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"What is the best ship" is a pretty typical newbie (or troll) question in EVE Online; the typical response is that there is no best ship, or it may raise the counter-question, "what do you mean by best?"
Let's take exploration. Some might say the Stratios is the best ship. However a Stratios is not ideal for sleeper sites, which are limited to Frigate-sized vessels, is perhaps too expensive for a new player, and will take some amount of time to skill into. The Stratios is also not as nimble or quick as a covert ops, and is a more gank-worthy platform for players to shoot at, if they get the chance. Short on money? Fly something less expensive, like a Helios. Short on skills? Imicus, or maybe a Metamorphosis. Want to also shoot things, while still being on a budget? The Astero or Sunesis are options. Doing exploration (and scouting) in hostile territory? Helios. Oh, you also want to be able to survive smartbomb attacks, while still being a fast scout? Or maybe you are after ice, or gas, in which case an expedition frigate with a probe launcher fit may be ideal. Or maybe you are looking for particular combat escalations, in which case a combat ship with a probe launcher will suffice. Strategic cruisers are another (expensive) option. Or how about a Maller with a data analyzer to better tank that ghost site? How likely are you to lose the ship, and how much will that loss affect your wallet? Where are your ships, and how easily can you switch between them?
Starting player? Maybe use the free exploration ship from the career agent and learn how to scan things in high security space. Downside: there's a lot of competition in highsec, and it may be more profitable to delve into lowsec, nullsec, or wormhole space. On the other hand, one is more likely to be blown up in said spaces if one does not know what they are doing. What is best here will depend on ones tolerance for risk, budget, training available, other folks to fly with, etc. A starting player could also bling out on skill points and jump right into something bigger, and skip the starter exploration ship step. What is best?