Free cheat sheet · 2-minute read
The Personal Agent Cheat Sheet
Which AI agent to pay for, in 2 minutes. Find the line that sounds like you. Prices checked 21 Oct 2026; every fact links to the company's own page.
By Loay Deeb, AI agent architect
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If you want to try AI and pay nothing
ChatGPT Free, Claude Free or Gemini $0
All three have real free plans. Free Claude can search the web, create files and connect to your apps1; the free Gemini app includes Deep Research2.
The catch: Free ChatGPT is limited on uploads, images, voice and deep research, and ads may appear34.
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If you live in Gmail and Google Docs
Gemini, then Google AI Plus $0, then $4.99/mo
Google AI Plus adds Gemini inside Gmail for $4.99 a month5.
The catch: Gemini in Docs and Sheets needs Google AI Pro ($19.99)5.
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If you live in Outlook, Word and Excel
Microsoft Copilot $0, then $9.99/mo
Copilot is free on the web and phones6; Microsoft 365 Personal puts it inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook7.
The catch: To use it inside your Office apps you need Microsoft 365 Personal7.
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If you want one paid assistant for a bit of everything
ChatGPT Plus $20/mo
Includes deep research and ChatGPT Work for finished reports, documents and spreadsheets83. Works with Gmail and Outlook.
The catch: Monthly billing only, and exact message limits aren't published83.
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If you mostly need help with email and your calendar
Claude Pro $20/mo ($17 yearly)
The most detailed published Gmail and Google Calendar features in our email guide; adds task hand-off, scheduling and Research1.
The catch: Browsing websites for you needs the Claude desktop app or Claude in Chrome910.
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If you are a founder with errands and research to hand off every week
Grok Bot from $30/mo
An always-on agent that works on its own cloud computer11. Needs the X Subscription's Premium plan or higher12.
The catch: Only worth it once you have repeatable weekly tasks. Start with a $20 assistant first.
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If you are buying for your team or staff
ChatGPT Business or Claude Team ~$20–30 per person/mo
Business plans don't train on your workspace data by default131.
The catch: Don't put staff on personal plans: you lose admin control and the default no-training promise.
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If you need an AI to answer your customers
Intercom Fin $0.99 per resolved chat
Answers customers and works on top of other helpdesks, so you don't have to switch tools14.
The catch: You pay per resolution, so costs grow with volume14.
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If you run sales on Salesforce
Salesforce Agentforce $125 per user/mo
The Sales add-on keeps the agent inside your CRM data15.
The catch: The priciest option here; only makes sense if you are already on Salesforce.
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If you are technical and want to run it yourself
OpenClaw or Hermes Agent Free software
Open source, no subscription for the software. OpenClaw runs on your own computer and keeps its data there1617.
The catch: You still pay for the AI model you connect, and setup takes some tech comfort.
4 rules before you pay
- Start free for a week with the one that matches where your email lives: Gemini for Gmail, Copilot for Outlook.
- Pay for one $20 plan, not two. ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro covers most people.
- Only pay $30 or more for an always-on agent once you have tasks to hand off every week.
- Staff get a business plan, never personal accounts, so your company data isn't used for training by default.
These rules are our advice, based on the guides linked above.
Keep this cheat sheet current
Prices change every week. We'll tell you when it matters.
- The Personal Agent Cheat Sheet: which AI agent to pay for, in 2 minutes.
- One 5-minute email a week: what changed in ChatGPT, Claude, Grok & co., and what to actually do.
- Plain English. Every fact links to the company's own page.
Free. No spam, unsubscribe in one click. Written by Loay Deeb, AI agent architect.
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Sources
- Claude pricing & plan comparison (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Gemini app overview and plans, incl. Free (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- ChatGPT plans & pricing (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- OpenAI: Introducing ChatGPT Go (Jan 2026, re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Google AI plans (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Microsoft Copilot (free) vs Copilot in Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Support) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Copilot pricing plans for individuals (Microsoft) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- What is ChatGPT Plus? (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Claude Cowork and chat are one Claude (Claude Help Center) · checked 20 Oct 2026
- Use Claude Cowork on web, desktop, and mobile (Claude Help Center) · checked 20 Oct 2026
- Grok Bot product page (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- The X Subscription pricing: Free, Plus, Premium, Super, Ultra · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Data controls in ChatGPT (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Intercom pricing (Fin AI Agent) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Salesforce Agentforce pricing · checked 17 Oct 2026
- OpenClaw homepage (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
- Hermes Agent homepage and Nous Portal plans (re-checked) · checked 21 Oct 2026
Not sure which line is you? Take the 1-minute quiz or read the full buyer's guide. We use Grok Bot for research; it is one of the products listed here.