I tested 5 AI chatbots – find out which is best for creators

Hey there 👋

I love trying out new tools, and AI tools are no exception. So when Buffer introduced an AI tools stipend, I jumped at the chance to test out a few chatbots for my content creation workflow.

I used the stipend to subscribe to the top chatbots and put them through their paces with my own data, which I’ll get into in more detail later in the newsletter.

However, the reason I’m mentioning this here is to share my biggest takeaway from my experiment: No AI chatbot can replace your unique ability for creativity — but the right one can make your creative process easier.

I’ve been able to create content and resources from my audience that would have just taken too much time to be sustainable. Between chatbots and tools like Replit and Cursor that allow me to try out coding as someone who isn’t very technical, I’ve never been more productive.

So, I hope my experiment helps unlock some ideas and new additions to your workflow.

Let’s get into it.

Have a lovely weekend, and we’ll see you next Friday!

Warmly, 

Tami & the Buffer team

💌 What’s in this issue – 6 minute read

• 💻 The latest content on the blog

• 📰 Social media news and features to note

• 🪂 Dive into an experiment with 5 AI chatbots

• 🎬 Our latest YouTube video

👇 The latest from the blog

• Learn how to use Instagram Trial Reels from Kirsti’s experience

• Dive into the changes to the Instagram grid and how to adapt to them

• Learn the best time to post on YouTube

• Get insights from real creators on how they use Substack

🪂 Deep dive 

Which AI Tools Actually Help Content Creators?

Since AI came into the mainstream consciousness, I've been playing around with several tools. So when I had a brainwave to test them out to see which one works best for creators’ workflows, I jumped at the idea.

Instead of throwing random prompts at these tools, I wanted to test them in a real-world content workflow scenario.

Let me walk you through what I discovered.

The experiment: A practical content challenge

I uploaded 60 days of my actual LinkedIn posts and performance metrics to each chatbot, then asked them all to:

• Analyze which types of posts performed best and why
• Suggest new content ideas based on what worked
• Transform the best idea into multiple formats (LinkedIn post, Twitter thread, video script)
• Provide strategies to improve my engagement rate
• Create a content workflow for repurposing and tracking

Here's what I found:

The contenders and results

ChatGPT (3.5/5) - Best at retaining context

• Excelled at data analysis. It provided actionable insights like the best time to post based on my data (something no other tool did!) and suggested prioritizing video and text posts.
• It provided hyper-relevant content ideas and brilliantly adapted content across several different formats while maintaining my voice. The workflow suggestions weren’t the strongest, requiring additional prompting to become truly actionable.

Claude AI (3.5/5) - Best for generating workflow mockups

• Claude's visualization capabilities blew me away! From the first prompt, it translated my data into easy-to-understand charts without being asked.
• Its ability to create visual mockups of workflows and databases in a preview window has been a major time-saver. While its content ideas weren't as relevant to my specific content as ChatGPT's, the formatting was excellent.

Perplexity AI (2.5/5) - Best for research and discovery

• Perplexity shines as a research tool rather than a strategic partner. Its standout feature is the ability to "follow up" on hyperlinked portions of responses, sending you down productive rabbit holes during the research phase.
• However, its analysis was surface-level, and its content ideas didn't suit my usual tone and style. The workflow suggestions were standard "AI-generated" material — helpful but not particularly innovative.

DeepSeek (2.5/5) - Best for the budget-conscious user

• I tested both standard mode and R1 (advanced thinking) mode, with R1 performing significantly better but much slower.
• While it caught certain topics and provided interesting ideas, they weren't particularly unique compared to other tools. For a free option, it's decent, especially in R1 mode, but not reliable enough for my workflow.

Google Gemini (2/5) - Best for Google ecosystem integration

• Despite having access to Gemini Advanced, I found its recommendations generic and surface-level. It missed nuances in the data (like high impressions but low engagement on carousel posts) and provided broad best practices rather than data-driven insights.
• Its content creation abilities were basic, though it did nail the structure of a LinkedIn post. It's quick and structured but lacks depth and personalization.

The bottom line: AI can't think for you

The biggest takeaway? No AI chatbot can replace your unique ability for creativity — but the right one can make your creative process easier.

Your specific needs should determine which tool you choose. Are you analyzing performance? Refining content ideas? Brainstorming? The right AI can help, but only if you know how to prompt it and refine its responses.

🤳 What's happening in social?

• Instagram has fully launched its ranking and recommendation algorithm update

• …and is considering launching a standalone app for reels

• LinkedIn is rolling out analytics for comments

• Flashes, the TikTok for Bluesky, has launched

⌛ "I save 2 hours per week with Buffer"

We pride ourselves on being an excellent tool for creators and business owners to grow on social media — and our users are more than happy to back us up. 

Michael Piperno says: “What used to take me hours now takes me minutes. Easily 2 hours saved per week.”

Want to skyrocket your growth? Get started with Buffer today!

📹 Buffer on YouTube

The Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2025: 1 Million Videos + Shorts Analyzed

Does timing matter on YouTube? Kirsti has the answer!

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