8 Best AI Apps (2024) You Need to Try

The best artificial intelligence (AI) apps can help everyday users and consumers improve their work and simplify their lives by helping craft emails, edit photos, or track their finances. Since the remarkably popular release of ChatGPT in late 2022, a surge in AI app development has democratized AI technologies and produced a large array of affordable and user-friendly AI apps—but finding the right one for specific tasks can be challenging.
I evaluated a number of these tools to see how they compared for the most common use cases. Here are my picks for the best AI apps for 2024 to help transform everyday life:

ChatGPT: Best for Text and Image Generator
Grammarly: Best for Grammar Error Detection
StarryAI: Best for AI Art/Image Generation
ELSA Speak: Best for Practicing Your Accent and Pronunciation
Cleo: Best for Intelligent Financial Management
Otter.ai: Best for Transcription
Lensa AI: Best for Photo Editing
Fireflies AI: Best for Organizing Meeting Notes



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Best AI Apps Tool Comparison
The table below shows at-a-glance view how these top-rated AI apps compare on features, capabilities, and price.

Free Version
Starting Price
Primary Use
Core Features
Platform Integration

ChatGPT
Yes
$20/mo
Conversational AI and assistance
Natural language understanding, creative writing, and coding help
Web, mobile apps

Grammarly
Yes
$30/mo
Writing and grammar improvement
Grammar checks, style suggestions, tone adjustment
Web, browser extensions, desktop apps

StarryAI
Yes
$4.99/wk
AI art generation
Generate art from text descriptions
Web and mobile apps

ELSA Speak
Yes
$20.88 per user for three months
Language learning and pronunciation
Pronunciation correction, speech analysis
Mobile apps

Cleo
Yes
$2.99/mo
Financial management
Budgeting, expense tracking
Mobile apps

Otter.ai
Yes
$16.99/mo
Transcription and note-taking
Real-time transcription, speaker identification
Web and mobile apps

Lensa AI
No
$7.99/mo
Photo editing and enhancement
Background blur, skin smoothing, filters
Mobile apps

Fireflies AI
Yes
$18/mo
Meeting transcription and summaries
Meeting recording, transcription, action item tracking
Web and mobile apps

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ToggleChatGPTGrammarlyStarryAIELSA SpeakCleoOtter.aiLensa AIFireflies AIHow to Choose the Best AI Apps for Your BusinessFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Bottom Line: The AI App Sector Is Growing Rapidly

ChatGPT
Best for Text and Image Generation
While ChatGPT was not the first artificial intelligence app, its successful launch sparked great interest among individuals and businesses about what AI can do for them. The app makes conversations with AI feel natural and human-like. It leverages deep learning to understand and generate human-like text, which can be used in various applications, from customer support to content creation. Whether brainstorming ideas or seeking quick information on a topic, ChatGPT can provide contextually relevant responses.
It is particularly fast and adept at generating text and images. Enter a one line prompt and ChatGPT will produce a version of what you seek. What sets Chat GPT apart from other AI apps is its versatility. It’s not just for tech enthusiasts—anyone can use it to enhance productivity. For instance, professionals use it to draft emails, generate creative writing prompts, and even as a conversational partner to help with brainstorming.

Visit ChatGPT

ChatGPT Hello World code output.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Free version available
Responses can be long and, at times, off the mark

Produces sophisticated and human-like text, image, and code generation
Earlier versions are free, but newer versions require a subscription

Helps with brainstorming ideas
Creative limitations

Pricing

Free: Limited access to data analysis, file uploads, vision, web browsing, and custom GPTs
Plus: $20 per month, limited
Team: $30 per user billed monthly
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Features

Assistance with writing and problem-solving
Responsive image generation
Data analysis capability
Can be accessed on the web, iOS and Android
Language translation

See our guide to generative AI tools to learn about many other top contenders in the generative AI sector.

Grammarly
Best for Grammar Error Detection
Grammarly has been a game-changer for me as a writer, especially in writing and editing. This AI-charged writing assistant goes beyond simple grammar checks, offering suggestions for style, tone, delivery, and clarity for user-specified target audiences. I can ensure that my emails, articles, and social media posts are polished and professional with Grammarly. The real-time feedback is invaluable, helping me catch errors and improve my writing on the fly.
One of Grammarly’s standout features is its ability to adapt to different writing contexts. It provides suggestions based on the type of document I’m working on, whether it’s a formal or casual message. This level of customization makes it one of the most beneficial artificial intelligence apps for anyone who writes regularly. The tool also recently added generative AI assistance to support brainstorming, creation, and rewrites of existing content.

Visit Grammarly

Grammarly goals settings page.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Catches grammar and spelling mistakes
Some suggestions seem inappropriate

Suggests ways to improve your writing
The free version doesn’t check for style or context

Highly customizable
Translation tool is not always accurate

Pricing

Free: Basic correction usage
Premium: $30 per month
Business: $15 per member, per month
Enterprise: Custom quote

Features

Offers solid AI writing assistance
Adjusts your writing tone as needed
Shifts output to match a brand/marketing approach
Catches plagiarism
Generates text based on AI prompts

Learn how Grammarly compares with today’s best AI writing apps in the eWeek guide.

StarryAI
Best for AI Art/Image Generation
With StarryAI, I can simply input a few descriptive words, and the app produces a unique piece of digital art that matches my vision—though it may take multiple prompts. I’ve used the app to generate illustrations, create personalized gifts, and brainstorm design ideas.
This app uses AI to generate a remarkable range of creative, artistic images based on user inputs. As someone who enjoys exploring new creative outlets, I believe StarryAI provides a fresh and innovative way to create digital art. You simply input a description or a set of parameters, and the AI generates artwork ranging from abstract designs to realistic images. It’s a highly useful tool for artists, designers, and anyone looking to add a creative touch to their projects.

Visit StarryAI

Prompt to generate a realistic dog with output.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

High-quality output
Quality of output relies on the prompter

Users retain full rights to their creations
Image generation can be slow

Easy to use
Limited editing and customization options

Pricing

Free: Up to 25 images without watermarks daily
Starter: $4.99 per week or $95.99 per year
Unlimited: $11.99 per week or $384 per year
Unlimited Pro Max: $19.99 per week or $768 per year

Features

Generates a wide array of art based on prompts
Enables you to create NFT art
Allows freedom to customize models, styles, and aspect ratios
Creates art in bulk

Read our guide to learn how StarryAI compares to other top-rated AI art generators.

ELSA Speak
Best for Practicing Your Accent and Pronunciation
As someone who has always wanted to improve my English pronunciation, ELSA Speak provides personalized feedback and exercises to help me sound more like a native speaker. The app focuses primarily on English language learning initiatives in schools and company settings.
It’s great for practicing your accent and pronunciation, as it will grade your recorded spoken responses to its questions. Users are given access to ELSA’s AI coach, which can detect speech patterns and pronunciation progress. AI within the system also creates customized curricula for students that fit their specific performance and behaviors over time.

Visit ELSA Speak

ELSA Speak chat view.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Supports a wide range of languages
Doesn’t always explain problems in pronunciation

Scores how much you sound like a native speaker
Subscription costs might be expensive for some users

Tracks users’ progress over time
Occasionally freezes during usage

Pricing

Lite (5-50): $58.92 per user, per year; $34.20 per user for six months; $20.88 per user for three months
Medium (51-100): $57 per user, per year; $33.12 per user for six months; $20.22 per user for three months
Premium (100+): Custom quote

Features

Includes over 7,000 lessons and exercises.
Offers reporting and analytics.
Provides feedback on pronunciation, fluency, accent, and intonation.
Gives personalized lessons based on the user’s accent and speaking habits.

Cleo
Best for Intelligent Financial Management
Cleo is an AI assistant that helps users with personal financial management tasks. The Cleo app can help users manage a personal budget, save, avoid certain types of purchases, and borrow money. Cleo also brings a certain amount of personality to the personal finance experience, allowing its users to be “roasted” or “hyped” for their spending habits and how they align with their overall goals. In other words, users need to be able to take a joke.
What I love about Cleo is its conversational interface, which makes managing money less daunting and more engaging. By simply chatting with Cleo, I can get a clear overview of my financial health and receive personalized advice tailored to my financial goals.

Visit Cleo

Cleo “roast me” chat view.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Makes budgeting fun and light-hearted
Confusing subscription policies and limited customer support

Suggests changes to spending patterns to increase saving
Some plans can be confusing

Helps users boost their credit scores
Plus plan is expensive for those on a tight budget

Pricing

Free: Includes essential budgeting tools
Grow: $2.99 per month
Plus: $5.99 per month or $44.99 per year
Builder: $14.99 per month or $38.25 for a three-month subscription

Features

Includes customized budgeting
Provides answers via an AI chatbot
Personalized financial advice tailored to your spending habits
Aggregates all your accounts and financial providers in one app

Otter.ai
Best for Transcription
As someone who frequently attends business meetings and conducts interviews, Otter.ai has become essential to my toolkit. This AI app excels at transcribing audio into text, note-taking, and live summaries. The ability to highlight, annotate, and share transcriptions makes it an invaluable resource for collaboration and information sharing.
What makes Otter.ai stand out is its ability to recognize multiple speakers and distinguish between them, providing clear and organized transcripts. The app’s integration with platforms like Zoom and Google Meet enhances its usability, making it easy to capture and transcribe conversations from various sources.

Visit Otter.ai

Otter.ai transcript view.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Great for searching content to find key information
Words aren’t always transcribed accurately

Automated meeting notes and summaries
Occasional errors in speaker identification, especially in overlapping conversations

Facilitates team collaboration with shared access
Can be expensive

Pricing

Basic: Limited to 300 monthly transcription minutes, 30 minutes per conversation
Pro: $16.99 per user, per month, billed monthly; $8.33 per user, per month billed annually
Business: $30 per user, per month, billed monthly; $20 per user, per month billed annually
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Features

Solid speech to text transcription can handle diverse accents
Speaker identification by name
Live notes and captioning for Google Meet
Real-time annotation (highlights, text notes, comments, and images)

See how Otter.ai compares with today’s leading AI assistant tools.

Lensa AI
Best for Photo Editing
Lensa is an AI photo editor and retoucher that allows users to create videos, add special effects to images, and generate avatar characters in different styles. Its range of features and editing styles make it a popular image-editing tool for the everyday consumer.
AI Image creation apps like Lensa are transforming the development of images in many ways; at the very least, they are blurring the lines between photography and graphic arts. In sum, the array of tools this app provides at a relatively low cost make it a top choice for image and photo editing.

Visit Lensa AI

Lensa filter view.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Numerous options for personalizing edits
Can sometimes make mistakes

Great for retouching and image creation
Not professional grade

Generates avatars quickly based on your specs
Has compatibility issues with certain devices

Pricing

Trial: Seven days
Paid: $7.99 per month or $29.99 per year

Pricing varies based on location, promotions, and platform (iOS or Android).
Features

Photo editing tools to enable many different styles
Video editing tools for basic video touch-ups
Tools to develop personalized AI avatars from your photos

Fireflies AI
Best for Organizing Meeting Notes
This AI app specializes in recording, transcribing, and organizing meeting notes, making it easier to stay on top of tasks and follow up on action items. Fireflies AI integrates with conferencing tools like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, automatically capturing detailed notes and summaries from each meeting. This has saved me hours that would have been spent manually transcribing and organizing information.
The app’s searchable transcripts and action item tracking ensure I never miss important information or follow-ups. The app identifies key points, highlights essential topics, and suggests next steps based on the conversation. This level of intelligence makes Fireflies AI an invaluable tool to assist with project management and team collaboration.

Visit Fireflies AI

The Fireflies “my feed” view.
Pros and Cons

Pros
Cons

Wide compatibility
Limited language support

Transcription in over 69 languages
Expensive for small teams or individual users

High accuracy rate
Initial learning curve for non tech savvy users

Pricing

Free: Limited AI summaries and 800 mins of storage/seat
Pro: $18 per seat, per month billed monthly; $10 per seat, per month billed annually
Business: $29 per seat, per month billed monthly; $19 per seat, per month billed annually
Enterprise: $39 per seat, per month billed annually

Features

Automated meeting notes
Video screen capture
Keywords and topic tracking
Comment, highlight, and collaborate features for meetings within the platform

How to Choose the Best AI Apps for Your Business
Choosing the best AI apps for your business involves a careful assessment of your business’s specific needs. Identify the key areas where AI can add value, such as automating repetitive tasks, enhancing customer service, or improving data analysis. For instance, if customer support is a priority, look for AI tools that provide advanced chatbot capabilities.
It’s always best to opt for user-friendly solutions that can grow with your business. Look for strong customer support, regular updates, and integration capabilities with other tools you already use. By focusing on these factors, you can select AI apps that meet your immediate requirements and also support long-term business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which AI App Is Everyone Using?
The most popular AI app is ChatGPT. It functions as a research tool, content creator, text summarizer, and personal assistant. That said, there are plenty of popular AI apps, including many on this list. And at any rate, the AI app sector is evolving so rapidly that it’s best to focus on total functionality of the app instead of mere popularity.
What is the Best AI App Right Now?
The best AI app currently depends on your specific needs. For general-purpose AI, ChatGPT stands out due to its versatility in handling a wide range of tasks, from drafting text to answering complex queries. For creative tasks, StarryAI is a top choice for generating unique digital art, while Grammarly excels in improving writing and editing. The “best” AI app can vary based on what you’re looking to achieve.
Is There a Better AI App Than ChatGPT?
Depending on your preferences and needs, there are plenty of AI apps that are better than ChatGPT. For example, if you value conversational memory in a chatbot, then Claude might be better. If you want a tool that generates images, MidJourney has ChatGPT beat.
What is the Best Free AI to Use?
Among free AI tools, ChatGPT offers a robust free version with powerful capabilities for natural language processing and conversation.
Is ChatGPT Free?
ChatGPT offers both free and paid versions; naturally the paid version offers far more functionality.
Bottom Line: The AI App Sector Is Growing Rapidly
This guide to the best AI apps provides a portrait of an exciting AI sector, especially as new players emerge on a near-daily basis. A growing number of AI developers are launching tools for things like virtual shopping, entertainment, telehealth and project management, to name a few categories out of many.
Whether you’re looking for a tool to support key business initiatives or simply want an AI solution for personal use cases, the best AI apps I reviewed above are a great place to start for user-friendly and low-cost AI applications.
Read about the top generative AI companies, many of which offer apps for business and other content creation uses.
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