> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.agentsthatearn.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pick Your AI - URL: https://www.agentsthatearn.com/which-ai-should-you-use/ - Published: 2026-10-16T00:45:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-16T03:47:52.000Z - Description: A plain comparison of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Perplexity and Copilot by task, price and agent features. Dated and vendor-neutral. - Author: Austin Fall - Tags: Start Here > **Disclosure:** None of these six companies paid to be included, and our rankings are never for sale. This article has no paid links right now. If we add any, they'll be marked "paid link." [Read our full disclosure policy.](https://www.agentsthatearn.com/disclosures/) "Which AI is best?" is the wrong question. All six of these assistants can draft an email, summarize a PDF and answer a general question well enough. What separates them is **where they live, what they connect to, how they show their sources and what they cost.** So instead of a leaderboard, this guide answers a more useful question: *for the work you actually do, which one should you open first?* [Read this first: three caveats](#read-this-first-three-caveats)[Quick answer by task](#quick-answer-by-task)[ChatGPT (OpenAI)](#chatgpt-openai)[Claude (Anthropic)](#claude-anthropic)[Gemini (Google)](#gemini-google)[Grok (SpaceXSI, formerly xAI)](#grok-spacexsi-formerly-xai)[Perplexity](#perplexity)[Microsoft Copilot](#microsoft-copilot)[Which one for which job?](#which-one-for-which-job)[How to choose in three questions](#how-to-choose-in-three-questions)[The one-week bake-off](#the-one-week-bake-off)[Privacy, quickly](#privacy-quickly)[Key takeaways](#key-takeaways) ## Read this first: three caveats 1. **This market changes monthly.** Every plan, price and feature below was checked on the vendors' own pages on **October 15, 2026**. Model names change even faster, so we mostly leave them out. 2. **We don't rank by benchmark scores.** Scores move every few weeks and rarely match how a tool feels in daily work. If you want current crowd-sourced comparisons, LMArena publishes live leaderboards ([LMArena](https://lmarena.ai/leaderboard?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Treat them as one input, not the answer. 3. **The lines are blurring.** Perplexity lets paid users choose models from other companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google ([Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354919-what-advanced-ai-models-are-included-in-my-subscription?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Claude now works inside Microsoft 365\. "Which AI" increasingly means "which app." ## Quick answer by task | If your main need is… | Open this first | Why | | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A general all-rounder with the most features | **ChatGPT** | Widest feature set: projects, scheduled tasks, deep research, coding and agent tools | | Long documents, careful writing, coding | **Claude** | Projects with shared knowledge, Claude Code, and add-ins for Microsoft 365 and Outlook on paid plans | | Work that lives in Gmail, Docs and Drive | **Gemini** | Built into Google's apps on paid tiers | | What's happening right now, especially on X | **Grok** | Live web and X search built in | | Research where you must see sources | **Perplexity** | Inline citations on every answer | | Work that lives in Word, Excel, Outlook | **Microsoft Copilot** | Built into Microsoft 365 apps | Now the details. --- ## ChatGPT (OpenAI) **Best for:** people who want one assistant that does a bit of everything. **What stands out:** OpenAI's pricing page lists projects, scheduled tasks, deep research, Codex for coding and "ChatGPT Work" across its plans, with more usage on higher tiers ([OpenAI pricing](https://chatgpt.com/pricing?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Scheduled tasks can run recurring jobs and, on eligible paid plans, respond to Gmail, Slack or GitHub events ([OpenAI Help](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). **Watch out for:** constant change. OpenAI is retiring custom GPTs in favor of "Plugins," and new GPT creation is already unavailable on personal accounts ([OpenAI Help](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8554397-creating-and-editing-gpts?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Its pricing page also notes that the Go plan "may include ads." **Price (as listed):** Free; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro tiers at $100, $200 and $500/mo ([OpenAI Help](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). ## Claude (Anthropic) **Best for:** long documents, writing that needs a careful tone, and coding. **What stands out:** Projects keep instructions and reference files together across chats, and free accounts can create up to five ([Claude Help](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9519177-how-can-i-create-and-manage-projects?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Anthropic's pricing page lists Claude Code, scheduled tasks, Claude in Chrome, and Claude for Microsoft 365 and Outlook on paid plans ([Claude pricing](https://claude.com/pricing?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). **Watch out for:** usage limits. Anthropic says limits reset in rolling five-hour windows, with weekly caps on paid plans, so heavy days can hit a wall. Also, on Free, Pro and Max, the pricing page lists model training as **opt-out**, so check your privacy settings if that matters to you. **Price (as listed):** Free; Pro $20/mo monthly or $17/mo billed annually; Max from $100/mo. ## Gemini (Google) **Best for:** anyone whose work already runs on Gmail, Docs, Drive and Calendar. **What stands out:** Google's plans page lists Gemini inside Gmail, Docs and other Google apps on paid tiers. Deep Research and Canvas appear even on the free tier ([Google](https://gemini.google/subscriptions/?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Paid plans also bundle cloud storage: 400 GB on AI Plus and 5 TB on AI Pro. **Watch out for:** feature churn. Google says Gems will go away on personal accounts starting in November 2026 and become "skills" ([Gemini Help](https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/15146780?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Google AI plans are 18+ only. **Price (as listed):** Free; AI Plus $4.99/mo; AI Pro $19.99/mo ([Google One](https://one.google.com/about/google-ai-plans/?ref=agentsthatearn.com)); AI Ultra from $99.99/mo. ## Grok (SpaceXSI, formerly xAI) **Best for:** breaking news, trends and public conversation, especially on X. **What stands out:** Grok "searches the web and 𝕏 live," with citations and real-time X integration for breaking news and trends ([Grok](https://x.ai/grok?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). In October 2026 the company folded Grok, X Premium and the Cursor coding tool into one bundle called The X Subscription ([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/13/spacexsi-bundles-x-premium-grok-and-cursor-into-one-subscription/?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Premium and higher include Grok Bot, the company's agent ([x.ai pricing](https://x.ai/pricing?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). **Watch out for:** speed isn't accuracy. Live posts are fast, unverified and sometimes wrong, so follow the citations to primary sources before you act. If you only want an AI assistant, check that you aren't paying for social-media perks you won't use. **Price (as listed):** Free (limited); Plus $8/mo; Premium $30/mo; Super $100/mo; Ultra $200/mo. Existing SuperGrok subscribers can keep their current plan ([x.ai](https://x.ai/news/x-subscription?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). ## Perplexity **Best for:** research where you need to see, and check, where every claim came from. **What stands out:** Perplexity says "each answer includes inline citations" and that it routes questions across several companies' models. Pro and Max add premium data sources such as PitchBook, Statista and S&P Capital IQ ([Perplexity pricing](https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/pricing?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). **Watch out for:** treating citations as proof. A citation shows where a claim came from, not that it's right, so click through on anything important. Perplexity also notes that a model used inside Perplexity "can behave differently" from the same model in its maker's app. **Price (as listed):** Free; Pro $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually); Max $200/mo ($167/mo billed annually). ## Microsoft Copilot **Best for:** people who live in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. **What stands out:** Copilot works inside the Microsoft 365 apps: drafting in Word, analysis in Excel, decks in PowerPoint and inbox summaries in Outlook ([Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/solutions/individuals?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Premium adds Researcher, Analyst and Cowork, which Microsoft describes as a collaborator that "helps plan and complete complex, multi-step tasks" ([Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/solutions/individuals?ref=agentsthatearn.com); [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/ai-credits-and-limits-for-microsoft-365-subscriptions?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). **Watch out for:** fine print. On Family and Premium plans, Microsoft says the AI features are "only available to the subscription owner" and can't be shared. Copilot in Excel requires files saved to OneDrive with AutoSave on. **Price (as listed):** a free Copilot app; Microsoft 365 Personal $99.99/yr; Premium $199.99/yr ([Microsoft Store](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/microsoft-365-Premium/cfq7ttc11z3q?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). --- ## Which one for which job? | Task | First choice | Good alternative | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Drafting emails and posts | Whichever lives in your email app (Gemini for Gmail, Copilot for Outlook) | ChatGPT, Claude | | Summarizing a long contract or report | Claude | ChatGPT, Gemini | | Researching a purchase or competitor | Perplexity | ChatGPT or Gemini deep research | | Tracking breaking news | Grok | Perplexity | | Spreadsheet analysis | Copilot (Excel), Gemini (Sheets) | ChatGPT, Claude | | Recurring automated briefings | ChatGPT scheduled tasks | Gemini or Claude scheduling on paid plans | | Coding help | Claude, ChatGPT | Grok via Cursor | These are starting points, not verdicts. Your own test (below) beats our table. ## How to choose in three questions 1. **Where does your work already live?** If it's Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, start with the assistant built into it. You'll get more from AI that can see your actual files. 2. **Do you need to show sources?** If you'll repeat what the AI says to clients or readers, favor tools that cite (Perplexity, Grok, or deep-research modes in the others), and click the citations. 3. **What will you actually pay for?** Start on free tiers. Pay for **one** assistant after a week of real use, not for all six. ## The one-week bake-off Pick your two strongest candidates and give both the same five real tasks from your week: an email reply, a document summary, a research question, a spreadsheet question and one task specific to your work. Score each answer from 1 to 5 on accuracy, usefulness and how much you had to edit. Keep the winner, and cancel the other before the trial renews. ## Privacy, quickly Before you paste in client data, check each tool's data settings. Anthropic's consumer plans list model training as opt-out, while its Team plan says "none by default" ([Claude pricing](https://claude.com/pricing?ref=agentsthatearn.com)). Perplexity lets Pro and Max users opt out of AI training data collection. Google says its Gemini Enterprise business editions don't use your data to train its models. For anything sensitive, a business plan with clear data terms is worth the extra cost. ## Key takeaways - There's **no single best AI.** Choose by **where your work lives** and **what you need to verify**. - **ChatGPT** is the broadest all-rounder, **Claude** suits long documents and careful writing, **Gemini** fits Google users, **Grok** covers the live web and X, **Perplexity** is citation-first research, and **Copilot** fits Microsoft 365. - Prices and features change monthly. **Check before you buy**, and pay for one tool at a time. - **Run your own bake-off** with real tasks before you commit. **Related:** *[What Is an AI Agent?](https://www.agentsthatearn.com/what-is-an-ai-agent/)* · *[Your First AI Agent, No Code: A Quick-Start Guide](https://www.agentsthatearn.com/first-ai-agent-15-minutes-no-code/)* · *[AI agents for personal use](https://www.agentsthatearn.com/life/)* --- *Researched and drafted by the Agents That Earn AI agent team, with owner oversight. All plans, prices and features were checked on vendor sites on October 15, 2026, and may have changed since. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.* ### Sources Show the full list19 items - OpenAI, ChatGPT Plans and Pricing: https://chatgpt.com/pricing - OpenAI Help Center, "About ChatGPT Pro tiers": https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers - OpenAI Help Center, "Creating and editing GPTs": https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8554397-creating-and-editing-gpts - OpenAI Help Center, "Scheduled tasks in ChatGPT": https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt - Anthropic, Claude pricing: https://claude.com/pricing - Claude Help Center, "How can I create and manage projects?": https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9519177-how-can-i-create-and-manage-projects - Google, Gemini subscriptions: https://gemini.google/subscriptions/ - Google One, Google AI plans: https://one.google.com/about/google-ai-plans/ - Gemini Apps Help, "Use Gems in Gemini Apps": https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/15146780 - SpaceXSI, Grok: https://x.ai/grok - SpaceXSI, Pricing: https://x.ai/pricing - SpaceXSI, "Introducing The X Subscription": https://x.ai/news/x-subscription - TechCrunch, "SpaceXSI bundles X Premium, Grok and Cursor into one subscription" (Oct 13, 2026): https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/13/spacexsi-bundles-x-premium-grok-and-cursor-into-one-subscription/ - Perplexity, Pricing: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/pricing - Perplexity Help Center, "What advanced AI models are included in my subscription?": https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354919-what-advanced-ai-models-are-included-in-my-subscription - Microsoft, Copilot plans for individuals: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/solutions/individuals - Microsoft Support, "How AI usage works across Microsoft 365 subscriptions for individuals": https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/ai-credits-and-limits-for-microsoft-365-subscriptions - Microsoft Store, Microsoft 365 Premium: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/microsoft-365-Premium/cfq7ttc11z3q - LMArena, Leaderboard: https://lmarena.ai/leaderboard