Independent AI buying guide

No paid rankings

Last checked 26 Oct 2026

Which AIshould I buy?

Head to head

ChatGPT vs Claude

ChatGPT or Claude? Compared on independent test scores, prices and free plans. Every price links to its source, and we re-check everything every week.

The short answer

Calculated from independent tests

Higher scores

Claude

Claude scores higher in 5 of the 7 topics where we can compare both; ChatGPT wins at research & search and maths & hard problems.

Cheaper

ChatGPT

The cheapest paid plans: ChatGPT Go at $8/mo, and Claude Pro at $20/mo. ChatGPT is the cheaper way in.

Better free plan

Claude

For overall, Claude's free plan scores higher: 80/100 against 72/100.

Right as of 26 Oct 2026. New models and price changes come out often, and we re-check every week. Check back before you buy or renew.

Topic by topic

Each tool's best subscription per topic, scored out of 100. Higher wins; a tie is a tie.

TopicChatGPTClaude
Overall92Plus · GPT-6 Astra97Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Coding94Plus · GPT-6 Astra99Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Writing87Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol100Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Research & search98Plus · GPT-6 Astra90Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Maths & hard problems98Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol95Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Studying94Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol98Pro · Claude Opus 5.5
Business & office94Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol98Pro · Claude Opus 5.5

The free plans

For overall, Claude's free plan scores higher: 80/100 against 72/100.

TopicChatGPT freeClaude free
Overall72GPT-5.6 Terra80Claude Sonnet 5.5
Coding68GPT-5.6 Terra82Claude Sonnet 5.5
Writing69GPT-5.6 Terra77Claude Sonnet 5.5
Research & search66GPT-6 LunaNo scores
Maths & hard problems82GPT-5.6 Terra86Claude Sonnet 5.5
Studying78GPT-5.6 Terra81Claude Sonnet 5.5
Business & office80GPT-5.6 Terra81Claude Sonnet 5.5

Plans and prices

Every plan we track, with the official source and the date we checked it.

ChatGPT

Claude

Our take

Opinion, not test scores: how each one feels to use.

ChatGPT

The all-rounder most people already know. Good at almost everything, rarely the very best at one thing.

Reviewed 7 Oct 2026

Claude

Strong at writing and long, careful work with documents and code.

Reviewed 7 Oct 2026

Questions people ask

Is ChatGPT better than Claude?
Claude scores higher in 5 of the 7 topics where we can compare both; ChatGPT wins at research & search and maths & hard problems.
Which is cheaper, ChatGPT or Claude?
The cheapest paid plans: ChatGPT Go at $8/mo, and Claude Pro at $20/mo. ChatGPT is the cheaper way in.
Which free version is better?
For overall, Claude's free plan scores higher: 80/100 against 72/100.

Scores come from independent benchmarks, the same ones behind our rankings. Read how we rank for the formula.