Quick Answer
- Both have a free plan, and both charge about $20 a month for the main paid tier.
- ChatGPT has more tiers, including a cheap Go plan and several Pro levels. Claude keeps it simpler with Free, Pro and Max.
- Privacy settings differ. ChatGPT trains on consumer chats by default unless you opt out. Claude asks users to opt in.
- Neither is “best” for everything, so test both on the tasks you actually do.
Many people now pay for one AI chatbot and wonder if they picked the right one. This comparison sticks to plans, prices and settings you can verify, not hype.
Plans and Pricing
Claude (from Anthropic’s pricing page):
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Chat, web search, memory, Artifacts, up to 5 projects, Sonnet and Haiku models |
| Pro | $17/month billed annually or $20 monthly | More usage, Claude Code, task scheduling, all projects, more model access |
| Max | From $100/month | 5x or 20x more usage than Pro, priority at busy times |
ChatGPT (as reported by The AI Career Lab, September 2026):
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited text chats, capped uploads and images |
| Go | $8/month | About 10x Free limits, may include ads |
| Plus | $20/month | Codex, Work agent, Sites, custom GPTs, no ads |
| Pro | $100, $200 or $500/month | Higher usage and access to OpenAI’s top model, Astra |
Prices change often, so check each company’s page before you subscribe.
Usage Limits
Claude says usage limits apply and reset on rolling five-hour windows, with extra weekly caps on paid plans. Heavy users can enable usage credits to keep going at API rates. ChatGPT limits vary by plan, with image generation capped on lower tiers.
Models and API Pricing
If you are a developer, per-million-token API prices matter. After the September 22 price cuts, our Claude Opus 5.5 vs GPT-6 Sol and Luna guide listed:
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 | $4 | $20 |
| GPT-6 Sol | $2 | $10 |
| GPT-6 Luna | $0.10 | $0.50 |
Claude Sonnet 5.5, released September 28, costs $2 input and $10 output per million tokens. See our Claude Sonnet 5.5 guide.
Agents and Special Features
ChatGPT Plus lists a Work agent, Codex and Sites, and OpenAI has launched always-on Dots agents, covered in our OpenAI DevDay explainer. Claude Pro lists Claude Code, task scheduling and design, slides and docs tools.
Privacy: How Each Handles Your Chats
- ChatGPT: By default, conversations are used to improve OpenAI models. You can turn off “Improve the model for everyone” in Settings, then Data controls. Business, Enterprise and Edu workspaces are not used for training by default.
- Claude: Anthropic lets Free, Pro and Max users opt in to model training, and says users are always in control of the setting. Without opt-in, retention stays at 30 days. With opt-in, it extends to five years. These rules were announced in 2025, so confirm your current settings in Claude’s privacy menu.
Free Tier Comparison
Both free plans work well for everyday questions. If free access matters to you, note that Google also changed its free Gemini tier on October 9. See what changes for Gemini users.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Claude if you want a simpler plan lineup, an opt-in approach to training and you plan to use Claude Code.
- Choose ChatGPT if you want a cheap $8 Go option, custom GPTs, more image generation or OpenAI’s agent tools.
- Use both free for a week and see which answers fit your work better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ChatGPT or Claude better?
It depends on your tasks. Compare them side by side on your own work, since both are strong.
How much do ChatGPT and Claude cost?
Both have free plans. ChatGPT Plus is $20 a month, and Claude Pro is $20 monthly or $17 a month billed annually.
Which has the cheaper paid plan?
ChatGPT Go is $8 a month, which is cheaper than Claude Pro. Claude has no plan between Free and Pro.
Which one is better for privacy?
Claude uses an opt-in setting for training, while ChatGPT uses opt-out. In both, check your settings.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many people use a free plan of one and pay for the other.
Do ChatGPT and Claude have free plans?
Yes, both have free tiers with usage limits.
