Compare ChatGPT vs Claude cost before adding another subscription.
Use AIStackCost to estimate monthly and annual cost across common AI plans, seats and currencies before you commit.
Side-by-side pricing tiers
| Tier | ChatGPT | Claude |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Limited usage | Limited usage |
| Standard paid | Plus, ~$20/mo (~$240/yr) | Pro, ~$20/mo (~$240/yr) |
| Power-user tier | Pro, ~$200/mo | Max, ~$100/mo (5×) or ~$200/mo (20×) |
| Official pricing | openai.com/chatgpt/pricing | anthropic.com/pricing |
Approximate figures for planning only — confirm the current number on each vendor's pricing page before buying.
Why the standard tiers cost the same
ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro have both settled at roughly $20/month, so cost alone rarely decides between them at the everyday tier — the decision is about which model fits your work better (see the fuller ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini comparison for that). Cost only becomes the deciding factor at the power-user tiers, where Claude's Max plan starts lower ($100/month for 5× usage) than ChatGPT's Pro plan (~$200/month) — relevant mainly for heavy daily users, not casual ones.
A quick annualized gut-check
Multiply the monthly price by 12 before deciding: $20/month feels trivial, but $240/year for a tool used twice a week is a worse deal than $20/month for one used daily. If you're not sure which one you'd actually use consistently, try each on its free tier for two weeks before committing to either paid plan.
Related free guides
ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini AI tools for freelancers AIStackCost — AI API cost calculator
FAQ
Is ChatGPT or Claude cheaper?
At the standard paid tier they are priced the same, around $20/month each. The cost difference only shows up at the power-user tiers, where Claude Max starts around $100/month and ChatGPT Pro is around $200/month.
Does paying for both ever make sense?
Only if you have a specific, recurring reason: for example, a solo consultant billing enough hours that either tool's time savings clearly exceed a combined ~$40/month. For most individuals, one subscription is enough.
How much does a year of ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro actually cost?
At roughly $20/month, either one runs about $240/year if paid monthly. Annual billing, where offered, is usually somewhat cheaper per month but locks in the choice for a full year.
Are these prices guaranteed?
No. Confirm current pricing on OpenAI's and Anthropic's own pricing pages before buying, since plans and prices change.