":"Current membership table and old-plan differences","url":"https://www.kimi.com/help/membership/membership-overview","kind":"Official living page","published":null},{"title":"Official app: free entry and developer","url":"https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/kimi/id6474233312","kind":"Official developer listing","published":null}]},{"id":"doubao","name":"Doubao (豆包)","maker":"ByteDance","entry":"https://www.doubao.com/","fit":"Try it for Chinese everyday questions, speaking instead of typing, a picture-based question, or a first draft. Start with a small, checkable task before using a long automated workflow.","capabilities":["Ask by text, voice or picture in the official app.","Summarise a supplied file or turn notes into a draft.","Try creative and office tools within their separate usage limits."],"watch":"The 23 October shopping inspection found dated channel-specific offers, not guaranteed savings. Verify the basket and seller. Current membership help describes model 2.1 Pro and shared advanced usage, with five-hour and seven-day limits. The game complaint is version-unknown; no latest general pass rate or fixed free count is established.","access":"Use doubao.com or the official Chinese app. This guide covers 豆包, not the separate overseas Doubao-family product or third-party sites using its name. Regional availability, account eligibility and your checkout apply.","plans":[{"name":"Free entry","monthly_usd":0,"basis":"Official listing: ordinary chat, search, writing and file questions have free entry; advanced actions have limited free use."},{"name":"Pro Standard · recurring monthly","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":68},"basis":"China recurring monthly listing. Annual CNY688 is upfront; a one-off month is CNY80. Advanced actions share usage and rolling limits. Standard video generation remains limited to daily free trials; extra paid video capacity requires a higher tier."},{"name":"Enhanced · recurring monthly","monthly_usd":null,"monthly_local":{"currency":"CNY","amount":200},"basis":"Official China listing; larger allowance. The highest advertised tier is CNY500/month. Paid advanced functions share usage and rolling limits; no guaranteed number of finished projects."}],"sources":[{"title":"Official China app and subscription prices","url":"https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/%E8%B1%86%E5%8C%85-%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB%E5%B7%A5%E4%BD%9C-ai-%E5%8A%A9%E6%89%8B/id6459478672","kind":"Official developer listing / regional prices","published":null},{"title":"Membership help: allowance and one-off versus renewal prices","url":"https://lf9-cdn-tos.draftstatic.com/obj/ies-hotsoon-draft/grace_legal/doubao_member_copywrite_for_ai.html","kind":"Provider-hosted help; corroborated by official app listing","published":null}]}],"scenarios":[{"id":"write","label":"Write or explain something","shortlist":["chatgpt","claude","grok","qwen","kimi","doubao"],"why":"Use the same short brief and judge clarity, tone and missed constraints. Qianwen, Kimi and Doubao are practical starting options for Chinese-language work; Grok has a recent everyday-writing test worth inspecting. This is a shortlist to try, not a performance order.","trial":"Turn the supplied event facts into a short announcement. Preserve the dates, price and unknown details."},{"id":"files","label":"Turn files into useful work","shortlist":["claude","chatgpt","qwen","kimi","doubao"],"why":"Both document file-based workflows. Choose the one that produces the file type and editing experience your account can actually use.","trial":"Ask for a three-row comparison table with a source column. Open the output and verify every row."},{"id":"google","label":"Work inside Google apps","shortlist":["gemini"],"why":"Google documents Gemini features within its own apps on eligible plans. Check the exact app and account before subscribing.","trial":"Start with public sample text in the Gemini app. Connect personal services only after you decide that the integration is useful."},{"id":"code","label":"Make a small page or tool","shortlist":["chatgpt","claude","gemini","deepseek","kimi","qwen"],"why":"All four are worth a bounded coding trial when your account or tool supports it. External examples show successes and failures. Choose a workflow you can run, then test the output; API results do not establish app-plan performance.","trial":"Build a three-event list with a date filter. Verify ordering, an empty result and source links before sharing it."},{"id":"free","label":"Explore without a subscription","shortlist":["chatgpt","claude","gemini","deepseek","grok","qwen","kimi","doubao"],"why":"All eight have an entry you can try without buying the listed paid subscription. Available features and limits differ. For a mainland Chinese phone workflow, start with Qianwen, Doubao, Kimi or DeepSeek; elsewhere, check which official app is available to your account.","trial":"Use the same supplied facts in two available free products. Record useful output, corrections and any limit you actually encounter."}]}