The verdict
ChatGPT takes it, 4–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, ChatGPT takes 4 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose ChatGPT if…
- • You want ChatGPT's edge on free image generation and what it costs to start
Choose Claude if…
- • You want Claude's edge on how its best model ranks head to head and what customers say on trustpilot
Round by round
- Round 1How its best model ranks head to headClaude winsChatGPT5/10
GPT-6 Astra 57.9% Terminal-Bench 4.0
Terminal-Bench 4.0 score published on the maker's own page
- 1484, against 1505
Source: openai.com ↗
Claude8/1055.8% Terminal-Bench 4.0
Fable 5.1 score on Terminal-Bench 4.0, published by Anthropic
- Arena text leaderboard score of claude-opus-4-6-high, the best Anthropic model, leaderboard dated 2 October 2026
Source: anthropic.com ↗
Claude wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Free image generationChatGPT winsClaude5/10
No image generation
Claude doesn't generate photos or illustrations
Source: support.claude.com ↗
ChatGPT wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotClaude winsChatGPT5/10
1.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,225 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.3 out of 5, against 1.5 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Claude wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What the standard paid plan costsTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5What it costs to startChatGPT winsChatGPT8/10
Go $8/mo
Go / Plus / Pro, billed monthly (Individual tab); Business tab for seats
Source: chatgpt.com ↗
Claude5/10Pro $20/mo (monthly)
Pro (monthly price; $17/mo billed annually) / Max 20x, billed monthly; Team Standard seat
- Pro $20/mo (monthly), against Go $8/mo
Source: claude.com ↗
ChatGPT wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What the top plan costsChatGPT winsChatGPT8/10
Pro from $100/mo
Go / Plus / Pro, billed monthly (Individual tab); Business tab for seats
Source: chatgpt.com ↗
Claude5/10Max 20x $200/mo
Pro (monthly price; $17/mo billed annually) / Max 20x, billed monthly; Team Standard seat
- Max 20x $200/mo, against Pro from $100/mo
Source: support.claude.com ↗
ChatGPT wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7How much its best model can read at onceChatGPT winsChatGPT8/10
GPT-6 Astra 1.05M tokens
Go / Plus / Pro, billed monthly (Individual tab); Business tab for seats
Source: developers.openai.com ↗
Claude5/10Fable 5.1 1M tokens
Pro (monthly price; $17/mo billed annually) / Max 20x, billed monthly; Team Standard seat
- Fable 5.1 1M tokens, against GPT-6 Astra 1.05M tokens
Source: platform.claude.com ↗
ChatGPT wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- ChatGPT Pro, per month
- Arena text leaderboard score of gpt-5.6-sol-xhigh, the best OpenAI model, leaderboard dated 2 October 2026
- Arena text leaderboard score of claude-opus-4-6-high, the best Anthropic model, leaderboard dated 2 October 2026
- 1484, against 1505
- 1.3 out of 5, against 1.5 out of 5
- $8, against $4.99
- 1484, against 1525
- Pro $20/mo (monthly), against Go $8/mo
- Max 20x $200/mo, against Pro from $100/mo
- Fable 5.1 1M tokens, against GPT-6 Astra 1.05M tokens
- $1, against $0.10