The Best AI Assistant for Windows in 2026: 7 Apps Compared

A disclosure first. We make AuraCloak, which is number 6 on this list. We've tried to rank it where it belongs, which is "best for a specific job", not "best overall". It doesn't replace any of the first five. It sits on top of them.

Which AI assistant should you pick for Windows?

Prices are US list prices before tax, taken from vendor pages and checked in October 2026. They change often, so confirm on the vendor's site before you buy. "Hidden from screen share" means the vendor documents that the app excludes itself from Windows screen capture; none of the first five do.

How we compared them

We scored every app on the same five questions, using each vendor's own documentation and release notes:

1. How fast can you reach it from another app? A global hotkey matters more on a desktop than any model benchmark.
2. What can it see on your PC: screenshots, files, other windows, the command line?
3. What does the free plan cover, and what does the first paid tier cost?
4. Does it work offline, and where does your data go?
5. What happens when you share your screen in Zoom or Teams?

We left out model quality rankings on purpose. They shift with every release, and on a desktop the bigger differences are in the app around the model.

1. ChatGPT desktop app: best overall

OpenAI's Windows app is free on every plan and installs from the Microsoft Store. Since July 9, 2026 there are two versions. The new app combines Chat, the Work agent and Codex, and its agent can run PowerShell commands inside a Windows sandbox. The older app, renamed ChatGPT Classic, keeps the Alt+Space companion window that floats over whatever you're doing.

Drawbacks: OpenAI models only, and the new app's quick window reportedly slips behind other windows (users are asking for Classic's behavior back). It shows up in full-screen shares like any app. Best for: people who want one assistant that does a bit of everything. Full setup in our ChatGPT desktop app guide.

2. Claude desktop: best for long documents and coding

Claude's Windows app (x64 and ARM64) adds three things the browser can't: desktop extensions that let Claude work with local folders and tools through MCP, Claude Code in a tab, and Cowork, which runs tasks with local sessions kept on the device. Chat works on the Free plan; Claude Code and Cowork need a paid plan, and Cowork also needs admin rights and the Virtual Machine Platform feature.

Drawbacks: quick entry's default Ctrl+Alt+Space clashes with other tools, and Anthropic's help pages still describe quick entry as Mac-only. Best for: writers and developers who paste in long material. See the Claude desktop guide.

3. Microsoft Copilot: best built into Windows

Copilot is preinstalled on new Windows 11 PCs and opens with the Copilot key, Win + C or the opt-in "Hey, Copilot" wake word. Microsoft lets you choose whether the shortcut opens the full app or a smaller quick view. Copilot Vision can look at an app or browser window you share with it, and Copilot can search your files, including synced OneDrive documents.

Drawbacks: sign-in matters. A personal Microsoft account unlocks chat history, voice and longer conversations. The standalone Copilot Pro plan stopped taking new customers in October 2025; the paid route is now Microsoft 365 Premium. Best for: people who already live in Microsoft 365.

4. Google Gemini app: best for Google Workspace users

Google released the Gemini app for Windows 10 and 11 on September 10, 2026, as a direct download from gemini.google/desktop rather than the Store. Alt + Space opens Gemini over your current window, and it can draft from Gmail and Google Drive content. Agent and video features need a Google AI subscription.

Drawbacks: brand new, and Google says some features are still macOS-first. It wants Alt+Space, the same key ChatGPT Classic and PowerToys Run use. Best for: anyone whose work lives in Gmail and Docs.

5. Perplexity: best for research with sources

Perplexity's Windows app (since March 2025) answers with numbered citations, supports voice dictation and has Deep Research for longer reports. A local "Personal Computer" agent that works with approved folders is available to Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers.

Drawbacks: it's a search engine first, so it's less suited to long back-and-forth drafting. Best for: fact-finding where you want to click through to the source.

6. AuraCloak: best for several models in one private overlay

AuraCloak is our app, so read this one with that in mind. It's a small Windows overlay that stays above other windows and calls the Windows capture-exclusion API on itself, so Zoom, Teams, Google Meet in a browser, OBS, Loom and Snipping Tool leave it out of shares and screenshots. A phone camera pointed at the screen still sees it.

It doesn't have its own model. You either load ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Gemini, Copilot or Perplexity in browser mode with your existing login, or bring your own API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint such as Ollama. A dropdown switches between them. Screenshots go in with Alt + S, voice input with Alt + V, and Alt + C makes the overlay click-through.

Drawbacks: Windows only, no agent features, no MCP, and you pay for it on top of your AI plan or API usage. No account and no telemetry, but the license key is checked online. Best for: people who want AI notes and answers visible during calls, demos and presentations without them showing up in the share. $9 a month or $49 once on the pricing page.

7. Ollama or LM Studio: best fully offline

If nothing may leave the PC, run an open-weight model locally. Ollama and LM Studio both have Windows apps and expose an OpenAI-compatible local server, so other tools can talk to them. Speed depends on your GPU and RAM, and small local models trail the big hosted ones on hard questions.

Best for: sensitive documents, flights and anyone who'd rather spend on hardware than subscriptions.

How do you choose an AI assistant for Windows?

• You want one app and won't pay: ChatGPT, then Copilot.
• You paste in long files or write code: Claude.
• You need sources you can check: Perplexity.
• You're on calls all day and share your screen: pin your assistant with an overlay that's excluded from capture, or share single windows only.
• Data can't leave the machine: a local model.

One practical warning: install two or three of these and the hotkeys collide. ChatGPT Classic, Gemini, Copilot and PowerToys Run all want Alt+Space, and Claude and AuraCloak both use Ctrl+Alt+Space. Windows gives a hotkey to whichever app registers it first, so set them deliberately on day one. If you want two models visible at once, our guide to using ChatGPT and Claude side by side has four layouts.

FAQ

What is the best free AI assistant for Windows?

The ChatGPT desktop app and Microsoft Copilot are the strongest free options. Both install from the Microsoft Store, open with a global shortcut and work without a paid plan, with usage limits. For fully offline and free, run a local model with Ollama or LM Studio.

Does Windows 11 have a built-in AI assistant?

Yes. Microsoft Copilot comes preinstalled on new Windows 11 PCs and opens with the Copilot key or Win+C. Signing in with a Microsoft account adds chat history, voice and image creation.

Which AI assistants for Windows work offline?

The big hosted assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Perplexity) need an internet connection. Local model apps such as Ollama and LM Studio work offline once a model is downloaded.

Can I use ChatGPT and Claude in the same app on Windows?

Not in either vendor's own app. Multi-provider tools such as AuraCloak let you switch between OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and others from one window, using your own API keys or your existing web logins.

Do AI assistant apps show up when I share my screen?

Yes, most do. If you share your entire screen in Zoom, Teams or Meet, any open AI app is visible. Share a single window instead, or use an app that excludes itself from Windows screen capture.