Bing Chat
What it is: Microsoft's GPT-4 powered chat (now Microsoft Copilot). Free coding assistance with web search capabilities.
What It Does Best
Free GPT-4 access. Same model as ChatGPT Plus but free. Code generation, debugging, explanations at no cost.
Web search integration. Pulls latest documentation and solutions. Not limited by training cutoff date.
Citation sources. Shows where answers come from. Easy to verify and learn more.
Key Features
GPT-4 powered: Advanced language model for code generation
Web search: Real-time access to current documentation
Source citations: Links to references for all answers
Conversation modes: Creative, Balanced, or Precise responses
Image understanding: Can analyze code screenshots
Pricing
Free: Unlimited with Microsoft account
When to Use It
✅ Want GPT-4 without paying for ChatGPT Plus
✅ Need answers about new frameworks/libraries
✅ Quick coding questions during browsing
✅ Learning and want to verify sources
✅ Need current information with citations
When NOT to Use It
❌ Need IDE integration (separate tool)
❌ Want conversation history (limited retention)
❌ Privacy-sensitive code (Microsoft collects data)
❌ Require consistent API access
❌ Need specialized coding AI (general-purpose tool)
Common Use Cases
Quick debugging: Get help with error messages and stack traces
Learning new tech: Ask about frameworks released after training cutoff
Code explanations: Understand unfamiliar code with sources
Algorithm design: Brainstorm approaches to coding problems
Documentation lookup: Find current best practices with citations
Bing Chat vs Alternatives
vs ChatGPT Plus: Bing is free with citations, ChatGPT has better UI
vs Google Bard: Similar capabilities, Bing uses GPT-4
vs Claude: Bing has web search, Claude has longer context
Unique Strengths
Free GPT-4: No subscription needed for advanced model
Cited sources: Every answer includes verifiable references
Current info: Web search provides latest documentation
Microsoft integration: Works within Edge and Windows
Bottom line: Surprisingly useful free alternative to ChatGPT Plus. Not specialized for coding but GPT-4 is GPT-4. Great backup option.