Independent AI buying guide
No paid rankings
Last checked 26 Oct 2026
Head to head
ChatGPT or Meta AI? 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
ChatGPT
ChatGPT scores higher in all 6 topics where we can compare both.
Cheaper
No clear winner
The cheapest paid plans: ChatGPT Go at $8/mo, and Meta AI has no paid plan we track.
Better free plan
—
Their free plans score the same for overall (72/100).
Each tool's best subscription per topic, scored out of 100. Higher wins; a tie is a tie.
| Topic | ChatGPT | Meta AI |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 72Free · Muse Spark |
| Coding | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 72Free · Muse Spark |
| Writing | 87 (higher)Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 75Free · Muse Spark |
| Research & search | 98Plus · GPT-6 Astra | Not ranked here |
| Maths & hard problems | 98 (higher)Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 79Free · Muse Spark |
| Studying | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 77Free · Muse Spark |
| Business & office | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 81Free · Muse Spark |
Their free plans score the same for overall (72/100).
| Topic | ChatGPT free | Meta AI free |
|---|---|---|
| OverallTie | 72GPT-5.6 Terra | 72Muse Spark |
| Coding | 68GPT-5.6 Terra | 72 (higher)Muse Spark |
| Writing | 69GPT-5.6 Terra | 75 (higher)Muse Spark |
| Research & search | 66GPT-6 Luna | No scores |
| Maths & hard problems | 82 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 79Muse Spark |
| Studying | 78 (higher)GPT-5.6 Terra | 77Muse Spark |
| Business & office | 80GPT-5.6 Terra | 81 (higher)Muse Spark |
Every plan we track, with the official source and the date we checked it.
Opinion, not test scores: how each one feels to use.
The all-rounder most people already know. Good at almost everything, rarely the very best at one thing.
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026
Meta's free assistant, built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, powered by its Muse models.
Reviewed 9 Oct 2026
Scores come from independent benchmarks, the same ones behind our rankings. Read how we rank for the formula.