ChatGPT vs Claude
ChatGPT scores 8.8 to Claude's 7.8 among the AI assistants we rate, and is the better pick for 2 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
ChatGPT wins, 8.8 to 7.8
ChatGPT and Claude both offer a free plan, desktop and mobile apps, web search, file analysis, memory, voice and agent-style work on longer tasks. Where they part ways is images, entry price and how much each can read. ChatGPT makes images and has a cheaper entry plan, while Claude gives every plan a very large context window and connects to a long list of work apps.
Pick ChatGPT if you want image generation, a paid plan from $8 a month, or connections to GitHub and Microsoft 365. GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Astra come with Plus at $20 a month.
Pick Claude if you work with long documents or codebases, since every plan states a 1 million token context window, or if your work lives in tools like Notion, Slack, HubSpot and Atlassian. Pro is $20 a month, or $17 billed yearly.
We tested both on the same 14 jobs
Same prompts in both apps, each round scored on what actually happened. Claude was tested on Max, a more expensive plan than ChatGPT Plus, so speed and usage limits were not scored. The scores above are worked out on paper, from features and prices; this is how they did in use.
- 01Price to startChatGPT
ChatGPT has the cheaper first paid plan, Go.
- 02Best models on the first paid planClaude
Claude Pro opens every Claude model. ChatGPT's top models start on Plus, not Go.
- 03Everyday chatTie
Both answered a weather question in seconds with a tidy card.
- 04PicturesChatGPT
ChatGPT painted a full illustration and changed it with one sentence. Claude builds designed layouts in Claude Design, not artwork.
- 05WritingClaude
Claude's LinkedIn post read like a real bakery wrote it, and it left gaps for facts it did not know instead of making them up.
- 06Long documentsClaude
Both summed up a whole novel well. Claude states a far larger context window, on every plan.
- 07Charts from a fileTie
Both charts were correct. Claude added a table of the figures.
- 08Deep researchTie
ChatGPT searched and cited more, Claude's report was more practical, and both reached the same picks.
- 09VoiceTie
Both talked back naturally, wrote the conversation out and asked a good follow-up.
- 10Memory and projectsTie
Both remember you and keep files and chats together in projects.
- 11Your own assistantChatGPT
A custom GPT is one form with a live preview. Claude's skill gave a slightly sharper answer but took longer to set up.
- 12PrivacyTie
Both can train on personal-plan chats unless you switch it off in settings.
- 13SlidesTie
Both made a real PowerPoint file. In ChatGPT it takes the Work tab; a normal chat only makes slides inside the chat.
- 14Real workClaude
Asked for a museum hours and prices sheet, Claude checked each museum's own site and flagged an early closing and a tickets-only day.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Makes images: ChatGPT yes, Claude no
- Cheapest paid plan, monthly: $8 against $20
- But Claude leads on full use on the cheapest paid plan: Included against Limited
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other AI assistants we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. ChatGPT leads on 2 of 4 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Where they match (10)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
ChatGPT
Claude
For everything else about each tool, read the full ChatGPT review and Claude review.
The free plans
ChatGPT's free plan gives unlimited text chats with GPT-6 Luna, within abuse guardrails, plus limited uploads, image generation, voice and deep research. Claude's free plan runs its Sonnet and Haiku models with web search, code execution, memory, voice and up to five projects. Deep research needs Claude Pro.
Prices and the models each plan unlocks
ChatGPT has a cheaper first step: Go at $8 a month, then Plus at $20 and Pro from $100 per user. GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6 Sol need Plus or above. Claude Pro is $20 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly, and Max costs $100 or $200 a month. Claude's Opus and Fable models need Pro or above, and Fable is capped at half of your weekly limits on Pro and Max.
How much they can read at once
Claude states a 1 million token context window on every plan, including free, varying by model. The largest figure ChatGPT states is 400,000 tokens, on Pro. For long contracts, reports or codebases, Claude holds more even before you pay.
Images
ChatGPT generates images on every plan, limited on free and unlimited on Pro. Claude doesn't generate photos or illustrations. If pictures are part of your work, that settles it.
Connected apps and teams
Claude's connector directory lists 824 connectors, among them Google Drive, Gmail, Microsoft 365, Notion, Figma, Slack, HubSpot, Asana, Linear and Atlassian. ChatGPT connects to Google Workspace and Drive, Slack, GitHub and Microsoft 365. Single sign-on comes with ChatGPT Business and Enterprise and with Claude from its Team plan up. Both use consumer chats for training unless you opt out; their business plans do not.
Support
ChatGPT offers chat support and a help center. Claude offers email and a help center, and says it does not offer phone or live chat support.
ChatGPT vs Claude: common questions
Is ChatGPT or Claude better?
For images and the cheapest paid plan, ChatGPT: it generates images and starts at $8 a month with Go. For long documents and work apps, Claude: it states a 1 million token context window on every plan and lists 824 connectors.
Can Claude generate images?
No. Claude reads and analyzes images and files but doesn't generate photos or illustrations. ChatGPT generates images on every plan, with limits on the free plan.
Which is cheaper?
ChatGPT's Go plan at $8 a month is the cheapest paid option of the two. At the main tier they cost the same: ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro are both $20 a month, and Claude Pro drops to $17 a month billed yearly.
