AI pricing comparison 2026: what each tool really costs
Every major AI tool's pricing in one place — and the part the vendors won't tell you: most people need one $20 plan, not five. Here's what to actually pay.
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The pricing table
Prices last verified 21 June 2026. Plans change often — always confirm on the vendor's official pricing page before paying.
| Tool | Free tier | Entry paid | Power tier | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Yes | ~$20/mo | ~$100–200/mo | 9.1 |
| ChatGPT | Yes | ~$20/mo | ~$200/mo | 9.0 |
| Gemini | Yes | ~$20/mo | Varies by plan | 8.8 |
| Perplexity | Yes | ~$20/mo | Enterprise | 8.6 |
| GitHub Copilot | Yes | ~$10/mo | Pro+ ~$39 · Max ~$100 | 8.5 |
| DeepSeek | Yes | Free app | API | 8.3 |
| Grok | Limited | SuperGrok | Higher | 8.1 |
| Notion AI | Limited | Plus from ~$10/user | Business / credits | 8.0 |
What $20 actually buys
One number explains most of this market: $20 a month. ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, Gemini's paid tier and Perplexity Pro have all converged on roughly the same entry price, and for the overwhelming majority of people that tier is the right answer and the end of the conversation. It raises the free-tier limits, gives you the strongest models, and switches on the extras. The two outliers below it are Copilot (~$10, because it's a focused coding tool) and DeepSeek's free app. Grok is harder to summarize because xAI changes SuperGrok packaging and X bundles, so check the official page before treating it as a fixed-price subscription.
When to spend more
The expensive tiers — ChatGPT Pro, Claude Max, Gemini's higher plans, GitHub Copilot Pro+ and Max — exist for a genuinely small group: people who hit the entry-plan limits every single day, run very long sessions, or lean on the absolute top models for hours. A useful gut check: try the standard paid plan for a month and count how often you actually slam into its ceiling. Most people who "upgraded to be safe" hit the wall once or twice and quietly cancelled. If you're not sure you need the expensive tier, you don't.
The best free options
The free floor is higher than it used to be. The free tiers of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are genuinely usable for light work, and DeepSeek pushes further with a very generous free app. It is our zero-cost pick for non-sensitive work, with the standard caveat that you should keep confidential material off any free tool. For students and the budget-conscious, you can get a long way for $0.
How much should you actually spend?
The honest spending ladder: start free; move to a single $20 plan when the free limits get in your way (they will, fast, if you use AI seriously); and only climb to a power tier when you can name the specific limit that's costing you time. The most common mistake we see isn't under-buying — it's paying for two overlapping $20 assistants that do the same job. Pick one general assistant, add a specialist (research, coding, images) only when you hit a real wall.
- Most people: one $20 plan. ~$20/month.
- Researchers: add Perplexity. ~$40/month.
- Developers: Copilot (~$10) plus a chat assistant you may already have.
- Zero budget: DeepSeek plus the free tiers. $0.
For the full picture of which tool fits which job, start with the 2026 leaderboard.
Paying for these from a restricted country
Knowing the price doesn't help if checkout won't take your card. Some plans aren't sold in every country, or they bill in a currency you don't hold. The compliant routes:
- Check availability in your region first, and respect it if a tool isn't offered.
- Use a reputable virtual or prepaid card billed in a supported currency.
- Fund it through a licensed source and keep records.
FAQ
Which AI subscription is the best value?
For most people, a single $20 plan (ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini) is the best value and all you need. For zero budget, DeepSeek is the strongest free pick for non-sensitive work. The worst value is paying for two overlapping assistants.
Are the $20 plans all the same price for a reason?
Largely competitive convergence — they've each landed on roughly $20 for the tier most people want. What differs is what you get for it, which is what our reviews and comparisons cover.
Is the $200 tier ever worth it?
Only for a small group of heavy, all-day users who've already maxed out the $20 plan and know exactly which limit is costing them time. Most people should not start there.
What's the cheapest capable AI?
DeepSeek's app is free for ordinary use, and its API pricing is low. Confirm current limits and prices on DeepSeek's own pages, and keep sensitive data off any free tool.
Maintained by the SubVerdict desk. Prices verified June 2026 and change often — confirm on official pages before buying. See how we test and our affiliate disclosure.