Bottom line
If writing is the main thing you do, especially long or careful writing, pick Claude Pro. If you also want images, voice chats and an all-round helper on your phone, pick ChatGPT Plus. Writing just a few emails a week? Start with either free plan.
| Claude | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Claude Free: low usage that resets every 5 hours | ChatGPT Free: everyday questions and quick writing |
| Low-cost plan | None | ChatGPT Go: $8/month |
| Main paid plan | Claude Pro: $20/month ($17 if paid yearly) | ChatGPT Plus: $20/month |
| Strongest at | Careful writing and long documents | All-round help, images and voice |
Top safety switches
- Claude: Settings → Privacy, turn off “Help improve our AI models.” ChatGPT: Settings → Data controls, turn off “Improve the model for everyone.”
- Use Incognito (Claude) or Temporary Chat (ChatGPT) for sensitive drafts.
- Skip thumbs up/down on private chats, since ratings can still be used for training.
Key terms
- Paid yearly
- One payment for 12 months, usually cheaper per month.
- Long documents
- Files or drafts too long to paste in one go, like reports or book chapters.
- Training on your chats
- Some plans may use what you type to improve their AI. Most let you turn that off; business plans are off by default.
Official pricing pages: Claude ↗ · ChatGPT ↗
Prices checked daily. US prices before tax. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.
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