ChatGPT vs Claude
Last updated · Prices change often; confirm on each tool's site.
Pick ChatGPT if you want one all-round assistant with built-in image generation, voice and the widest set of features; pick Claude if most of your work is long writing, editing long documents or coding. Both have free plans, and both main paid plans cost $20/month (Claude Pro drops to $17/month billed yearly).
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images, voice and deep research | Go $8/mo · Plus $20/mo · Pro from $100/mo | All-round help, images and voice in one app |
| Claude | Chat, web search, files and code, memory, up to 5 projects | Pro $20/mo ($17/mo yearly) · Max from $100/mo | Long-form writing, long documents and coding |
Who should pick which
- Pick ChatGPT if you want images, voice chats (with video on paid plans), custom GPTs and lots of features in one place, or a cheaper first upgrade: Go is $8/month.
- Pick Claude if you write and edit long pieces, work with long PDFs and reports, or want Claude Code, which is included in every paid Claude plan.
Good to know
- Quality is close and changes with every model update. For important work, run the same prompt in both free plans and keep the better answer.
- OpenAI bills Go, Plus and Pro monthly only. Anthropic offers annual billing on Claude Pro ($200/year).
FAQ
Is Claude better than ChatGPT for writing?
Many writers prefer Claude for long-form writing and editing, and it's our first pick in our writing guides, but it's close and partly taste. Both are free to start, so test your own prompt in each.
Which is cheaper, ChatGPT or Claude?
The main plans cost the same: $20/month. Claude Pro is $17/month if you pay yearly, and ChatGPT has a cheaper Go plan at $8/month in the US.
Which is better for coding?
Both include coding agents on paid plans: Codex in ChatGPT and Claude Code in Claude. If you want AI inside a code editor, see our coding guide.
Can I use both for free?
Yes. Both have free plans with usage limits, and many people use one for drafting and the other for a second opinion.
Related guides
Sources
Prices and limits come from each vendor's own pricing or help pages unless noted, checked October 17, 2026.
How we pick
We compare tools on fit for the job, free-tier limits and price, not on commissions. See our method and affiliate disclosure.
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