Anthropic vs OpenAI Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
Free
- Chat on web, iOS, Android, and on your desktop
- Generate code and visualize data
- Write, edit, and create content
- Ability to search the web
- Memory across conversations
- Create files and execute code
- Unlock more from Claude with desktop extensions
- Connect Slack and Google Workspace services
- Integrate any context or tool through connectors with remote MCP
- Extended thinking for complex work
Pro
- More usage*
- Includes Claude Code
- Includes Claude Cowork
- Includes Claude Design
- Includes Claude Science
- Access to unlimited projects to organize chats and documents
- Access to Research
- Ability to use more Claude models
- Claude for Microsoft 365
Max
- Choose 5x or 20x more usage than Pro*
- Higher output limits for all tasks
- Early access to advanced Claude features
- Priority access at high traffic times
Free
- Limited access to GPT-5.5 Instant
- Limited messages and uploads
- Limited and slower image generation
- Limited deep research
- Limited memory and context
- Limited Codex access
- Limited ChatGPT Work access on desktop
Go
- More access to GPT-5.5 Instant
- More messages
- More uploads
- More image creation
- Longer memory
Plus
Popular- Advanced reasoning models with GPT-5.6
- Expanded messages and uploads
- More complex and accurate image creation
- Expanded deep research
- Expanded memory and context
- Projects, scheduled tasks, and custom GPTs
- Expanded Codex usage
- Expanded access to ChatGPT Work on desktop, web, and mobile
- Early access to new features
Pro
- 5x or 20x more usage
- Pro reasoning with GPT-5.6 Sol Pro
- Maximum Codex tasks
- Unlimited and faster image creation
- Maximum deep research
- Maximum memory and context
- Expanded projects, tasks, and custom GPTs
- Research preview of new features
Anthropic vs OpenAI FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- OpenAI is the cheaper option, starting at $8/mo vs $20/mo for Anthropic.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a per-seat model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Anthropic: Sitting right at the market-standard $20 entry point alongside ChatGPT Plus and Gemini Advanced, so they're not competing on price at the low end. Max's jump to $100+ signals they're chasing power users and prosumers willing to pay premium for volume, leaving broad enterprise deployment to the separate Team/Enterprise track. OpenAI: The $20 Plus tier is the default anchor most people compare against Claude and Gemini's consumer plans, putting OpenAI squarely in the mainstream-priced camp rather than cheap. The new $8 Go tier looks like a defensive move to catch price-sensitive users before they churn to a free competitor or cancel entirely.
Still deciding? See the best Anthropic alternatives or the best OpenAI alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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