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Guides · Head to head

Claude Cowork vs ChatGPT Work

Both cost $20 and both finish whole tasks for you. Here's where each one is better, in a side-by-side table.

By Loay Deeb, AI agent architect · Last checked 21 Oct 2026 · Every fact links to its source; anything we couldn't verify says unknown.

The longer answer. Both cost $20 a month at the entry paid tier34 and both take a whole task and hand back a finished result. Pick Claude if your work is email, calendar and Google documents: its Gmail connector can send and reply with your approval, and it edits Docs, Sheets and Slides live8. Pick ChatGPT Work if you want tasks that start themselves when a new email, Slack message or GitHub PR arrives, or polished decks, spreadsheets and Sites2.

Claude Cowork vs ChatGPT Work, side by side

Claude (Cowork)ChatGPT Work
What it isClaude's task agent, now merged into regular Claude chats, rolling out first on Pro and Max: you describe the job in any conversation1ChatGPT's agent for longer, multi-step work and finished deliverables, alongside Chat and Codex2
Cheapest paid planPro: $20 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly3Plus: $20 a month4
Free planClaude Free has chat, file creation and app connectors3; task hand-off and scheduling start at Pro3Limited Work in the desktop app5
Where it runsCloud tasks on Pro and Max, in beta on web and mobile for Team6Cloud on web and mobile; the desktop app can also use local files and apps with permission2
SchedulingScheduled tasks on every paid plan, running in the cloud even when your computer is off7Run once, on a schedule, or on a trigger such as a new Gmail message, Slack message or GitHub PR (not on Free or Go)2
Gmail and GoogleGmail, Calendar and Drive connectors for all users; can send, reply and forward, asking for approval before each by default8Gmail can trigger tasks2; detailed Gmail actions: unknown (OpenAI's connector help page blocked our check)
DocumentsEdits Google Docs, Sheets and Slides live beside the chat8Creates documents, spreadsheets, presentations, reports and Sites2
Training on your dataListed as "Opt-out" on Free, Pro and Max3Opt out with "Improve the model for everyone" in Data controls9

Prices are US list prices checked 21 Oct 2026; Claude Cowork details were checked 20 Oct 2026.

Which should you use?

  • Founders and managers in Google Workspace: Claude. The approval-before-send default is a good safety net8.
  • Anyone who wants "when X happens, do Y": ChatGPT Work's event triggers on Gmail, Slack and GitHub2.
  • Teams: Claude Team is $20 a seat on annual billing, $25 monthly10; ChatGPT Business Standard is $20 annual, $25 monthly11. Both say they don't train on business data by default1211.
  • Want it to use your own logged-in websites all day? Neither is built mainly for that; see Grok Bot or Manus alternatives.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Claude Cowork better than ChatGPT Work?

Neither wins everywhere. Claude is stronger for Gmail and Google documents (send with approval, live editing)8; ChatGPT Work adds event triggers from Gmail, Slack and GitHub and builds decks, spreadsheets and Sites2.

How much do Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work cost?

Claude Pro is $20 a month or $17 billed yearly3. ChatGPT Plus is $20 a month4. ChatGPT Free includes limited Work in the desktop app5.

Is Claude Cowork still a separate app?

Anthropic has merged Cowork into regular Claude chats, rolling out first on Pro and Max1.

Can they run tasks while my computer is off?

Yes. Claude's scheduled tasks run in the cloud even when your computer is off7, and ChatGPT Work on web and mobile runs in the cloud2.

Do they train on my data?

Claude lists training as opt-out on Free, Pro and Max3; ChatGPT lets you switch off "Improve the model for everyone"9. On business plans, both say no training by default1211.

Related guides

Read next

  • ChatGPT vs Claude for business: ChatGPT Business vs Claude Team: seat prices, email and calendar, admin controls, data training and certifications.
  • ChatGPT agent alternatives: ChatGPT agent mode is gone. What ChatGPT Work does instead, whether it's worth it, and six alternatives.
  • Best AI agent for Gmail: Gemini in Gmail, Claude, ChatGPT Work and Grok Bot: what each can do in your inbox, price, and safety.

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Sources

Where these facts come from

We read each vendor's own pricing page, help center, docs or release notes. No review sites, no paid placement. Research and drafting were assisted by an AI agent (Grok Bot, one of the products covered); every fact was checked against the linked source.

  1. Claude Cowork and chat are one Claude (Claude Help Center) support.claude.com/en/articles/16761823-claude-cowork-and-chat-are-one-claude · checked 20 Oct 2026
  2. ChatGPT Work and Codex (OpenAI Help Center) help.openai.com/en/articles/20001275-chatgpt-work-and-codex · checked 21 Oct 2026
  3. Claude pricing & plan comparison (re-checked) claude.com/pricing · checked 21 Oct 2026
  4. What is ChatGPT Plus? (re-checked) help.openai.com/en/articles/6950777-what-is-chatgpt-plus · checked 21 Oct 2026
  5. ChatGPT plans & pricing (re-checked) chatgpt.com/pricing · checked 21 Oct 2026
  6. Use Claude Cowork on web, desktop, and mobile (Claude Help Center) support.claude.com/en/articles/15520349-use-claude-cowork-on-web-desktop-and-mobile · checked 20 Oct 2026
  7. Schedule recurring tasks in Claude Cowork (Claude Help Center) support.claude.com/en/articles/13854387-schedule-recurring-tasks-in-claude-cowork · checked 20 Oct 2026
  8. Claude: use Google Workspace connectors (Gmail, Calendar, Drive) support.claude.com/en/articles/10166901-use-google-workspace-connectors · checked 21 Oct 2026
  9. Data controls in ChatGPT (re-checked) help.openai.com/en/articles/7730893-data-controls-faq · checked 21 Oct 2026
  10. What is the Team plan? (Claude Help Center, re-checked) support.claude.com/en/articles/9266767-what-is-the-team-plan · checked 20 Oct 2026
  11. ChatGPT Business overview (re-checked) help.openai.com/en/articles/8792828-chatgpt-business-overview · checked 19 Oct 2026
  12. Claude pricing & plan comparison (re-checked) claude.com/pricing · checked 20 Oct 2026