8 Best ChatGPT alternatives for writing - FREE ones included

ChatGPT is great, but sometimes its writing can feel flat or repetitive. If you want more vivid or varied text, it helps to try other AI writers.

The following AI models are recognized for their strong creative writing abilities, as highlighted by the LLM Leaderboard, which aggregates over 2 million community votes. This list is based on the Creative Writing category rankings available at aiToggler’s leaderboard.

Regularly checking the leaderboard is advisable, as AI models are continually evolving.

1. Gemini 2.5 Pro

Developed by Google, Gemini 2.5 Pro has been praised for its exceptional creative writing capabilities.

Users have noted significant improvements over previous versions, with one stating, “Incredible when it comes to creative writing. Leaps and bounds over 0325. Really grips a story.” This model’s ability to craft engaging narratives and maintain coherence throughout complex plots makes it a top choice for writers seeking AI assistance.

As of now, Gemini 2.5 Pro access costs around $22/month through the Gemini Advanced program.

In the aiToggler app, Gemini 2.5 Pro is also accessible with a pay-per-use system.

2. Grok-3

Elon Musk’s xAI introduced Grok-3, which has garnered attention for its advanced language processing and creative writing skills.

In comparative tests, Grok-3 outperformed other AI models in crafting engaging and coherent narratives. For instance, when tasked with creating a complex time-travel story, Grok-3 excelled in character development and plot progression, delivering a compelling narrative.

This demonstrates Grok-3’s proficiency in handling intricate storytelling elements, making it a valuable tool for creative writers. Access to Grok-3 is available through X Premium+ subscriptions, priced at $50 per month.

Grok 3 is available in our app through an API to try right now.

3. Llama 4 Maverick (available for free)

Meta’s Llama 4 Maverick is recognized for its ability to produce detailed and nuanced writing.

With a 400-billion-parameter architecture and a 1-million-token context window, it handles extensive documents and long conversations effectively, maintaining coherence and depth in storytelling.

Meta confirms “full text generation, including creative writing, is available” on Llama. In head-to-head tests, it produced more detailed and nuanced writing than many rivals.

There is a free version available for you to try right now, and a paid version with fewer rate limits.

4. Claude 3.7 Sonnet

Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet is acclaimed for its nuanced understanding of language and context, enabling it to produce creative and contextually relevant content.

It is particularly adept at maintaining a consistent tone and style, which is essential for long-form writing projects. This model’s ability to adapt to various writing prompts and genres makes it a versatile tool for writers seeking diverse content generation.

Subscription plans for Claude 3.7 Sonnet start at $17 per month and go up to $100 per month (as of May 2025), with higher tiers offering additional features and support.

It can be accessed with the aiToggler app right now.

5. DeepSeek V3

DeepSeek V3 has been recognized for its advanced reasoning and comprehension abilities, allowing it to generate insightful and well-structured content.

It excels in tasks requiring deep understanding and analysis, making it suitable for complex writing assignments that demand critical thinking and coherence.

API access to DeepSeek V3 is available for the paid version in aiToggler, and the free version has more rate limits.

6. Qwen

Alibaba’s Qwen model is noted for its proficiency in multilingual content creation, enabling writers to produce creative works in various languages.

Its ability to understand and generate culturally relevant content makes it a valuable asset for writers aiming to reach a global audience.

Qwen offers various models, some, if not most, of which are open-source and freely available, while others are proprietary and may involve costs for access. You can try it in the app.

7. Perplexity

Perplexity AI offers a model that combines information retrieval with content generation, providing writers with accurate and contextually relevant information to enhance their creative writing.

This integration of real-time data ensures that the generated content is both current and informative.

Perplexity’s Pro subscription is priced at $20 per month, offering advanced features and capabilities. Try it out right now.