The short answer
- Paying for 2 chat plans? Keep the one you use most. If you already pay for Google AI Pro, Gemini covers most day-to-day ChatGPT use: a modeled first-year saving of $215. the math
- For light or bursty use, pay per token: the Anthropic API and OpenRouter bill per token with no seat, but you give up the apps' projects, memory and web search. openrouter.ai
- For 2 or more people, Claude Team Standard costs $25/user/mo and ChatGPT Business $25/user/mo, each with a 2-seat minimum. claude.com
- Open WebUI gives you a self-hosted chat interface for your own API keys or local models. It's source-available and must keep its branding. the math
Who should switch, and who shouldn't
Switch if
- You pay for more than one chat assistant and use one of them most days. recipe
- You chat a few times a week: per-token billing is cheaper than a seat for light use. openrouter.ai
- You're on a top tier but rarely hit limits: Claude Pro includes Claude Code with lower limits, and ChatGPT Plus is the entry paid plan. claude.com
Stay if
- You use deep research, voice mode, projects, custom GPTs, memory or the Codex coding agent every week. recipe
- You work in Claude Code daily and hit Pro's limits: Max exists for that. claude.com
- Your team shares projects and needs admin controls in a Team or Business workspace. claude.com
What ChatGPT and Claude cost today
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, as stored in the Stackcut catalog. Each price links its source.
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly (per month) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/mo | not shown | $20/month billed monthly |
| ChatGPT Business | $25/user/mo | $20/user/mo | Per user; 2+ users |
| ChatGPT Pro ($200 tier) | $200/mo | not shown | Pro 20X |
| Claude Pro | $20/mo | $17/mo | $200 billed up front yearly or $20 monthly |
| Claude Max 5x | $100/mo | not shown | 5x Pro usage; priority access (from $100/mo) |
| Claude Max 20x | $200/mo | not shown | 20x Pro usage |
| Claude Team Standard seat | $25/user/mo | $20/user/mo | Teams of 2 to 150 |
- As of September 10, 2026, OpenAI has paused new sign-ups and upgrades to the Pro $200 plan; existing subscriptions continue. help.openai.com
The alternatives, ranked
6 ways out, ranked by modeled saving in the first year after setup and upkeep (1 priced). Modeled, not measured: each figure links the math on the recipe page.
- The recipe models 1 person on ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo. Claude has no recipe yet, so its options below show their facts and sources without a modeled saving. recipe
What AI chat seats cost at 1, 5 and 20 users
Individual plans are one per person. Team plans are per seat with a 2-seat minimum and add admin controls.
| Option | List price | 1 user | 5 users | 20 users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus today | $20/mobilled monthly | $20 | $100one plan per person | $400one plan per person |
| ChatGPT Business today | $25/user/mobilled monthly | $502-seat minimum | $125 | $500 |
| Claude Pro today | $20/mobilled monthly | $20 | $100one plan per person | $400one plan per person |
| Claude Team (standard seat) today | $25/user/mobilled monthly | $502-seat minimum | $125 | $500 |
| Google AI Pro (Gemini) Google AI Proincludes 5 TB of storage | $19.99/mobilled monthly | $19.99 | $99.95one plan per person | $399.80one plan per person |
| Open WebUI (self-hosted)plus per-token model costs | $0 licensesource-available | $0+ your server | $0+ your server | $0+ your server |
How to leave ChatGPT and Claude
Export first, then cancel. Every step links the vendor's own help page, checked on the date shown.
How to leave ChatGPT
Export first
- Chat history and account data: Settings → Data controls → Export data → Export → Confirm export (ZIP). It arrives by email or SMS and can take up to 7 days; the link expires 24 hours after you get it. help.openai.com
Cancel
- Export your data first (see export).
- Settings → Billing → Cancel plan → Cancel.
- Subscriptions bought through the Apple App Store are cancelled with Apple; deleting your ChatGPT account doesn't cancel them.
- Takes effect
- Paid features stay until the end of the current billing period. Cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date.
- Refunds
- Cancelling stops future renewals but doesn't refund earlier charges.
How to leave Claude
Export first
- Conversations and account data: Settings → Privacy → Export data (web or desktop app). A download link arrives by email and expires 24 hours after delivery. support.claude.com
Cancel
- Export your data first (see export).
- Your name at the lower left → Settings → Billing → Cancel.
- App Store and Google Play subscriptions are cancelled in those stores.
- Takes effect
- At the end of the current billing period. Cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date.
- Refunds
- Payments are non-refundable except where Anthropic's terms or the law say otherwise; EEA and UK customers can get a refund within 14 days of purchase, prorated to use.
Not covered by the paths above, per the recipe: Deep research, Voice mode, Projects, Custom GPTs, Memory, Codex coding agent. If you rely on one of these, keep the incumbent or check the path closely.
Open-source and forkable options
- Open WebUI: Self-hosted ChatGPT-style UI for your own API keys or local models. Server plus per-token model costs depend on use, so unpriced. License: Open WebUI License (source-available; keep Open WebUI branding) · source code
Open source means no license fee, not free to run: the server, backups and upgrades are yours. Read the license before you fork or resell; several of these are open-core or source-available.
FAQ
How do I cancel ChatGPT Plus?
Settings → Billing → Cancel plan → Cancel. It stops future renewals but doesn't refund earlier charges; cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date. help.openai.com
How do I cancel Claude Pro?
Settings → Billing → Cancel. It takes effect at the end of the billing period, so cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date. support.claude.com
How do I keep my chats?
ChatGPT: Settings → Data controls → Export data, which can take up to 7 days to arrive. help.openai.com
Claude: Settings → Privacy → Export data. Both download links expire 24 hours after they arrive. support.claude.com
Is paying per token really cheaper?
For light use, yes: OpenRouter and the Anthropic API bill per token with no seat. The trade-off is the app: no projects, memory or built-in web search. openrouter.ai
Can I still buy ChatGPT Pro at $200?
Not as a new subscriber: as of September 10, 2026, OpenAI has paused new sign-ups and upgrades to the Pro $200 plan. Existing subscriptions continue, and Pro $100 is unaffected. help.openai.com
Keep reading
Check your own stack
Get your free stack audit
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Or ask your agent
Connect the Stackcut MCP server (https://stackcut.io/mcp, no API key) and ask: “Our team of 5 pays for ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro for everyone. What should we keep?”
audit_stack({"services": [
{"vendor": "chatgpt", "seats": 5, "monthly_spend_usd": 100},
{"vendor": "claude", "seats": 5, "monthly_spend_usd": 100}]})