Comparison
ChatGPT vs Claude: How to Choose a General AI Assistant
ChatGPT vs Claude compared on official prices, free plans, paid tiers, and usage limits, with the date each figure was checked.
By AGENT PAUL · Published Oct 26, 2026
Not hands-on tested. This page is based on vendor documentation, official pricing pages, and other public information, not personal use.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | General-purpose assistant with image generation, voice, and custom GPTs | Yes | $8/mo | Visit |
| Claude | Writing, long documents, and coding with Claude Code | Yes | $20/mo | Visit |
- ChatGPT: Prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Official pricing
- Claude: Prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Official pricing
Quick answer
Both ChatGPT and Claude have a free plan and a $20/month individual plan (ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro). Both also sell higher-usage plans above that. The bigger differences are in the extra plans and features each one offers, so start from what you need the assistant to do.
Plans side by side
- Free: both offer a Free plan at $0 with limited usage.
- Middle tier: ChatGPT lists a Go plan between Free and Plus at $8/month in the US, with local pricing in some countries. OpenAI’s pricing page notes that Go may include ads.
- $20/month: ChatGPT Plus is $20/month, billed monthly. Claude Pro is $20/month, or $17/month when you pay for a year up front ($200).
- Heavy use: ChatGPT Pro comes in three monthly plans: Pro 100 ($100), Pro 200 ($200), and Pro 500 ($500), with more included usage at each step. Claude Max comes in two: Max 5x at $100/month and Max 20x at $200/month, both billed monthly only.
Features listed on the official pages
ChatGPT Plus (per OpenAI’s pricing page and Help Center):
- Projects, scheduled tasks, and custom GPTs
- Image generation, voice conversations, file uploads, and deep research (where available)
- API usage is not included and is billed separately
Claude Pro (per Anthropic’s pricing page):
- Claude Code, Anthropic’s coding tool
- Projects for organizing chats and documents
- Access to more Claude models than the Free plan
Usage limits
Neither plan offers unlimited use. OpenAI says Plus may have message caps, especially during high demand. Anthropic says Claude’s limits reset in rolling 5-hour sessions, paid plans also have weekly limits, and Pro gives at least 5x the Free plan’s usage per session. Neither publishes a fixed message count, so compare the plan descriptions rather than expecting an exact number.
Which should you choose?
- Look at ChatGPT if you want custom GPTs, image generation, or a middle tier between Free and Plus.
- Look at Claude if Claude Code is on your list, or if an annual plan’s lower monthly price matters to you.
Both offer a free plan, so you can try each one before paying.
Plans and prices
ChatGPT pricing
| Plan | Monthly billing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Go | $8/mo | US price; some countries have local pricing. May include ads. |
| Plus | $20/mo | API usage is billed separately. |
| Pro 100 | $100/mo | Lowest included usage of the three Pro plans. |
| Pro 200 | $200/mo | More included usage than Pro 100. |
| Pro 500 | $500/mo | Highest included usage; only Pro plan with Ultrafast. |
Prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Official pricing
Claude pricing
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — | — |
| Pro | $20/mo | $17/mo | Annual billing is $200 up front. Includes Claude Code and Projects. |
| Max 5x | $100/mo | — | Usage: 5x Pro per 5-hour session · Billed monthly only. |
| Max 20x | $200/mo | — | Usage: 20x Pro per 5-hour session · Billed monthly only. |
Prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Official pricing
FAQ
Do ChatGPT and Claude have free plans?
Yes. Both official pricing pages list a Free plan at $0.
How much do the paid plans cost?
ChatGPT Go is $8/month (US price), Plus is $20/month, and Pro comes in three monthly plans at $100, $200, and $500, according to OpenAI. Claude Pro is $20/month, or $17/month when billed annually ($200 up front). Prices were checked on Oct 26, 2026 and can change.
Where do the prices on this page come from?
From each vendor's official pricing or help pages, linked under the comparison table with the date they were checked.