Let’s be honest—when ChatGPT first hit the scene in late 2022, it felt like magic. You could ask it just about anything, and in seconds, you’d get a coherent, sometimes even clever, response. Compared to the old-school method of Googling your question and sifting through ten tabs of articles, Reddit posts, and forum threads, it was a total game changer. It wasn’t just a search engine—it was like having a super helpful friend who could summarize the internet for you.
Fast forward to 2025, and things have evolved. ChatGPT 3.5, the free version from OpenAI, is still out there doing its thing. But how does it hold up against the newer, shinier competitors like Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity? I decided to dig in, try it out in different everyday scenarios, and see whether it’s still worth having in your digital toolbox—or if it’s just clinging to its former glory.
First Things First: What Exactly Is ChatGPT 3.5?
ChatGPT 3.5 is the free version of OpenAI’s AI chatbot, accessible via the web or a mobile app. It uses a large language model with 175 billion parameters—basically, a fancy way of saying it has a massive database of knowledge up until around September 2021. It doesn’t generate images, and unlike some newer models, it’s not connected to the internet in real-time.
Now, there’s a newer version called ChatGPT 4.0 (specifically the GPT-4 Turbo variant) with a jaw-dropping 1 trillion parameters and real-time internet access. But that one isn’t free—you pay based on usage. So, in this review, we’re sticking to the OG freebie: ChatGPT 3.5.
AI Shopping Assistant? Not Quite
Let’s talk online shopping. You’d think an AI chatbot would be perfect for helping compare the latest gadgets, but here’s where ChatGPT 3.5 falls short. Since its training data stops at 2021, it’s totally clueless about recent tech—think the newest iPhones, smart TVs, or EVs. Ask it about the best 2024 laptops, and you’re met with outdated info.
Meanwhile, tools like Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot (which uses GPT-4 Turbo) are connected to the internet and can give you up-to-date recommendations. So, for tech shopping? ChatGPT 3.5 just can’t compete.
Cooking Up Recipes—Quick but Lacking Flavor
This is one area where ChatGPT 3.5 kind of shines. Searching for recipes on Google often means scrolling through someone’s life story just to get to the actual ingredients. ChatGPT cuts out the fluff. Ask it for a chicken tikka marinade, and it gives you a straightforward, no-nonsense list in seconds. Need a vegetarian version? It’ll instantly swap chicken for paneer—no drama.
But there’s a catch. The recipes tend to be pretty basic. While they’re functional, they often miss the cultural nuances that make a dish truly special—like using Kashmiri chili powder, amchur, or kasuri methi. In contrast, Gemini seemed to include those extra touches, probably thanks to its web access. Still, if you just want a quick and simple recipe, ChatGPT 3.5 gets the job done.
Research Help? Meh…
If you’re using AI to help with research, here’s the deal: ChatGPT 3.5 can give you a decent overview, but don’t expect it to link to real sources. It’s not connected to the internet, and it doesn’t pull direct citations. Ask it for studies, and sometimes it’ll say it can’t access real-time data. Other times, it’ll just make stuff up.
This inconsistency is frustrating. If you’re using it for school, work, or anything where accuracy matters, you’re probably going to have to double-check everything on Google anyway. In my tests, Claude and Copilot (creative mode) did a much better job referencing legit sources and offering nuanced takes. Perplexity tried its best but sometimes leaned on questionable websites.
Can It Summarize Long Articles? Not Really
This one’s a bit of a bummer. I asked ChatGPT 3.5 to summarize an article I’d written about AI at CES 2024. It gave a decent summary at first, but then it just… stopped. Mid-sentence. I asked it to try again—same result. Turns out ChatGPT 3.5 has a character limit of about 4,096, so longer documents are a no-go.
Other tools handled it better. Gemini, when I pasted in the article, gave a more complete and detailed summary. Claude and Perplexity didn’t quite capture the full picture. So if you’re trying to use ChatGPT to help with lengthy reading, don’t hold your breath.
Planning a Trip? Surprisingly Good
Here’s where ChatGPT 3.5 bounced back. I asked it to plan a three-day trip to Columbus, Ohio, and it nailed it. The itinerary included real attractions, good food spots, and a logical flow of activities (well, except for recommending the same neighborhood twice, which was a small slip).
Compared to Gemini, which made up restaurant names, and Perplexity, which gave vague advice, ChatGPT 3.5’s itinerary was actually solid. Copilot still came out on top, with emojis, bullet points, and great structure. But for basic travel planning, ChatGPT 3.5 did pretty well.
Email Writing? Decent Templates, Needs Polishing
Need to write an email? ChatGPT 3.5 is a solid place to start. Whether it’s asking your boss for time off or coming up with a school excuse, it’ll give you a pretty usable draft. The catch? It can sound a bit too formal or robotic. You’ll probably need to tweak the tone to make it sound more like you.
Gemini stood out here for its ability to sound more human. Claude was the best overall, crafting emails with emotional nuance and natural flow. Perplexity was okay for basic stuff but stumbled on more complex topics.
So, Is ChatGPT 3.5 Still Worth It in 2025?
Here’s the real talk: ChatGPT 3.5 is still useful. It’s fast, free, and for a lot of basic tasks—writing, quick answers, travel planning—it does a decent job. But it’s also showing its age. The lack of real-time info, outdated training data, and no direct sources mean it’s not your best option anymore.
Why stick with ChatGPT 3.5 when Microsoft Copilot (which runs on GPT-4 Turbo) is free and more powerful? With over 1 trillion parameters and internet access, Copilot is just more capable overall.
That said, ChatGPT 3.5 still has a role. It’s a fantastic writing assistant and idea generator, especially if you’re already using it and know how to prompt it well. But for shopping, research, or anything needing current info, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Final Verdict
If you’re new to AI tools, ChatGPT 3.5 is a good place to dip your toes. It’s approachable, fast, and doesn’t cost a dime. But once you get the hang of things, it’s worth exploring other options like Copilot, Claude, or Gemini for more advanced tasks.
In 2025, ChatGPT 3.5 feels a bit like an old iPhone. It still works, it’s familiar, and it does the basics just fine. But if you’re chasing the best experience out there, it might be time for an upgrade.