ChatGPT vs Claude

The main difference is which tools around the chat matter to you. Both write, analyze files, search the web, and help with code.

When to pick which

Customer emails, translations, budgets, or presentations: both can turn instructions and source material into editable outputs. Choose ChatGPT if you want research, custom GPTs, voice, and a built-in image generator alongside ChatGPT Work, for example to produce a sourced Word report, an Excel analysis, or a presentation. Choose Claude if Cowork should handle multistep tasks using files you authorize, or Claude should work directly in open Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook content; the relevant Office add-ins and a paid Claude plan are required for that Office workflow. Claude Design adds clickable prototypes, presentations, and drafts using your design system, but is not its own photo and illustration generator. For software projects, both Codex and Claude Code can explain repositories, edit files, run existing tests, and present changes for review. For bookkeeping preparation, both can structure receipt data or draft an expense summary, but amounts, formulas, and tax classification still need review. API usage is billed separately by both; the calculator below compares API costs only for these two providers.

Differences at a glance

Images and design: ChatGPT generates and edits photos and illustrations with a built-in image generator. Claude Design creates editable prototypes, presentations, and layouts without its own image model.
Office work: both create Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files. ChatGPT Work combines files, research, and enabled apps; Claude also offers Office agents for open Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook content.
Context: ChatGPT publishes limits by model and plan. Claude also has different limits for Chat, Code, and Cowork; its pricing table and dedicated context guide conflict, so no blanket Claude figure is given here.
Entry plans: both have a Free plan. Regular USD subscriptions: ChatGPT Go $8/month; Claude Pro $20/month or $200/year. Regional prices can differ.
Teams: ChatGPT Business and Claude Team offer Standard and Premium seats. Claude Enterprise charges for all usage on top of its annually billed seat fee; it is not a low-cost all-inclusive subscription.
Coding: Codex and Claude Code can implement features, address bugs, and run tests. ChatGPT Work and Claude Cowork also bring multistep agent work to research and office files.
Heavy use: ChatGPT Pro 5x/20x and Claude Max 5x/20x regularly cost $100/$200 per month. Pro compares usage with ChatGPT Plus, Max with Claude Pro; additional model and weekly limits can apply. These are individual subscriptions, not 5 or 20 users.

Criterion	ChatGPT	Claude
Free access	Free plan	Free plan
Paid from	Go · 8 USDmonth	Pro · $17 / $20Month

Published plans by vendor

Each vendor separately. The same row does not mean the same plan. Prices follow the selected price region.

ChatGPT

Free · freefree
Go · 8 USDmonth
Plus · 20 USDmonth
Pro 5x · 100 USDmonth
Pro 20x · 200 USDmonth
Business (Jahreszahlung) · 25 USDmonth, billed annually
Business (Monatszahlung) · 30 USDmonth
Enterprise · contact salescustom

Claude

Free · freePermanent
Pro · $17 / $20Month
Max 5x · $100Month
Max 20x · $200Month
Team · $20 / $125Seat and month
Enterprise · $20seat and month, billed annually · API usage is charged in addition to the seat price