The best AI apps for iPhone, ranked by App Store ratings
The AI assistant apps worth installing on an iPhone, ranked by App Store ratings, with prices and what each connects to.
ChatGPT is the best AI app for most iPhone owners, and it has the most App Store ratings by a wide margin. Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity and Claude are all free to download too, and each one is the better pick for a specific job.
The order below follows the number of US App Store ratings each app has. Every app is free to start, with paid plans sold as in-app purchases. Copilot needs iOS 26, so check your iPhone first.
Good for
- You want one free AI app on your iPhone and need to pick
- You want the assistant to reach your mail, calendar or files
- You are choosing a paid plan and want the App Store prices side by side
The list
Ranked by the number of App Store ratings each app has in the US store, as listed on November 1, 2026.
- 1
ChatGPTMost ratedAssistantMost-rated AI app on the App Store. Free, with voice chat, photo questions and image generation; Go, Plus and Pro are in-app upgrades.
4.8rating - 2
GeminiAssistantGoogle's assistant. Connects to Gmail, Calendar, Google Photos and YouTube, and has Gemini Live for talking through what your camera sees.
4.7rating - 3
Microsoft CopilotAssistantBest fit if you live in Microsoft 365: it works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams files. Needs iOS 26 or later.
4.7rating - 4
PerplexityAssistantSearch-first assistant: every answer comes with its sources. Pro and Max add deeper research and more usage.
4.8rating - 5
ClaudeAssistantStrong for writing, research and code. Connects Google Drive, Gmail and Calendar, and connectors you add on claude.ai also work on the phone.
4.7rating
Comparison
Pick ChatGPT if you want one app that does a bit of everything. Pick Gemini or Copilot if your mail and files live with Google or Microsoft, and Claude if you want to plug in your own connectors.
| Option | Free download | Paid from | Needs iOS | Connects to | Age rating | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPTThis page | Yes | $8 Go | 18.0 | – | 13+ | 293 MB |
| Gemini | Yes | $4.99 AI Plus | 18.2 | Google apps | 13+ | 385 MB |
| Copilot | Yes | $1.99 M365 | 26.0 | Microsoft 365 | 13+ | 504 MB |
| Perplexity | Yes | $20 Pro | 18.0 | – | 18+ | 193 MB |
| Claude | Yes | $20 Pro | 18.0 | Google apps, connectors | 18+ | 191 MB |
Our pick
ChatGPT is the safe first install: it is free, has by far the most App Store ratings, and covers chat, voice, photos and images. Paid plans run from $8 (Go) to $200 (Pro) a month in the App Store.
Our pick: ChatGPT
ChatGPT first, then pick a second app by where your files live. The order comes from US App Store ratings counts.
Best for
- Gemini if you use Gmail, Calendar and Google Photos
- Copilot if you work in Word, Excel and Outlook
- Perplexity if you want sources with every answer
- Claude if you want to connect your own tools
Skip it if
- Copilot on an iPhone that cannot run iOS 26
- Claude or Perplexity for users under 18 (rated 18+)
How we ranked these
Order = US App Store ratings count on 2026-11-01. Average star ratings are shown but do not change the order (all sit between 4.7 and 4.8).
| Criterion | Weight | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| App Store ratings count | 100% | Number of US App Store ratings on each listing (iTunes lookup API, 2026-11-01). Used as the adoption signal; it decides the order. |
| Scope | General AI assistant apps on iPhone that we hold an assistant entity for (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, Claude). Grok and Meta AI are not ranked because we hold no entity or page for them yet. | |
| Facts shown | Prices, iOS requirement, age rating, size and features come only from each App Store listing and, for connectors, the vendor help center. |
Data as of 2026-11-01
Questions
What is the best free AI app for iPhone?
ChatGPT for most people. It is free to download and has about 11.8 million US App Store ratings at 4.8 stars. Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity and Claude are free to download as well, with paid plans as in-app purchases.
Is ChatGPT free on iPhone?
Yes. The app is free, and paid plans are in-app purchases. In the US App Store ChatGPT Go is $8.00, Plus is $19.99 and Pro starts at $100.00.
Which AI app works on an older iPhone?
ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity need iOS 18.0 or later and Gemini needs iOS 18.2. Microsoft Copilot needs iOS 26.0, so it will not install on phones that cannot update to iOS 26.
Can an AI app on iPhone read my email and calendar?
Yes, if you connect it. Gemini connects to Gmail, Calendar, Google Photos and YouTube. Claude connects to Google Drive, Gmail and Calendar. Copilot works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
Do Claude connectors work in the iPhone app?
Yes. Claude reaches a connector from Anthropic's cloud, not from your phone, and Anthropic says that holds for the mobile apps too. The server has to be reachable on the public internet. The Free plan allows one custom connector.
Which AI app is best for research with sources?
Perplexity. Its listing promises cited sources for every answer, and Pro adds deeper research. Claude can also search the web and cite what it finds.
How much do the paid plans cost on iPhone?
About $20 a month for the main plan in the US App Store: ChatGPT Plus $19.99, Claude Pro $20.00, Google AI Pro $19.99, Perplexity Pro $20.00. Cheaper tiers exist for ChatGPT (Go, $8.00) and Google (AI Plus, $4.99). Copilot upgrades are Microsoft 365 plans, from $1.99 for Basic.
Are these AI apps OK for teenagers?
Check the age rating. ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot are rated 13+ in the App Store. Claude and Perplexity are rated 18+.
Which AI app takes the least space?
Claude (191 MB) and Perplexity (193 MB). ChatGPT is 293 MB, Gemini 385 MB and Copilot 504 MB.
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
Show all 6Hide
- ChatGPT on the App Store · apps.apple.com
- Google Gemini on the App Store · apps.apple.com
- Microsoft Copilot on the App Store · apps.apple.com
- Perplexity on the App Store · apps.apple.com
- Claude by Anthropic on the App Store · apps.apple.com
- Getting started with custom connectors using remote MCP · support.claude.com